Ten Hungry Mice

Though Roland's (the Detective Dan books) counting book has its share of gaps, that's the hole point: the 10 ravenous rodents of the title inhabit a chunk of Swiss cheese. The shape of this board book, in fact, suggests a cheese wedge. Each of the 11 spreads introduces a mouse dressed for work (e.g., the ``builder mouse'' sports a hard hat and tool belt; a nautically garbed ``sailor mouse'' carries a life preserver and telescope). Thanks to die-cut round openings in the ``cheese,'' the mouse faces remain visible on subsequent pages (``peeking mice,'' not to be confused with Peking duck), thus presenting a series of arithmetical lessons-``1 police mouse and 7 peeking mice'' are identified at the top of a page, while text at the bottom explains, ``1 and 7 make 8 hungry mice.'' Roland's cheery critters and concept add up to mild amusement, but there's little real bite here. Ages 2-5. (Apr.)