Hide-and-Squeak
PreS-K-As a father mouse calls his young son inside for bed, the little one decides to make a game of it and seemingly eludes his dad at every turn. Sporting a pince-nez and a tolerant demeanor, the older mouse patiently follows his scampering child and is never far behind. Beautifully rendered illustrations in pen and ink, colored pencils, and acrylics are shown on a variety of spreads, single pages, and small vignettes, which create interest. The mischievous, large-eared mouseling leads his father on a merry adventure beginning outdoors, hiding under plants then slipping through the mouse-door of a large house. The small gray creature, with his large blue eyes and expressive face, has a great time sliding down a leaf, sitting on the minute hand of a large clock, and cannonballing gleefully into a bubble bath. When the father exultantly lifts his child up for a kiss and hug, both mice exhibit much joy at being together again. As baby is tucked in for the night, the two exchange a mutually loving look, reinforcing the strong bond they share.-Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI (c) Copyright 2010.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.