THE ROYAL MICE

Faster than youngsters can learn to spell Despereaux, a troupe of brave little mice save themselves from a cat-for-hire in this tale both pretty and silly. The Queen of All You Can See is not happy that there are mice sleeping inside her shoes and scaring her guests. So she puts out a call and in comes Max the Magnificent, a Maine coon. The mice hide and trick the cat, but decide they must get Max to depart. A family legend of a sword and horn used to summon the brave spirits of departed mice is told, the artifacts rediscovered, the ghost-mouse hordes appear, and Max gives up. The Queen learns to live with the royal mice, and they with her. Krupinski’s own Maine coon, pictured on the flap, is the model for Max; for the rest, illuminated borders, medieval pattern, and lots of purple, gold, and pink create a place for mice in robes and peaked hats to scamper among suits of armor and the Queen’s bright robes. Mildly amusing and shiny to look at. (Picture book. 4-8)