The Big Move

April 1, 2016
An all-too-close encounter with the new president's children and their "c-a-t" nearly spells disaster for two White House mice in this history-laced series opener. Inauguration Day hoopla would seem to provide a perfect opportunity for furry sibs Ava and Dean Squeakerton to root through the newest first family's unpacked moving boxes in hopes of adding a souvenir Lego to the hoard of presidential memorabilia gathered by the teeming Squeakerton clan over 60 (mouse) generations. But when their mom's swearing-in doesn't keep first kids Banks and Macey away long enough for Ava and Dean to make their escape--and worse, the presidential "c-a-t" (mice never say the fearful word) makes an appearance--the resultant scurry sets off a potentially deadly Code Brown. Perhaps noticing the clothes with which Ford dresses his mice in the frequent floor-level black-and-white scenes, Banks and Macey glibly deflect the Secret Service so that the mice can slip away with their lives and also with two prizes: a Lego, yes, but also a coin battery that has long been sought to power a minicamera once owned by Sasha Obama. Leavitt adds plenty of historical flavor with references to White House locations and past residents and closes with photos and more facts plus a presidential portrait gallery. Volume 2, Oval Office Escape, publishes simultaneously. A frisky adventure not at all weighed down by the timely doses of local history folded in. (Fiction. 7-9)

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May 1, 2016

Gr 1-3-Ava and Dean Squeakerton are hidden residents of the White House. They, along with their numerous mouse family members, dwell secretly in the walls and attic of the presidential home, unbeknownst to the human occupants. The series opener takes place on a very important day: the inauguration of a new president. The small rodents are excited because this means new people with new belongings will be taking up residence below. They are always searching for artifacts for their Treasure Room, especially the most coveted of all things, "The Lego." They are sure the new president's son will have these awesome trinkets. Problem is, Ava and Dean take off exploring before the movers have even unpacked any boxes and find themselves in a bit of an awkward and dangerous situation. The human children, and their pet cat, see the little mice, and chaos ensues. The black-and-white illustrations are simple yet not without some charm, adding to the appeal for new readers. The borrowing tendencies of these young mice and their ancestors bring to mind John Peterson's "The Littles" series, though the writing here is not as polished or as clever as that of Peterson.

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2016
Grades 2-4 Welcome to the White House, the ancestral home of the Squeakertons since 1800, when this distinguished mouse family (and John Adams) first moved in. Now it's moving day again, and as the incoming president and her family make their way to the inauguration, the moving crew unpacks their belongings. Meanwhile, young mice Ava and Dean go on a daring quest in the executive residence, hoping to score a LEGO block, though they have never seen one. After a harrowing escapade, they return with an unexpected treasure and the promise of more adventures to come. This accessible chapter book features large print, a well-paced story, and appealing black-and-white drawings that strike a cheerful tone overall. While this down-to-earth adventure has a twenty-first-century setting, the information in the back matter stretches back to 1789 with portraits of the presidents, a few glimpses of presidential history, and descriptions of inauguration days as well as White House moving days. An easygoing combination of fiction, fact, and fun.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)