LITTLE LUCIE’S DIARY

This quiet homespun tale recounts a handful of days in the life of Little Lucie, a white mouse, as recorded in her diary. The gentle tenor of the tale and simple excitements recorded by Lucie are evocative of Maurice Sendak’s Little Bear’s adventures. No spectacular events occur, but the wholesome appeal of the text is undeniable. Lucie and her friend Pip spend idyllic days reveling in the activities of the countryside surrounding them, as together they make apple pancakes, go for a jaunt to the seaside, take country walks, spend a dreary rainy day reading books, etc. Pfanner’s watercolor illustrations focus on a broader scope, offering inquisitive readers a plethora of minute details to discover. The retrospective text of Lucie’s diary appears in a flowing script; the events as they take place are recorded wholly in dialogue, in a conventional typeface. This quaint tale offers a peaceful respite for young readers submerged in a high-tech world. Included in the end pages are instructions for readers on how to make their own mouse-sized felt hats. (Picture book. 3-6)