TOWN MOUSE, COUNTRY MOUSE

Brett's (Christmas Trolls, 1993, etc.) embellishment of the familiar tale is clever: Each mouse here has a wife, and, like many contemporary couples, these two decide to exchange homes for a while. What follows, in alternating country and city scenes, is the result of their naãvetÇ concerning their new environments, including both humorous misconceptions (`` `Is the bathtub leaking?' `No, we're in the country now,' he said. `Those are raindrops' '') and narrow escapes (a cat lurks in side panels in the town scenes, an owl in the country). Brett's narrative is amusing, but best here are her meticulous illustrations of the appealing creatures and their exquisitely imagined world, with the town's delicately patterned crockery and lavish larder rivaling the country's elegantly limned wildlife for interest. A strong entry from a popular artist. (Folklore/Picture book. 4-8)