A World to Explore

March 12, 2012
Kirk’s fourth book about Sam the library mouse continues the exploration theme of the third book, Library Mouse: A World to Explore, while offering a significant focus on art. Along with Sarah, the adventure-seeking mouse he met in the previous story, Sam makes an after-hours visit to the museum next door, giving Sam his first trip outside the library and introducing both mice to art and artifacts from across the centuries. Kirk revels in the museum environment, and readers (with parental help) will be able to identify works by and allusions to Seurat, Hokusai, Degas, and many more. The mice, though, are a bit wooden, with the same basic expressions whether admiring statuary or running away from the museum’s resident artist cat. Ages 4–8.

November 1, 2010

K-Gr 3-Sam the Library Mouse is back in this gentle story about facing fears and learning new things. He meets Sarah, a library mouse from across the stacks with a taste for adventure. She introduces him to the wonder of exploration while he shows her the joys of traveling through books and research. Students will relate to Sam's reluctance to try dangerous things and delight in Sarah's winsome enthusiasm for daring escapades. The gorgeous, bright gouache illustrations are meticulously detailed and expressive. The story is an excellent way to introduce research to the youngest patrons, which, according to Sam, is "how you find out about things." This visually appealing offering fits beautifully into the library curriculum.-Nicole Waskie-Laura, Chenango Forks Elementary, Binghamton, NY

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 19, 2010
Sam the library mouse is content reading and writing about far-off places and events. When he meets Sarah, a daring mouse from the other side of the stacks, Sam is happy to pass on his book knowledge. But when Sarah tries to share her love of exploring the highest shelves, Sam struggles between his fears, Sarah's encouragement, and his own desire to be brave. Sam's realization that "readers and writers are explorers, too" is refreshing, but it's Sarah's response—"just think of the books you could write if you really got to see the world!"—that gives this story depth. Ages 6–9.

Starred review from September 1, 2007
Put a mouse in a library and you have a sure seller; make the mouse a writer and you have a sure-fire hit. Sam lives in a hole in the wall behind the childrens reference books. During the day he sleeps, but at night he reads all kinds of books. One night Sam decides to write and illustrate his own. He writes about himself, and he draws his likeness, posing in a little mirror and sketching what he saw. He slips Squeak! A Mouses Life into the biography section. A girl finds it and shows it to the librarian, who is intrigued. Then Sam writes more: The Lonely Cheese and The Mystery of Mouse Mansion. Increasingly curious, the librarian posts a note on the bulletin board, inviting Sam to Meet the Author Day. What is Sam to do? His delightfully unexpected solution will inspire kids to write their own stories. In a rainbow of colors, the art, which features a slightly flattened perspective, ranges from small oval pictures of Sam busily sharpening pencils with his teeth to full-page views of the busy library. One great picture shows Sams face filling the page, dark eyes alight and white whiskers bristling. Its a show-stopper. This is ready-made to introduce a classroom writing activity, though some of the pictures are too small to be appreciated in a large-group readaloud. Even so, this is fun, fun, fun.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2008
Library mouse Sam begins writing--and surreptitiously shelving--his own tales. When the librarian (who doesn't know he's a mouse) asks for an author visit, Sam remains concealed and invites children to write their own books. Kirk delivers an undisguised message about the value of writing. His human characters look stiff, but Sam is depicted with verve and humor.

(Copyright 2008 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2011
In his third story, timid library mouse Sam meets Sarah. This female daredevil, also a library-dwelling rodent, scales bookshelves in pursuit of adventure. The story's ill-concealed message comes to light as the new friends learn that adventure can be found both inside and outside of a book. Some of the bold gouache pictures are stiff; others help boost excitement using varied perspectives.

(Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

October 1, 2007
K-Gr 2-Sam has a cozy home in the wall behind the children's reference books at the library. By day he sleeps and by night he reads, reads, reads. One night, he decides to write his own book. Once his autobiography is finished, he shelves it in the biography section. It's a huge hit with the children and the staff, as are the mystery and picture books he pens. This leads the head librarian to post a letter inviting the mystery writer to a "Meet the Author" day. Since he is a bit shy around people, he comes up with a better idea. He sets up a display using a mirror to show each student as the author, then puts out booklets and pencils for them to write their own stories. This book has an excellent premise, but the text is a bit wordy. It's the art that brings it to life. The detailed illustrations show a bright, light, busy library filled with books, a few computers, and lots of patrons. Sam, attired in a different outfit on almost every page, is an engaging, expressive mouse, and kids will enjoy seeing him having the run of the building at night. This offering would work well as a catalyst for a writing project."Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.