A book to keep in little houses by the sea, or on library shelves, where readers can ask their own questions about their place in the larger world we all live in.
As in Sun, Flower, Lion, Henkes continues to whittle away all but the essentials in his life lessons for preschoolers, and the result is accessible and resonant.
Reminiscent of Pennypacker’s “Clementine” series, or Beverly Cleary’s “Ramona” books, Billy Miller and the laugh-out-loud antics of his little sister Sal make this a darling addition to early middle grade collections for most libraries.
With a return to a distinct and limited color palette like that of Henkes’s award-winning Kitten’s First Full Moon, this is a must have for all collections, appropriate for both sharing out loud and for beginning readers.
Five chapters with short sentences, word repetition, and sweet illustrations on every page will have new readers enthusiastic about another episode in the life of the little mouse and her family.
This smooth, compact, emotionally nuanced novel with relatable characters should be a first purchase for every library where readers' hearts are ready to melt.