Tom Mouse

I love the world and want to share it with my little one. He's 5, and we both loved this book and it's gorgeous illustrations. Teaches a bit about adventure, art, Chinese culture and geography. Highly recommended. Also, The Snail and the Whale (by the team that did the Gruffalo) is another book that this reminds me, which we both recommend.

Tom Mouse by Ursula K. Le Guin is the story of Tom, a brave young mouse who dares board a train for the thriving city of Chicago. Tom befriends a young woman who, unlike most, does not shriek or shoo at the sight of a mouse; a friendship blossoms, that is wonderful enough to make a mouse dance. The soft color illustrations by Julie Downing add a friendly touch to this thoughtful and highly commended picturebook for young readers.

"Tom Mouse grew up in a hole in the wall of the diner in the station. His family was content with their cozy nest and the doughnut crumbs and bits of bacon they picked up in the diner. But Tom watched the great trains come into the station and leave again, and he wished he could go with them..." So begins Ursula Le Guin's sweet and lovely tale about a little mouse who yearns to leave home and see the big wide world he's heard so much about, and finds a companion to share his travels with. Tom kisses his family good-bye, scurries aboard a train headed for Chicago, and is off on what he hopes will be the beginning of a lifetime of adventures. Fortunately, he makes himself at home in Roomette Nine, along with its paying guest, Mrs Powers, an interesting and remarkable woman who, he finds, is not afraid of mice. In fact, she seems happy to have the company, and shares her snacks and conversation with Tom. As the trip continues these two form a special alliance, and decide together, that seeing the world would be even more fun and exciting with a friend..... Told in four short chapters, Ms Le Guin's simple, gentle text is complemented by Julie Brown's charming and expressive illustrations rendered in warm and soft, subdued tones. Together word and art bring this endearing little rodent and his story to life, and you can almost feel the motion of the train, and see the world rush by outside the window, as the train speeds on toward Chicago. Perfect for early readers, or as a read-aloud story the entire family can share together, Tom Mouse is a heartwarming and engaging tale of friendship and adventure that shouldn't be missed, and one of the best new pictures books of 2002.