Who Goes There?

August 19, 2013
“My nest is warm,” thinks Lewis the mouse, sitting all alone in his furnished tree hole as winter approaches. “My nest is cozy. But something is missing. What could it be?” The answer, most readers will readily guess, is companionship, which materializes in the form of a friendly mouse named Joy at story’s end. It’s a surprisingly slight and familiar tale from Wilson (Bear Says Thanks), built on a rather creaky structure of strange noises—“scritch scratch tap tap tap”—and mistaken perceptions: the sounds that Lewis think are harbingers of a fierce predator are actually Joy building a nest on another side of the tree. Meanwhile, the “bellowing” that Joy believes is an equally “enormous and frightful” creature is just Lewis’s attempt to defend life and limb from imagined dangers. While steady tension pulls the story forward, it’s really more of a showcase for Currey’s (When the World Was Waiting for You) handsome watercolor-and-ink drawings, which portray both actual nature and anthropomorphized animal life in the classic British style. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. Illustrator’s agent: Shannon Associates.

August 15, 2013
There's something scary out there, disturbing Lewis Mouse in his cozy home. Lewis lives in a tiny hole at the bottom of a large tree. He has made it warm and comfortable, but he senses that something is missing. When he hears "SCRITCH SCRATCH TAP TAP TAP," he imagines threats from a great horned owl, a sneaky cat or a big bear, and he puts forth his bravest, loudest voice, shouting, "Who goes there?" Though leading to expectations of a scary ending in the manner of the various incarnations of the "Tailypo" folk tale, the story takes a different, more comforting turn. Lewis finds that Joy, another mouse, has been making those sounds while preparing her home for the winter. She, in turn, was frightened by his loud bellows. So, it is all a case of mistaken identity, and the two mice find companionship for the long winter ahead--and Lewis realizes that the missing "something" was a friend. Wilson makes good use of sound effects and repetition to build suspense and depicts Lewis as no scaredy-mouse, as he bravely faces his fears. Little readers will be reassured by the warm, fuzzy conclusion. Currey's pen, ink and watercolor illustrations nicely contrast the dark night with the cozy interiors and are a bit Beatrix Potter-esque in their depictions of Lewis. The start of a beautiful friendship. Lovely. (Picture book. 4-8)

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December 1, 2013

K-Gr 2-Lewis Mouse knows winter is coming so he readies his small home in the bottom of a big tree. Once the critter settles in, he hears scratching and tapping outside his door. Lewis imagines it's an owl, but when he looks out he sees nothing. When he's in bed, he hears the sounds again, but once more sees nothing outside his door. This time Lewis imagines it's a big cat. Too wound up to sleep, he fixes himself a cup of tea and tries to relax. But again, he's interrupted by the scary sounds. Lewis's imagination tells him it's a bear this time, but he's had enough. He grabs a lantern and heads outside. On the other side of his tree, he encounters a mouse named Joy. She tells him she's been hearing horrible shouting coming through the walls of her house. They discover they are sharing the same tree. Lewis invites Joy over for tea, and the last scene depicts a happy ending. The pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations are delicate and sweet, making them a perfect match for the story. There are lots of fall colors, and Lewis's imagined frights are cast in ominous blue/gray tones. A pleasing selection for autumn storytimes.-Ieva Bates, Ann Arbor District Library, MI

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2013
Preschool-K Lewis Mouse lives alone in a small hole in a large tree. When the leaves start blowing, it's time to move inside, and Lewis finds his home cozyuntil he begins to hear noises: scritches and scratches and taps. He boldly bellows, Who goes there? But with no answers, he imagines a horned owl on the prowl, a sneaky old cat, and a menacing bear. Further investigation leads to a mouse named Joy, who thinks the tree is hersand she has been frightened by the loud voice she has heard. The rest is predictable, the confusion is straightened out, and Lewis and Joy (obviously named for C. S. Lewis, to whom the book is dedicated, and his wife Joy) find contentment in each other's company. The story is warm and comforting and follows a familiar pattern of storytelling, with its trio of dangerous possibilities. Currey's ink-and-watercolor artwork presents two adorable mice, but it doesn't do much to extend the story through the pictures. There's a place, however, for old-fashioned storytelling, and many will like this book's sweetness.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)