Toe Shoe Mouse

February 15, 2014
A little mouse finds friendship at the ballet. In a comically formal first-person account, the mouse recounts how, while fleeing from rats, he found himself in a grand old theater and discovered the beautiful sounds and movements of ballet. His efforts to make himself at home go awry when theatergoers and on-stage performers chase him away, but he finds refuge in a "small satin crevice" in a room filled with toe shoes, flowers, costumes and a ballerina. The two exchange gifts; the little mouse learns that his dancer prefers bits of rickrack, and she leaves him a mouse-shaped cookie. Friendship follows as the mouse gains a ribbon for his neck, a dancing partner, a name (Tendu) and a new home. Carr's tale is sweetly told with just a hint of danger, though little dancers may be disappointed at the absence of any actual rehearsal or performance scenes. Bell's pencil and digitally rendered illustrations in teals and rosy pinks provide a pretty setting for a pretty little tale. A honey-coated story of interspecies friendship. (Picture book. 3-6)

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April 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 1-A young mouse fleeing for her life from a cat escapes a city's sewer through a small hole and finds herself in a beautiful theater. Enchanted by the music and the ballet dancers on stage, she longs to stay there. Briefly, the rodent finds a refuge in the ballet shoe of one of the dancers. Although she encounters some dangerous moments, from the custodian's broom and a pack of rats, eventually the young ballerina, Celeste, befriends her and names her Tendu. Celeste allows the mouse to fulfill her dream of living-and dancing-in her new home. Tendu is charming, with her oversize ears and soft round form, while Celeste is lithe and kind. The soft pastel palette and details such as vases with roses and small decorative perfume bottles and boxes create a romantic, graceful, Old World feel. The illustrations from Tendu's perspective capture how scary just the feet of the custodian are, not to mention his broom. Curled up in a ballet slipper, Tendu looks vulnerable and irresistible. This resourceful and enthusiastic little mouse captures the beauty and wonder of the world of ballet.-Carol Schene, formerly at Taunton Public Schools, MA

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