TEAKY SQUEAKER'S GREATEST PLAN

A scared mouse finds a creative way to deal with a dangerous cat in this picture book.

Bespectacled mouse Teaky Squeaker is so frightened that she doesn’t want to leave her house. She’s also allergic to cheese. While many of her fears are imaginary, the big, red feline Ketchup poses a real threat. Determined to catch the mouse, Ketchup tries everything—and Teaky realizes she must do something about the cat. Although it means going outdoors, Teaky leads Ketchup to a place where felines are happy, and discovers there is much more of the world to see. Back in her domain, she copes with a wrecked house from Ketchup’s attacks. But “as she built her home anew, Teaky saw how much she grew.” Pasternak relates Teaky’s story in simple, rhyming phrases, offering a few challenging vocabulary words (stalked, scheme) for emergent readers. Many readers will note that the world is filled with perils and Teaky’s fears are well founded, but her ability to overcome them through cunning and determination should inspire youngsters. Silvani’s soft-edged cartoon illustrations show mice and cats of several different colors and clever, mouse-inspired cars. Ketchup is suitably scary in the Big Bad Wolf role, and Teaky’s grand plan, featuring a map filled with cheese-inspired names and the feline haven “Meowtopia,” is well drawn to convey the action of her escapade. Mouse versions of real landmarks that appear on Teaky’s journey add a humorous touch to the enjoyable tale.

An engaging mouse adventure with a solid moral.