Mouse Scouts

Dillard (the Extraordinary Warren books) kicks off the Mouse Scouts series with a good-natured story about the gardening travails of a group of young mice who are attempting to earn their Sow It and Grow It scouting badges. Quiet Violet, her more daring friend Tigerlily, and their fellow scouts learn that determination and hard work are essential to creating a thriving garden; they collaborate to gather seeds and, later, fend off pests big and small. Understated pencil illustrations readily capture the mice’s emotions, while excerpts from their Mouse Scout Handbook offer a humorous window into their world (“A single pea is a healthy snack,” reads one entry). It’s easy to imagine children finishing this book with an increased interest in both gardening and scouting. Available simultaneously: Make a Difference. Ages 7–10. Agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words. (Jan.)