I. C. Springman

A glum magpie gets carried away with collecting after a friendly mouse gives it a marble. The story is cleverly told with visual details accompanied only by a series of simple quantifiers: "something," "a few," and "lots" turn into "too much" until the mouse says "enough!" The animals, their tree home, and the magpie's collection of stuff are all painted in a mesmerizingly realistic style that reminds me a little of David Wiesner. The characters are expressive and relatable, the magpie's show more hoard is worthy of a game of "I spy," and the conclusion offers a thought-provoking conversation starter: Which of your precious belongings would you keep if you could only choose three? show less

This is a lovely book regarding the endless acquiring of things, many of which are not necessarily needed. When the bird's next becomes so full that there is no space to live, it is time to take stock of what is, and what is not needed.

This is a tale of endless accumulation to the point where more is way too much! It takes a wise mouse to show the bird that more is way too much, and less is just enough.

Summary:
This simplistic book explains the importance of having the right amount of things. A bird starts out with nothing at all in his nest. As each page goes, he accumulates more and more things. His friend mouse seems to gaze nervously at his nest as it fills higher and higher. When the nest becomes too full, everything starts falling apart. The mouse helps the bird get rid of things until it has the perfect amount of possessions.
Personal Reaction:
This book spoke to me so much. Each page show more only had one or two words on it, with very simplistic drawings, that seemed more chaotic as the amount of things piled up in the nest. This was so powerful to me. I have went through many changes in the past year or so, and I could reflect on the weight of everything as things pile up. And the most powerful things is when it is all given up and you are left in a better place with exactly what you need.
Extension Ideas:
1. Have students do a small simulation. Have students stack books higher and higher into their arms. When they say that they can no longer hold all of them, you explain that this is the "too much" point in the book. As you relieve their tired arms by taking one book at a time, ask them how it feels when you have "enough" of something.
2. Have students write about a time they had too much of something (dinner, candy, sweets, etc.) and how it made them feel.
3. Draw the bird with the nest filled high with their favorite items. show less

One magpie, lots of stuff, and a few friendly mice show us that less is more. With very few words and fun, detailed illustrations this picture book asks the question: When is MORE more than enough? Can a team of well-intentioned mice save their friend from hoarding too much stuff? Children will find fun humor as they identify what objects the magpie thinks worthy of collecting.