Maisy Goes to the Movies

In this addition to the Maisy First Experiences line of books, Cousins’s mouse heroine and friends walk readers through the basics of catching a flick on the big screen. After settling on a film and stopping at the concession stand, Maisy and company give their tickets to an ostrich and settle into their seats. Cousins briskly defuses potential pitfalls that include a fear of the dark, the need to stay quiet, and the call of nature (“They go as fast as they can. And wash their hands very quickly.... They don’t want to miss anything”). Cousins’s vivid, ever-cheery artwork and economical writing continue to offer a welcoming and reassuring introduction to reader “firsts.” Ages 3–7. (Feb.)