From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-In this fresh and lively chapter book, Mr. and Mrs. Mouse befriend five dolls abandoned in a box in a park. The couple provides beds, food, and safety in their warm, well-furnished mouse hole, but they can't win over the haughty Countess, who is used to the Land of Lounge. While the other four toys try to fit in and are grateful, the Countess remains apart. But when she falls prey to the groundskeeper's cat, the evil Mr. Cuddles, the mice and the other dolls rescue her, and the park's puppet master repairs her and supplies her with a "beautiful little heart." Mr. Mouse's language ("Everything tickety-tails?" he asks), the dolls' comments ("You really are a cloth brain"), and the view of the park as a place where "legs" come and go but leave plenty of food make this story fun to read aloud. Gardner's mixed-media illustrations include charming drawings of characters superimposed on photographs of a furnished mouse house and other backdrops. Their details, along with the clever telling, will delight readers not quite up to Rumer Godden's doll stories or Mary Norton's The Borrowers (Harcourt, 1953) but ready for more challenge than is offered in John Peterson's "The Littles" books (Scholastic).
Susan Hepler, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VACopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
'The author's excellent illustrations are a blend of old-style photos and line drawings. A delightful treat for the starter reader' Sunday Tribune 'The tale is witty, poignant, with exquisite collage-style illustrations that give the whole book the air of a miniature stage set. Amusing and endearing, the Countess will win her readers over' Metro Life 'A cool and charming book all about the trials and tribulations of a toy that hits hard times. You will think twice about throwing away old toys once you have read this touching story' Young Post 'A wonderful piece of make-believe' Guardian
--This text refers to the
Audio Cassette
edition.
