Mice

Mice begins with a simple, if debatable, statement--"I think mice/ are rather nice"--and goes on to contradict that by describing all the trouble they cause. It isn't until the end that we meet the speaker--a cat with a wide, toothy grin--and figure out the true motives behind his repeated assertion: "But I think mice/ are nice."

Children will be delighted by this revelation, as well as Lois Ehlert's vibrant collages, which identify household items, some instantly recognizable (comb, cracker), and others unusual (geranium plant, popcorn ball), as the nice mice make the rounds of a house. Rose Fyleman's rhyme can be appreciated as a read-aloud by toddlers, yet fun enough for emerging readers and parents. It's easy to imagine young readers asking for this one on a regular basis--though adding it to your shelves may make it hard to convince them that the kitchen needs a mousetrap. --Stephanie Anderson, head of readers' advisory at Darien Library and blogger

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