If You Take a Mouse to the Movies

October 1, 2001
Actor Jason Alexander reads Laura Numeroff's story in the If You Take a Mouse to the Movies Book and Tape set, which includes a paper-over-board mini-book edition, illus. by Felicia Bond, and music by Sarah Weeks "Mouse's Twelve Days of Christmas" and a medley of favorite Christmas songs.

December 1, 2000
Ages 3-6. Following the popular " If You Give "a Mouse a Cookie (1987), " If You Give a Moose a "Muffin (1991), and " If You Give a Pig a Pancake" (1998), Numeroff offers another lively cause-and-effect romp. When a boy takes a mouse to the movies, the mouse wants popcorn, which he strings together and wants to hang on the Christmas tree that the boy buys for him. On the way home, the mouse wants to play in the snow but then needs to warm up at home, where he sings Christmas carols and wants to decorate the tree. His popcorn string is missing, so he wants to make another, which reminds him of the movies . . . As with the previous titles, children will find both the bouncy speculative text and the colorful illustrations irresistible. In simple pictures filled with wit, Bond personalizes both the story and the characters, creating the earnest boy, eager to please his gleeful, hyper mouse. A charmer that's sure to get plenty of circulation.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2000, American Library Association.)

October 1, 2001
PreS-Gr 2-Although they still have great appeal to many (especially Bond's adorable illustrations), the very predictability and formulaic nature of Numeroff's mouse books spoil their enjoyment. Taking the creature to a movie precipitates a series of events and takes him and his willing companion through a number of winter- and/ or Christmas-related activities, such as building snowmen and snow forts, buying a tree, and making ornaments. For brand-new readers and those otherwise new to the mouse canon, this book could be great fun. The Christmas theme is fairly shallow, presenting only the outer trappings of the holiday and no particular message. The Spanish translation is done competently. Appropriate for larger collections. M.O.B.

July 1, 2001
Winter holiday activities are the current order of business for the infamous demanding mouse. This time his delightfully frenzied activity begins not with a cookie but with movie popcorn, which he decides to string into chains, which make him want a Christmas tree, and so on. Festive details, such as the candy canes on the mouse's boxer shorts, add charm to Bond's homey ink and watercolor illustrations.

(Copyright 2001 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)