Full Mouse, Empty Mouse: A Tale of Food and Feelings
Grade 2–4—In this story meant to help children understand eating disorders, two mice respond to social stressors by overeating for comfort or by failing to eat at all. Billy Blue grows fat, while Sally Rose grows thin. They don't want to trouble their parents with problems, but they do eventually confide in an aunt. Expressing their concerns puts them on the path to recovery and healthy eating. The forced nature of the rhyming text detracts from the serious message of the story. "The way for you to be your best?/Get your Heart's words off your chest./Trust your family, don't pretend,/For love will be there in the end." Paintings in an old-fashioned, realistic style match the formal tone of the text. Back matter includes an extensive note to parents, discussion questions, and Internet resources. Because few fictionalized resources exist for eating disorders, this well-intentioned book may find an audience despite the stiff presentation.—Julie R. Ranelli, Queen Anne's County Free Library, Stevensville, MDCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.