Every word and brush stroke is spot-on in this luminous celebration of creativity, conservation and compassion. Stanley, a clumsy elephant child, wants to help his mother but succeeds only in making messes. Sent to buy tomatoes, he accidentally smashes Mouse’s house, which he promises to rebuild. Taking the distraught and skeptical Mouse along in the pocket of his shopping bag, Stanley blushes (beautifully pink) when the baker suggests he wait outside because he had toppled a wedding cake on a previous visit. Generously sharing his muffin with Mouse, Stanley cleverly stashes napkin, bottle cap and doily, and he skips home while “new ideas fluttered and swirled through his head bright as leaves.” By day’s end, Mouse has a beautiful new house, created from items Stanley has collected and others found in the recycle box on the porch. All ends happily, with Clumsy, Clever and, most importantly, Kind Stanley embraced by Mom and Mouse. Kleven’s inspiring words and her paint, ink and cut-paper art burst with the same kind of joyous creativity displayed by Stanley. (Picture book. 4-8)
