And Nick

April 27, 2015
Leonid Gore (Worms for Lunch?) collaborates with his daughter on a story about a late-blooming mouse, the smallest and most self-effacing of four brothers. While Vick, Rick, and Mick have no trouble articulating their preferences and dreams (“I will be an astronaut,” Mick says, “I can hang upside down all day”), Nick keeps quiet (“he wasn’t sure yet who he wanted to be”). When the brothers zoom away on their bikes, Nick brings up the rear on his tricycle. The mice’s mother makes it clear that her love is evenly distributed, but it takes a nudge from nature to prove to Nick that he has plenty of potential. Emily Gore’s literal narration doesn’t offer many surprises, and while Nick is sweet, he’s not much else. However, Leonid Gore’s cheery palette, delicately textured rendering, and expert pacing show how a skilled illustrator can mitigate a somewhat heavy-handed message. He makes it seem like there’s a lot more going on than initially meets the eye—kind of like Nick himself. Ages 4–8.

March 15, 2015
In a mouse family of four nearly identical brothers, Nick always seems to be trying to catch up. When Mommy gives them shirts of different colors so she can tell them apart, Mick, Vick, and Rick have very specific reasons for their color choices. Nick gets the one that's left over. Nick also likes his brothers' tasty food selections, but he alone is willing to try a plain green salad. Mick, Vick, and Rick all know what they want to be when they grow up, but Nick is keeping his options open. He rides his bike and runs as fast as he can, lagging behind the others in each activity. Even when they pick flowers for Mommy, he is left with a "small green sprout." He has been cheerful about most things, but this time he is really disappointed and sad. The next day he finds that his sprout has developed into a beautiful, unusual flower. The father-daughter creative team's little mouse family is warm and sweet. Nick's brothers may lead him but they don't tease him (much), and Mommy is loving, patient, and accepting. She understands that, like the flower, Nick is a late bloomer. The lively acrylic illustrations are rendered in soft, clear colors on a lightly textured background and move speedily across double-page spreads. Treacle and honey are assiduously avoided, leaving gentle reassurance for self-doubting little readers. Charming, encouraging, and delightful. Go, Nick! (Picture book. 3-8)

April 1, 2015

PreS-Gr 2-Nick, the youngest of four mice, doesn't have the grand, brave, and adventurous plans of his older brothers. After Mick, Vick, and Rick claim the red, yellow, and blue T-shirts that reflect their personalities, the only shirt left for Nick is green. Most of the time, he doesn't mind being last, until they ride to the meadow to gather flowers for their mother. Because Nick can't keep up on his tricycle, Rick, Mick, and Vick pluck the red, yellow, and blue blossoms before Nick arrives. He has to settle for a small green sprout. Although Mommy puts all the flowers in a vase, Nick worries that his gift is too small and insignificant. To everyone's astonishment, the green sprout blossoms overnight into a magnificent flower, which Mommy labels a "late bloomer." Then Nick leads his admiring brothers on a return trip to the meadow. Text and acrylic illustrations work well together as colors differentiate the look-alike mice. From their reasons for selecting shirts (fire engine red for bravery) to food choices such as apple, each brother sticks with his preferred color. VERDICT Pair this title with Robert Kraus's exuberant classic Leo the Late Bloomer (Windmill, 1971) to provide a more low-key exploration of the same theme.-Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University Library, Mankato

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