School

The exuberant mouse family of Picnic and First Snow returns in another fully captivating wordless picture book. Left alone with Mama while the eight older mice hurry off to school, the smallest mouse decides to follow them. This sibling manages to creep into school and take a seat without attracting the teacher's notice but is soon discovered when, in imitation of the others, it raises a hand andhorrors!is called upon. Happily, there is still time for the little mouse to enjoy snacks and a story hour with the class before Mama comes to claim it. Once again, McCully demonstrates that a picture can be worth a thousand words. Her watercolors ably capture the sudden loneliness and uncontainable curiosity of the youngest sibling left behind, and her portrayals of life in the family and classroom burst with happy antics and commotion. A warm and joyous book, with the colors of autumn shimmering throughout. Ages 3-6. (September)