Mice

A 1932 poem from Fyleman (1877-1957) serves as a springboard for Ehlert's customarily striking handiwork. Such pointed verse as "I think mice/ are rather nice./ Their tails are long, / their faces small./ They haven't any chins at all" is ripe for visual interpretation, and Ehlert's playfulness, wit, and exposition elevate the brief text to something to be savored more carefully. Ehlert's wide-eyed rodents are composed of collaged elements: textured, torn-paper triangles form faces and bodies (the fibrous edges of the handmade papers suggest fur), the mice's rectangular buck teeth convey a dopey cuteness, and their ropy legs are made of knotted and frayed string. As the mice scamper across the pages ("They nibble things they shouldn't touch") Ehlert labels the items they find, turning the story into an introduction to art supplies, household items, and food items that range from mangos and avocadoes to cereal and desserts (in one memorable scene, the duo dives headfirst into a pair of rainbow-sprinkled cupcakes). Better still, the surprise revelation of the poem's narrator provides a zingy sense of delight. Ages 3-5. Illustrator's agent: Eden Street Literary. (Oct.)

PreS-Gr 1--This storytime winner brings a new twist to the classic poem. The simple verse describes mousey attributes: "their tails are long, /their faces small, /they haven't any chins at all." Ehlert's quirky, handmade paper-collage rodents (resplendent with hot pink circle ears, big front teeth, and string limbs) demonstrate by holding up a ruler, crafting a self-portrait, and peering into a mirror. They scamper over vegetables as they "run about the house," dive nose-first into frosted cupcakes, and "nibble things they shouldn't touch." The jet black backgrounds highlight the large, white text and make the nighttime escapades of the mice appear three-dimensional. A surprise ending reveals the narrator to be a grinning feline. Preschoolers will undoubtedly agree that "Mice are rather nice."--Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada

Ehlert illustrates Fyleman's simple, well-loved poem with her trademark vibrant collages, in this case, made from string and handmade paper...you've got two majorly adorable mice.... Children will delight in following the mice as they enjoy the run of the house.... The simple, rhyming text, very large print and crisp, vibrant images make this one an excellent choice for sharing with your favorite group of toddlers or preschoolers."