From School Library Journal PreSchool-Grade 2–When Mouse realizes that autumn has arrived, she is delighted to make the long journey to the distant nut tree to gather food for the winter, dressed in her coat with the extra-big pockets. She is warned by Gull that a storm is coming, but she cant hear him because of the wind. She is warned by Sheep that a dog is near, but she cant hear the bleats over the barking. She blithely continues toward her goal, ignoring the brewing storm. When at last she arrives at the tree, all of the nuts and leaves have blown away. She returns home with empty pockets and finds a surprise waiting for her. Although the story is slight, the words are well chosen and the repeated refrain will delight readers. The pencil-and-pastel illustrations are charming, displaying the textures and colors of fall and the foreboding energy of the storm. Gerritsen effectively contrasts the tiny mouse with the large expanses she must travel. And even the vast spreads include small details tucked away for curious eyes to discover. Nuts is a good read-aloud to accompany units on the seasons, animal habits, and goal-planning.–Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Warren & Waldoboro, ME Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Read more From Booklist PreS-Gr. 2. Mouse lives on a little hill with a beautiful view of the field, farm, and faraway nut tree. It's autumn and time to collect those nuts. Wearing her coat with the extrabig pockets, she sets off. Warnings from Gull, Hare, and Sheep about an impending storm don't deter her because the wind is so strong she can't hear them. Arriving at the tree just as the sky darkens, lightning flashes, and thunder roars, she dives into a hole at the bottom of the tree and falls asleep. When she wakes up, the tree's leaves and nuts have disappeared. Dejected, she walks home--only to find that the wind has blown the nuts right to her hill. With a freewheeling spontaneity reminiscent of Simon James' art, Gerritsen's pictures make use of an overhead perspective to convey diminutive Mouse's size, while visual asides, such as ants capering in the scenes, add wry touches of humor. Children will have fun tracking Mouse's progress by spotting her jaunty red coat and yellow scarf, and the spare text will be good for reading aloud. "Sometimes things just come your way," thinks lucky Mouse--just like this small, charming book. Julie CumminsCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Read more
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