Library Mouse

PreS-Gr 4—When Sam, the Library Mouse, and his good friend Sarah discover that their beloved library is going to be renovated, they quickly realize that they must find a temporary place to live. Luckily, Sam, who knows all about doing research, finds a book with different types of homes from around the world, and together he and Sarah build all sorts of houses from an igloo to a castle to a geodesic dome to see where they'd like to live. They can't agree on the best kind of abode, though, until Sarah finds an old atlas in a corner and props it open to make an A-frame house. Of course, Sam feels right at home in a library book house! The CD is skillfully narrated by Chris Sorensen, who adds just the right amount of inflection to his voice, making this an enjoyable read-along. Two read-along versions, one with sound effects for page turns and one without, are included. In the accompanying book (Abrams, 2007), vibrant watercolor illustrations complement the text. Additional pages include photos of the real house styles discussed in the text along with a brief informational paragraph about each. A helpful glossary of vocabulary used throughout the story is included as well. This is a great story that may inspire children to do a little research of their own while exploring their own library. Recommended for public library collections.—Amy Joslyn, Fairport Public Library, NY