Karma Wilson

Murine worrywart Mr. Murray, and happy-go-lucky free spirit Thumbkin, find themselves next-door-neighbors in this endearing picture-book, one living in a tidy teapot, the other in a large (and slowly decaying) pumpkin. As Mr. Murray worries about what Thumbkin will do, when his house falls apart around him, his neighbor sits back and relaxes, or, in a rare moment of industry, makes pumpkin cake out of a piece of his own home. When the inevitable finally happens, Mr. Murray has a solution - show more one that will benefit both mice...

Karma Wilson's tale, told in rhyming verse, is a contemporary take on the classic Aesopic fable of The Ant and the Grasshopper, with a much less grim outcome for the "grasshopper," and would make an admirable story-hour selection. The colored pencil illustrations by Ard Hoyt - whose other picture-book credits include John Lithgow's I'm a Manatee and Laurie Halse Anderson's The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School - capture the fun of the story, and the very different personalities of its two stars. I don't know that I felt as strongly about Mr. Murray and Thumbkin as the friend who recommended it to me, but I definitely found it a winsome little title, perfect for fall reading! show less

First sentence: In a big house lived a wee mouse named Mortimer. He dwelled in a dark hole under the stairs. Nobody ever noticed little Mortimer. And Mortimer liked it that way. But he didn't like his hole. "Too cold. Too cramped. Too creepy," squeaked Mortimer.

ETA: I've reread this one several times now. It is one I always find myself coming back to because it is a great example of how a picture book can include Christian themes without being too-much.

Premise/plot: Mortimer is in search of show more a new home, a better home. To his surprise, he finds such a home…easily. But it's a home filled with statues. There is even a statue of a baby of all things?! The baby is easily shoved OUT of the way. And Mortimer settles into a MOUSE-SIZE bed, happy at last. But will that happiness last? And why do the humans keep putting the statues back up day after day?!

My thoughts: When Mortimer encounters Jesus (Or "statue-baby-Jesus") for the first time, his response was quick: THERE'S NO ROOM FOR YOU HERE, OUT YOU GO. I think Mortimer's response is the natural human response to the actual Jesus. People may "have room" for baby Jesus a couple of days each December. Shoved in amongst other activities or festivities. But is there a place for Jesus in their actual lives, year round? Not just the baby Jesus, the harmless, inoffensive Jesus. But the born-to-die, Savior-Rescuer. (Jesus can't be squeezed into little corners, little pockets of our lives. He's the LORD of the universe. But I digress.)

Mortimer has a second encounter with Jesus. This time it's the Jesus of the Word. He overhears the family reading the Christmas story. He learns who Jesus is, he learns what Jesus came to do. This changes everything…for Mortimer. Jesus must come. He must go. They can't both sleep in the manger. And Mortimer surrenders what was never really "his" to Jesus. He also offers up a prayer.

The story has a happy ending because the family has been busy making a gingerbread house. Of course Mortimer thinks it's a direct answer to his prayers! show less

This is the second book in the Bear series, which I've had the chance to read, and I'm still a fan of this cute, big guy.

Bear is super excited and can barely contain himself. He has the best surprise ever ready for his friend Hare, but now, he has to wait until it's time for him to reveal it. But waiting is so hard, especially since Bear is sure Hare's going to love it. In his excitement, he starts to make a big mess of things...and maybe, the surprise won't be so great after all.

Written in show more rhyme, this is a sweet book about an even sweeter bear. Bear has a heart of gold, and while he does his best, things don't work out as perfectly as he hopes. I think one of my favorite things about Bear is that his troubles are ones everyone faces. Especially young readers and listeners will recognize the same issue in themselves and realize why Bear has the troubles he does. The solution is heart-warming and shows how important the help, care and love of others can be. It's exactly a message kids can relate to and learn from, while simply enjoying a lovely tale.

The illustrations are nicely down and bring Bear and his friends to life. Young listeners will easily be able to take the book on their own and revisit Bear and his adventure again and again. It's simply a lovely tale through and through.

I received an ARC and enjoyed it quite a bit. show less

Lewis the mouse loved his cozy home in the tiny hole at the base of a tall tree. Prepared for winter's coming, he had just settled down when he heard a "Scritch Scratch Tap Tap." Imagining all the terrifying things it might be, from an owl to a bear, he used his biggest, most intimidating voice to shout: "Who Goes There? Who Could It Be? / Who Scritches and Scratches and Taps At My Tree?" After receiving no answer on three separate occasions, he worked up his courage, and went to show more investigate, finding that the source of the noise was the very thing he'd been missing: another mouse, named Joy...

Well known for her engaging animal stories, particularly her series of tales about Bear (Bear Snores On, Bear Wants More, etc.), author Karma Wilson, together with illustrator Anna Currey, delivers an entertaining picture-book with Who Goes There? Lewis is an appealing little murine hero, and young children will undoubtedly feel the tension building, as he continually wonders who could be making those noises. His poetic refrain contrasts nicely with the main text, which is in prose. The artwork, done in pen and ink and watercolor, is colorful and cute, ably capturing Lewis' changing expressions. Recommended to all young animal lovers, and to anyone looking for the perfect story for a blustery late fall/early winter day. show less