Sunday, September 07, 2008

Children's Book Monday

Mary and the Mouse, The Mouse and Mary
by Beverly Donofrio
Illustrated by Barbara McClintock

Having read this book to my children every day (mostly Eliana!) for the last few weeks, I feel I can review it with authority! I am as captivated by it as she is, and together we fall into the pages, spending more time by far looking at the pictures than we do reading the story!

Mary and the Mouse that lives in her house lead parallel lives... even their furniture and decorations are alike, in a way! Mouse and her family decorate with items that come in their size... buttons, ribbons, pincushions... but the resemblance is unmistakable! The colors and simple, classic drawings by Barbara McClintock are delightful, and as the story unfolds you will find yourselves finding more and more similarities as you turn each page.

When Mary and the Mouse accidentally see each other one day, they heed their parents warnings about the dangers of humans interacting with mice, and vice versa, but continue to greet each other with secret waves every evening, as they pick up the "accidentally" dropped fork or spoon in order to spot each other.

As Mary and the Mouse grow up and leave, you might think the story is about to end, but it takes a delightful twist and feeds that part of you that was longing to hear more! We are anxious to find more books that are illustrated by Ms. McClintock- it is a joy to behold her exquisite drawings.

Please, please go find this book at your library- you and your children will enjoy it so!

Happy Reading!

7 fellow travelers shared:

Quinne said...

Hi Elise :) Hooray for CBM! Our library day is Thursday this year - we'll look for it then. Have a lovely week! Love, Q

Stacy said...

Elise,
We enjoyed this book, too! What a treat!

~Stacy

Anonymous said...

Pure classics :). I'm always on the hunt for great children's books and have recently discovered Bayard and their series of StoryBoxBooks, AdventureBoxBooks and DiscoveryBoxBooks. In addition to this, they also have some great activities. There's a Readathon happening in the Ireland region - http://discoveryboxbooks.com/readathon.php and a Ghost Drawing competition in AdventureBoxBooks assiciated with the Polka Theatre (http://www.adventureboxbooks.com/competition.php)

Anonymous said...

Ah Elise! It's already time to start Children's Book Monday again? How the time flies!

I'm excited to borrow this book from the library. It looks like one that the girls and I would enjoy.

I'll be sure to be ready for next week's CBM! :)

I hope you're feeling better. :)

~Anna

Sheila said...

I'm glad Children's Book Monday is back!

Carrie said...

Yay! It's so good to see Children's Book Monday back...

Praying all is well.
Carrie

laura said...

i have missed children's book mondays!! the book i chose is not only a review, but sharing an activity the girls and i did as a result of the book!

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