As his mouse family endures a long, cold winter, Moses's contributions of a dance, a juggling act, and a little song prove more useful than he had supposed. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Schindler (One Witch) offers some of his most striking work to date in this well-crafted book. Winter is coming, and Moses the mouse is supposed to follow the example of his parents and older sister, who are combing the landscape for supplies. "We need food. Warm things for the nest. Gathering's best," they tell Moses in the book's refrain-and it certainly seems like there is little else to do. Schindler's gorgeously foreboding mixed-media spreads depict a world already ravaged by wind and cold, with colorless husks of corn scattered on the ground and threatening clouds gathering in the slate-gray sky. But the exuberant Moses occupies a world of his own. He dances with swirling leaves and learns to juggle the glistening pebbles he finds in the creek. He throws back his head to sing and hum "a whistle-y song," echoing the wind, writes Spinelli (When Mama Comes Home Tonight), as it "shicka-whished through the papery stalks of corn." When the long winter sets in, the family has food and warmth but-they're utterly bored ("Bored to tears," cries Moses's sister). Moses teaches them to sing, dance and juggle, and they so joyfully embrace their own creativity that only Moses detects spring's arrival. This wonderful story, told with a restrained and elegantly detailed aesthetic, may start out looking like a variation on "The Grasshopper and the Ant." But ultimately it offers a wise lesson all its own, celebrating art's powers to invigorate and to sustain. Ages 4-8. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

PreS-Gr 3-A delightful tale about self-expression and how individuals can contribute to their family's well-being in different but equally important ways. Moses, a young mouse, fails miserably at collecting the tangible things that are necessary for winter survival. He much prefers twirling and skittering like the fallen leaves, humming and whistling like the wind through the corn stalks, and tossing and catching tiny rocks. Although he does not forage for rags, corn, crumbs, and raisins like the rest of his family, Moses manages to accumulate a dance, a song, and three shiny pebbles (just right for juggling) that help to keep everyone entertained through the long cold days. This tale is similar in theme and characters to Leo Lionni's Frederick (Knopf, 1967). The plot is well developed, the text contains many descriptive words, and emergent readers will appreciate the repetitive and predictable language. Done in gouache, watercolors, inks, pastels, and chalk, Schindler's painterly artwork captures perfectly the chill of the coming winter and the warmth of a happy home. The spreads show mice clad in lace-collared calico dresses and pants held up by suspenders, and their expressive faces reflect the nuances of the story. This lovely book makes for an enjoyable read-aloud.-Robyn Walker, Elgin Court Public School, St. Thomas, Ontario, CanadaCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

PreS-Gr. 2. In Spinelli's new picture book, a take-off on the fable of the ant and the grasshopper, a young field mouse named Moses is instructed by his mother, father, and sister to collect food and warm belongings for the family nest. Moses tries to comply, but he's constantly distracted by twirling and skittering leaves, the whistle-y song of the wind, and pebbles from the creek. When the snow arrives, the family has food and warm possessions--thanks to Mama, Papa and Missy--and when they becomes bored, they have a song, a dance, and a juggling show thanks to Moses. Schindler's mixed-media artwork features warm autumnal hues and a cozy style well suited to the story. Spinelli's ending, in which a variety of skills and contributions are valued, is particularly appropriate to today's educational and child-rearing climate. A good choice for fall story hours or for one-on-one sharing. KayWeisman. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.