School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 2-The adorable mouse from Drip, Drop (HarperCollins, 2000) is back. "Pip Squeak is a busy mouse. Today he has to clean his house. He has to get it done by three. A friend is stopping by for tea." In a flurry of activity, he sweeps, mops, dusts, vacuums, and scrubs his house from top to bottom. When the doorbell rings, Pip Squeak eagerly welcomes his friend Max. Sadly, Max is a terrible guest and makes a mess of everything, tracking footprints everywhere and throwing his coat on the floor. He eventually realizes that he has upset his host and tries to make amends by cleaning up after himself. Clearly his efforts fall short, as he is depicted standing on a table while he mops a chair. Pip Squeak forgives him in the end, but suggests that next time, he visit Max instead. This simple, engaging narrative is perfect for children learning to read, with accompanying artwork that is just as entertaining as the text. The illustrations are filled with amusing details, such as a couch upholstered in a Swiss cheese motif, and they provide good picture cues. A welcome addition to any early-reader collection.-Melinda Piehler, Sawgrass Elementary School, Sunrise, FL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.