Two Tiny Mice

When two field mice take a peek at the vast world around them, they discover a whole host of interesting creatures. Baker's unusual ``mouse's eye view'' of nature provides an extraordinary wealth of detail. Flowers, berries, leaves and grasses fill his pages, providing a decorative frame for animals including a frog, a weasel, a squirrel and a fox. There is a pleasing continuity as the mice scamper forward in search of new sights, and children will relish finding the whimsical rodents on the bottom of each page. Baker's exquisite illustrations cannot fail to captivate, although they seem a bit static, as if the subjects are posing for photographs rather than going about their daily endeavors. Similarly, the simple text is soothing, and youngsters will enjoy the repetition of phrases as they identify each new creature, despite such uninspired descriptions as ``the shy little sparrow,'' ``a sly old fox,'' ``a croaking frog'' and ``a quacking duck.'' Best to let the pictures, and young imaginations, speak for themselves. Ages 2-6. (May)