Pick of the Week

Mary and the Mouse, the Mouse and Mary by Beverly Donofrio, illustrated by Barbara McClintock (Swartz & Wade Books, 2007)

"While Mary, a girl whose family lives in a big house, is learning things at school, a young mouse whose family lives in a small house within the big one is learning the same things at her school, and when the two eventually meet they become friends."

This is a simple story that fans of Barbara McClintock's illustrations will enjoy. It should also please young readers who like to imagine and pretend about the hidden possibilities within their homes and the secret lives of small creatures. Incorporate this book right before play time and see what stories you can come up with to recreate with figurines, boxes, and doll houses. The book's ending also offers a gateway to conversation with young listeners. What do you think will happen next? As the children and mice continue to grow up and move, will the story continue in the same way?

Other books illustrated by Barbara McClintock include:

Adele & Simon by Barbara McClintock (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006)

"When Adele walks her little brother Simon home from school he loses one more thing at every stop: his drawing of a cat at the grocer's shop, his books at the park, his crayons at the art museum, and more."

*Try this with fans of the I-Spy books for an alternative and very visually appealing treat!



Aunt Pitty Patty's Piggy retold by Jim Aylesworth, illustrated by Barbara McClintock (Scholastic,1999)

"A cumulative tale in which Aunt Pitty Patty's niece Nellie tries to get piggy to go through the gate."







Dahlia by Barbara McClintock (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2002)

"Charlotte does not like dolls, until she receives a special doll from her aunt and they become good friends."







The Gingerbread Man retold by Jim Aylesworth, illustrated by Barbara McClintock (Scholastic, 1998)


"A freshly bake gingerbread man escapes when he is taken out of the oven and eludes a number of pursuers until he meets a clever fox."







Cinderella retold by Barbara McClintock (Scholastic, 2005)

"Although mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters, Cinderella meets her prince with the help of her fairy godmother."