El Ratoncito Pequeno = The Little Mouse

PreS-Gr 1-Old-fashioned, crosshatch illustrations complement this bilingual nursery rhyme from the Hispanic tradition. The short rhyme tells the story of a little mouse that gets lured out of its hole by an offering of candy from a two-timing cat. The ending is not unlike traditional cautionary tales in English (e.g., ""Three Blind Mice""): the cat eats the mouse. However, the last illustration showing an angel mouse implies a happy ending of sorts. A word of caution, however: the illustration of the cat sitting at a table, holding a fork and a knife in each paw, could intimidate some children. This is a rhyme that children have recited frequently in some Latin American countries, and as such the book provides a valuable source of that oral tradition.Maria Mena, LeRoy Collins Leon Cty. P.L., Tallahassee, FL w