A little mouse with a big problem finds the answer in generosity. Little Mouse discovers quite the treasure trove when he stumbles across a delicious chocolate-chip, raspberry-cream cupcake. But how in the world can he carry it home? Bird’s arrival seems perfectly timed, but she can’t manage it either. But perhaps she could have a crumb to try? Generous to a fault, Little Mouse agrees and shares with Bird…and Frog, Mole, Snail, Possum and Chipmunk. Happy to share, Little Mouse nonetheless cannot hide his worry that the animals are taking bites that are too big. But in the end, this is what solves the problem. Barton’s soft-hued watercolor-and-pencil illustrations wonderfully complement the text. The beautifully decorated cupcake towers over Little Mouse, dwarfing him—and the others as well. Her animals are only lightly anthropomorphized, with expressions that match their emotions—puzzlement, worry, gluttony, despair, happiness. Paired with Don and Audrey Wood’s classic The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear, this is a great lesson in sharing. (Picture book. 3-7)
