My Best Friend

PreS-K–The joke is on Mouse as he introduces readers to his best friend, Giant Owl. Mouse narrates how the pair have been “buddies ever since Giant Owl brought me to live at the tree,” while the illustration depicts a stormy night with lightning bolts and a yellow, beady-eyed owl with Mouse in his clutches flying toward the reader. Illustrations continue to belie the text as Mouse’s tales of their games of chase (and Mouse’s narrow escape), Owl’s generosity with food (to fatten up Mouse), and his birthday present (a cage) will amuse readers who will be wise to Owl’s true intentions to dine on the mouse. A variety of illustration layouts, some full-page spreads with color-saturated backgrounds, along with vignettes and white pages of text keep the story visually dynamic. Owl’s expressions will amuse readers, as will Mouse’s innocent depiction of Owl as a benevolent friend.