Sleep Tight, Little Mouse

April 14, 2003
Morgan (the Rosie mouse books) makes a virtue of familiarity in this cozy, handily undersize bedtime book. Little Mouse usually enjoys being tucked up in his bed, but now he wants a change. Perhaps he could sleep in a nest, like a bird? His mother encourages his fantasy, then refers to his waking up to a "delicious worm breakfast." Naturally, worms do not appeal to Little Mouse, who next proposes joining a "pile of puppies" (Mama disarms him by telling him how handsome he will look in a collar). Various other animal resting places come up for discussion before Little Mouse declares himself "too sleepy to think anymore" and falls asleep, in his "very own soft, grassy bed." Morgan supplies full-bleed watercolors of the diminutive hero, who is anthropomorphized enough to have a childlike expressiveness (and to clutch his own tiny mouse doll), in each scenario he imagines (e.g., nestled among the hatchlings under a mother bird's wing). Smaller pictures show Mama's wet-blanket version (the mother bird proffers a worm to downcast Little Mouse), and spot illustrations depict Mama and Little Mouse in conversation. The story line offers sweetness and constancy in place of surprises; kids will enjoy its reassuring predictability as well as the tender, gentle humor of the art. Ages 3-6.

August 1, 2003
PreS-Gr 2-One night before bedtime, Little Mouse just cannot relax, so he tells his mother that he would like to try sleeping the way other baby animals do: maybe in a bird's nest, or with puppies, or in a kangaroo's pouch, etc. As she subtly discourages his ideas, he realizes that he does not like worms or wearing a collar, and would definitely not appreciate being bounced around. But mostly, he would miss his mother, if he stayed all winter with the polar bears. Large illustrations across spreads beautifully depict Little Mouse's ideas for his new sleeping arrangements: under a full moon that lights up the birds' midnight-blue sky, surrounded by puppies in warm hues of brown and gold, pressed against winter white polar bears, his mouse doll ever in tow. Little ones will enjoy hearing this story as a gentle nap or bedtime tale or as a delightful introduction to animals and their babies.-Wanda Meyers-Hines, Ridgecrest Elementary School, Huntsville, AL

Copyright 2003 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2003
PreS. "Cozy" is the word for this satisfying little book. Mama Mouse tucks her tiny field mouse into his soft, grassy bed for the night, but he can't fall asleep. Instead, he comes up with a series of alternative places where he wishes he could sleep: in a bird's nest, with a pile of puppies, in a kangaroo's pouch. Each place is initially appealing but, upon further thought, seems problematic in one way or another. Finally, too tired to think any more, he falls asleep. The concept isn't particularly original; however, the simple, pleasing text with its occasional internal rhyme reads aloud well and deftly avoids the cloying sweetness that has been overtaking the bedtime-book market lately. Rounded forms and soft, tawny colors define the ink-and-watercolor artwork. An appealing and suitably soporific choice for bedtime reading. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)