Fourth of July Mice!

May 15, 2004
PreS-Gr. 1. This seventh rhyming book about those sweet holiday mice--among them, " Halloween Mice" (1995) and " Thanksgiving "Mice (2001)--just about gushes red, white, and blue--from the colors of the clothing the family wears to the all-American activities that form the backbone of the book. The family members (mother, father, big and little brothers) first form their own Revolutionary soldier/Betsy Ross parade. Then they picnic and play baseball. A sack race, a trip to the old swimming hole, and fireworks complete the roundup. There's even a bit of suspense early on, when the little mouse, too scared to swim, overcomes his fear to save his toy mouse. Deeply hued watercolor illustrations, full of humorous details, enhance the story; especially effective are the vibrant bursts of fireworks. A charming way to prepare for the holiday.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)