Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole

Mouse and Mole navigate the perils of inter-species friendship and realize that working together brings many rewards in Wong Herbert Yee’s Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole. The main lessons learned in this four chapter Easy Reader are to be considerate of those around you and to work together. Yee poses simple problems for his two characters to solve, yet the implications of these problems are far-reaching – perhaps most obviously in the way that they approach the differences in their ways of life – staying true to themselves while respecting the needs of the other. Yee treats these issues with both humor and sensitivity. His colorful and action-filled illustrations are amusing and also genuinely express the emotions of Mouse and show more Mole. However, the plots of the four separate chapters, while well-constructed and imparting good lessons, are not particularly compelling. show less

For an 'Early Reader' there were some awfully challenging words. But other than that, it fits all the parameters. It's a cute friendship story between small animals, short sentences, short 'chapters,' bright sweet pictures, closer to the size of a novel than a picture-book, and part of a series. A charming example of a winning formula.

Lovely. Sure to be a hit with Frog and Toad fans. The preschooler was fascinated by the idea that these two friends live in the same home on different floors.

32 months - this is a cute story about learning to appreciate and adapt to other people's needs and differences to be a better friend.

Clean and Tidy
The Invitations
Kind, Good Neighbors
The Boat

4P