The Somewhat True Adventures of Sammy Shine

“Flying is... amazing,” says Sammy Shine, a pet mouse turned test pilot, and the hero of this exuberant animal adventure. “You see the world as a leaf on top of the tallest tree would see it. You see the sky from edge to edge. You see how big things are. And how tiny you are.” The rodent’s adventures turn dangerous, however, when he crashes in the Great Woods and loses his plane. In order to get home, Sammy and his new friends from the mouse kingdom must find and fix the Spirit of Sammy before Mustela, an evil weasel, takes it for his own purposes. Though bookended by encounters with human characters, Sammy’s story is largely set in the richly imagined world of the Great Woods, and Cole’s (A Nest for Celeste) soft pencil illustrations feature beautiful botanical detail and an appealing and expressive animal cast. The classic story arc, large typeface, and frequent illustrations make this tale an excellent fit for younger chapter book readers, who will hope this isn’t the last they’ll see of Sammy Shine. Ages 8–12. (Apr.)