Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
One Gray Mouse
Illustrator: Kim Fernandes
Board Book
For ages 2 to 4
Kids Can Press, 2006 ISBN: 978-1554530267
Gray Mouse is going out today and we meet him as he is coming out of his “black mouse house” which just happens to be a teapot. He has a lot of visits to make and he begins by watching the two black cats play with two spools of thread. Next he goes to the lake where three orange snakes are swimming and eating carrots. Later he stops by a flowering tree where six yellow bees are buzzing, playing, napping, reading, and drinking tea.
In all, the little mouse goes to nine places and meets nine sets of creatures doing all kinds of things. From each place the mouse collects a little souvenir of his stay.
Children will have a wonderful time poring over the extraordinary clay illustrations that fill this charming board book. Each double page spread gives them the opportunity to practice their counting skills and they will also enjoy seeing what the mouse takes away with him after every encounter. A clever use of language, stunning artwork, and a story within the story, make this counting book a joy to read and to look at.
