BUILDER MOUSE

Two mice learn that friendship is all about give and take in this sweet and simple tale.

For best friends Edgar and Toby, leftovers mean very different things. Architect wannabe Edgar builds intricate structures. Watermelon rinds, runaway peas, ripe tomatoes, and more transform into arches, towers, and pyramids. Always-hungry Toby sees leftovers as lunch and finds Edgar’s “buildings” delicious. After Toby devours one too many of his creations, a fed-up Edgar moves out to seek a place where he can build in peace. However, he discovers that mice all over the city love leftovers. The subway mice find his castle made from peanuts, chips, and chocolate bars “irresistibly tasty.” The restaurant mice gobble up his cheese dome. And the museum mice eat up his candy mural because “they all agreed that it needed to be digested to be fully understood.” Soon, Edgar realizes that he misses his best friend and wants to find the middle ground. When Edgar returns home, Toby has a surprise of his own. Amusing details in the artwork abound—trendily dressed rodents in pearls and pageboy caps, as well as subtle changes in color to indicate mood. Plus, Eldarova’s droll text and vivid illustrations complement each other like macaroni and cheese, demonstrated in tension-creating page turns and effective double-page spreads.

There's room on the bookshelf for this yummy friendship-themed picture book.