Martha the mouse is fed up with being in the middle. Clara is the oldest and she’s always looked on as so grown-up. Ben is the baby and everyone always remarks on his cuteness. Poor Martha’s in the middle at meals and games and in bed; there’s nothing remarkable about her. Certain they won’t even miss her, she decides to run away. On her trek she meets a young frog who shows her the sunflower seeds are in the middle of the flower and the juiciest part of the watermelon is right there too. Just then, Clara and Ben come to tell her how much they do miss her. Suddenly, Martha realizes the middle is the best place to be. Fearnley’s big, friendly watercolors are what sets this offering apart from other “in the middle” stories. Little listeners, especially those who find themselves in the middle, will definitely identify with Martha. Pair it with Angela McAllister and Nick Maland’s A Place for Middle (2007) and Brigitte Meninger’s Davy in the Middle (2004). (Picture book. 3-7)
