Five Nice Mice Build a House - Hardcover

Chisato Tashiro is a children’s book author and illustrator. She illustrated the picture book Voices of the Forest for Expo 2005, the world’s fair held in Aichi, Japan. She is the author and illustrator of Chameleon’s Colors and Five Nice Mice & the Great Car Race.

PreSchool-Grade 2—Under a full moon, five mice follow the sound of beautiful music to a city park where frogs are giving a concert. The rodents' enjoyment is cut short when a booming voice informs them that the event is for frogs only. They are disappointed, but not dejected. The memory of one lovely song, "Over the Moon," inspires them to form their own orchestra. They create instruments, practice, and hold their own performance. Frogs sneak in and are made welcome. All join in to sing "Over the Moon," proving that sharing music is the best way to enjoy it. Quiet text and delightful artwork blend harmoniously to convey the action and excitement. The illustrations fill in the details as the mice build their instruments. Ordinary objects take on new possibilities when given a mouse-size perspective. A drinking straw becomes a flute. A matchbox and thread become a guitar. Subdued colors with bright accents heighten the musicians' anticipation as they nervously wait backstage. As a mouse peeks through the curtains, a double-page view shows the audience. Readers will catch a glimpse of the frogs, incognito, as they enter the auditorium. Colors brighten as the songs flow and carry the story to its melodious conclusion. This beautiful book, like the music, should be shared-either individually or in storytime.—Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH
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