Where Is Jumper?

August 15, 2015
Walsh brings back her trademark mice for another concept book (Balancing Act, 2010, etc.). Jumper has disappeared. His mice friends look inside and outside a cave, below the fallen tree and up among the branches, and even down in Mole's tunnel. No Jumper! Is he playing hide-and-seek, or has a sneaky weasel got him? Wait, something moved underneath the leaves...and out pops their friend. The book has two levels: one is an engaging mouse story about friendship, and the other is a simple grammar tutorial that incorporates prepositions into the story. As the five mice scurry about, the descriptions of their actions are carefully composed of prepositions. Preschoolers won't care about parts of speech; they'll simply enjoy the mice adventure. However, language teachers will find this a clever device and a springboard for kids to craft their own stories using prepositions. Walsh's familiar collage artwork keeps the tale, like her character, jumping. Children will enjoy spotting bits of Jumper concealed by rocks and leaves on their second and third trips through the book. Walsh has a knack for creating illustrations and text that seem ever so simple yet have plenty of acumen, emotion, and pure fun. More mice, please. (Picture book. 4-8)

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October 1, 2015

PreS-Another playful and purposeful concept book from the talented and accomplished Walsh. Jumper, an adorable mouse, initiates another game of hide-and-seek unbeknownst to his little friends. They look everywhere for him-inside and outside a cave, below a tree, and even in Mole's tunnel! Has something happened to Jumper? His friends are determined to find him. Walsh expertly uses prepositions to tell the story of the little horde of mice fervently playing hide-and-seek. Young children will feel like they are playing along as well, eager to find where Jumper may be. In the artist's signature style, the paper-collage mice are set in the autumnal outdoors. The large illustrations are inviting and the layered textures interesting. This title is great as a read-aloud, and young listeners can identify animals, count mice, and recognize prepositions. Walsh's latest mouse adventure is educational and delightfully fun. VERDICT Fans of the author and newcomers alike will appreciate this latest gem.-Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE

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