Mouse and Spoon Book Series by Cynthia Rylant illustrated by Janna Mattia

When I saw this book cover on social media I was intrigued. I am a huge huge huge fan of Cynthia Rylant. She writes absolutely PERFECT little stories for children who are just beginning to develop reading confidence. Series such as Mr Putter and Tabby; Henry and Mudge; Annie and Snowball; The High-Rise Private Eye; The Lighthouse Family and now Mouse and Spoon.

I started exploring this series by reading book 2 - Owlets and Tarts - on my Kindle. Sadly, may be a little difficult to find here in Australia but they are fairly new so you can order them. I found them listed at Readings in Melbourne for just AUS$13.

Blurb: Mom and Dad Owl are exhausted—their three little owlets refuse to go to sleep. They need pillow tarts for their babies, and quickly! Will Ginger, Tom, and Piper at the Mouse and Spoon Bakery be able to help?

Here is the full review from the School Library Journal:

A long-reigning master of fiction for emerging readers, Rylant nails it again with this sweet new series about a bakery owned by a family of mice. In this installment, the mice are tasked with creating the perfect confection for owl parents who have been getting no sleep thanks to their three newly hatched owlets. The mice sift, roll, and knead until they have baked “three perfect Pillow Tarts” on which the owlets finally fall asleep. Rylant crafts a tale that is engaging without sacrificing decodability, and Mattia’s pastel-hued illustrations have a timeless quality that suits the story perfectly. The bedraggled owl parents add a touch of slapstick humor, and readers are sure to root for this trio of feisty mice. ­

The Elephants Birthday blurb: The baker mice are in for a surprise when an elephant places a large birthday order for over 100 pound cakes--plus some banana bread for her monkey friends! Can the little mice fill this very big order?  Read the review

Rabbit Tea blurb: A rabbit is having a tea party and needs lots of treats! Will Ginger, Piper, and Tom at the Mouse and Spoon Bakery be able to bake enough carrot cakes in time?

A Porcupine Wedding blurb: Ginger, Piper, and Tom of the Mouse and Spoon Bakery have a very important job: making lots of super sticky buns for a porcupine wedding!

Cynthia Rylant is an American librarian and author, who was born on 6th June 1954. She has written over 100 children’s books.

Mr Putter and Tabby pour the tea by Cynthia Rylant illustrated by Arthur Howard

 

I have mentioned the Mr Putter series in a previous post.  I adore these beginning chapter books. The stories are warm, there is just the right amount of text, they do contain 'chapters' and the colour illustrations add to the humour and emotion of the stories. I think all Primary school libraries should add the full set of these to their collection. In every way these book are perfect for newly independent readers and as a bonus they are books their parents will enjoy too. There are twenty-five Mr Putter stories and they range in price here in Australia from $11 to $14 each. 

Here are some of the titles: Mr. Putter & Tabby Bake the Cake,  Mr. Putter & Tabby Fly the Plane, Mr. Putter & Tabby Pick the Pears, Mr. Putter & Tabby Row the Boat, Mr. Putter & Tabby Take the Train, Mr. Putter & Tabby Toot the Horn, Mr. Putter & Tabby Walk the Dog, Mr. Putter & Tabby Stir the Soup, Mr. Putter & Tabby Make a Wish, Mr. Putter & Tabby Catch the Cold, Mr. Putter & Tabby Feed the Fish, Mr. Putter & Tabby Paint the Porch, Mr. Putter & Tabby Write the Book, Mr. Putter & Tabby Spin the Yarn, Mr. Putter & Tabby See the Stars.  Mr. Putter and Tabby Clear the Decks, Mr. Putter and Tabby Run the Race.

In Mr Putter and Tabby pour the tea we meet Tabby - this is the first book in the series.

"The shelter man brought Mr Putter the old yellow cat. Its bones creaked, its fur was thinning, and it seemed a little deaf. Mr Putter creaked, his hair was thinning, and he was a little deaf too. So he took the old yellow cat home. He named her Tabby. And that is how their life began."

You can see many pages from this book here. Here is an audio sample.

Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant illustrated by Sucie Stevenson

Easy Fiction Treasure

I love to hunt out very easy books for newly emergent readers which also contain very satisfying stories. I adore the writing of Cynthia Rylant and the series about Henry and his huge dog Mudge are just perfect. Here is the final page from the first book:

There are, I was amazed to discover, 28 books in this series.  You can even buy these books as a complete set.  If you purchase them this way they only cost $5 per book - what a bargain. Here you can listen to an audio sample from the first book.

Click the link below this illustration from Children's Book Almanac to read more about Cynthia.

Image source: Children's Books Almanac April 1st post.

Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas won the Theodore Geisel Award in 2006. This is an award that is well worth following because it celebrates excellent beginner books. The 2018 winner, for example, was Charlie and Mouse by Laurel Snyder.

All the books in this series have been culled from my former library. This makes me very sad. These books are a joy to read and should be part of every library collection for young children. Kirkus agree! You can read their reviews of seven titles from the series.

Warm, loving, and gently philosophical, these stories about an only child and his closest companion deserve a place in every library collection. Kirkus

I was certain there would be a toy Mudge - and yes I found him.

There is also an extra series about Mudge as a puppy.

Rosetown by Cynthia Rylant

"She knew that her parents both loved her. And that each of them loved the other. Flora had never heard them fight. The feeling between them was not one of war. It was instead as if they had skipped the war completely and gone straight to defeat, raising mutual flags of surrender. Then came the dividing up of dishes, silverware, linens and lamps so that one of them could live five streets over."

Flora is nine years old. It is 1972 and the Vietnam war has just ended. Emma Jean Smallwood, Flora's mother, and Forster Smallwood, her dad have settled the family in  Rosetown, Indiana. As the story opens the family dog Laurence has passed away. 

"They all knew Laurence was fading. But no one believed, really, that he would ever not be with them anymore. Especially Flora, who had held on to his collar ever since she took her first steps. ... Everyone was, in some way, still holding on to Laurence's collar."

Being nine means Flora is now entering fourth grade. While others seem to have gained a new confidence, Flora feels lost. Luckily a new boy arrives in her class. His name is Yury. He has come from Eastern Europe from Ukraine. He is a clever boy and an absolutely wonderful friend to Flora. Such is the power of this writing and relationship I really now want Yury to be my friend too!

Flora has to juggle living in two houses. This is quite difficult at times but a wonderful thing happens. Flora helps to rescue an abandoned cat. She names her Serenity and each week Serenity travels between the two houses making this arrangement much easier for Flora. Things are good for Yury too because one of his father's patients gifts him a puppy. Yury names him Friday and he invites Flora to assist at the puppy class run behind the hardware store each Saturday afternoon.  I love the name of these classes - The Good Manners for Good Dogs dog school.

So many special but small things happen to Flora over the course of this year. She has a wonderful  friend called Nessy, she loves helping with Friday, her dad takes her to his photo shoots, her mum encourages her to try piano lessons and her teacher Mr Cooper notices her special talent.

Cynthia Rylant paints a delightful picture of this small town and this is reflected in her choice of names for each shop/business:

Shops
Wings and a Chair Used Books - This is where Flora's mother works three afternoons each week and it is where Flora and Yuri enjoy reading vintage children's books.  I have made a list below because I was curious to discover if these were real books and I was thrilled to discover they are. In this shop there is a fabulous purple velveteen chair where Flora loves to sit and read.

"And this is the story of any proudly owned used-book shop: that someone, at some time, has stumbled upon a kind of buried treasure within its shelves. But unlike shiny gold, which is taken instantly, this treasure - a vintage book.  ...  Then arrives the day when it becomes clear that that vintage book should belong to a certain someone."

The Windy Day Diner where Flora and her mother often eat their lunch or supper.

Southwell's Barbershop the place where she first sees little Serenity the cat with the fluffy tail.

The Peaceable Buns Bakery where Flora and her mother share poetry books and a love of words.

Four Part Harmony - the music store filled with every musical instrument you can imagine and where Flora and Nessy go for weekly piano lessons.

Mars Comics - Yury loves this shop

Book titles (Yes they are real!)

• The Boy Allies
• Meg and the disappearing Diamonds
• Nora Force at Raven Rock
• Stories for Children - inscribed To Christopher 1929
• The Girl from Tim's Place - inscribed to John L 1906
• The Walton Boys in Rapids Ahead published in 1958

Two other things I loved in this story were the idea of encyclopedia hour. At this time, once each week, the children are allowed to explore the twenty-two volumes of the World Book Encyclopedia. It is a little out of date being the 1962 edition but Flora loves exploring each volume.  The second thing I would like to know more about is April Lyrid. It's a meteor shower that happens once a year.

I love the fact there there is no conflict in this quiet story.  There are no bullies and there is no meanness just observations of  life by Flora.  She simply gives us insights into the changes in her own life and her reactions to these changes told in an honest and open way.This is a small story but a very meaningful one which young, sensitive readers will enjoy.

I am a huge fan of Cynthia Rylant so when I saw this little volume many months ago I just knew I had to read it. Sadly here in Australia this little book was priced at $25 so I decided to wait. Last week I found a copy for just under $20 and when it arrived yesterday I read the whole book straight away even though I knew I should really slow down and savour its delights. 

You can hear part of the first chapter here. Here is a review with more plot details.

There is a mention in this book of Cricket Magazine - I have a few old copies and I treasure them. Here is an early cover from the 1970s.

I don't think that anywhere as idyllic as Rosetown ever existed, but I certainly want to move there and be the middle school librarian! Ms Yingling

There is no stunning plot twist, no over-the-top drama, no “cosmic experiences.” In Rosetown, there is simply life – in all of its complexities and beauty.  There are blooming friendships. There are waning friendships. There are shared interests. There is room for independent pursuits. And there are cats. And there are dogs. Katie Reviews Books

"Flora watched the dove-gray clouds move over the fields and farms. She looked towards the horizon dividing the brown soil from the blue sky. And deep inside she suddenly became aware of a feeling of expectation."

Life by Cynthia Rylant illustrated by Brendan Wenzel

A splendid tribute to the world and its splendors, with something to offer 

audiences of a broad range of ages. Kirkus

Cynthia Rylant is one of my writing heroes. Every book - from the simplest little beginning chapter book to magnificent books like this one and her heart wrenching novels - all have a special kind of magic. Today I discovered Life - short listed for the Bull Bransom Award - more about click the quote at the end of this post.  Yesterday I talked about special non fiction. Click this Pinterest collection to see more titles in this 'genre'.

If ever you needed proof that the best picture book text is pure poetry read this text extract slowly:

Life begins small

Even for the elephants.

Then it grows.

Beneath the sun.

And the moon.

Life grows.

Ask any animal on earth,

what do you love about life?

The hawk will say the sky.

The camel will say the sand.

The snake will say the grassssssss.

The turtle may remain quiet.

It has seen much in its hundred years.

But the turtle loves life. How could it not,

with so much rain on its back?

Add to this exquisite text glorious illustrations and you have a truly special book to treasure and share.  I would pair Life with Mayfly Day.  You can see more art by Brendan Wenzel.

I am not a huge advocate of ebooks especially as a way to explore picture books but if you cannot locate Life there is an ebook edition.

The Bull-Bransom Award is given annually to recognize excellence in the field of children’s book illustration with a focus on nature and wildlife. The award is named after Charles Livingston Bull and Paul Bransom, who were among the first and finest American artist-illustrators to specialize in wildlife subjects.

The beginning chapter books I mentioned by Cynthia Ryland include The Lighhouse Family series, Mr Putter books, Henry and Mudge titles and High-Rise Private Eye.  You might also like to read Missing May a perfect book for sensitive, mature Primary readers.  I am now keen to read a new Cynthia Rylant chapter book I spied on a recent visit to Beachside Bookshop.

Lighthouse family series by Cynthia Rylant illustrated by Preston McDaniels

On my recent trip to Seattle I stumbled across the Lighthouse Family series by Cynthia Rylant.  I picked out The Storm because I adore lighthouses, I am always on the look out for simple chapter books with satisfying stories and I really appreciate the writing of Cynthia Rylant with books like Mr Putter,  High-rise Private Eyes, Missing May and the Henry and Mudge series.  There are six books in the Lighthouse Family series and while they are available they are not new - the first was published in 2002.

Pandora, a kindhearted cat, has lived alone at the lighthouse for the last four years. She is very lonely but she knows this is an important job and she has saved many lives. She has occasional visitors such as a whale called Atoll and a tern called Henry.  We meet these two again in subsequent books.

Seabold is an old seafaring dog who is caught in a wild storm. His boat is wrecked near the lighthouse and Pandora rescues and cares for him.

"For he found himself in a little wooden bed under a cheerful gingham quilt, and he was no longer in the sea, but looking out at the sea, through a small window by his side. A daisy stood in a jar on the windowsill."

Seabold eventually rebuilds his boat and it seems Pandora will be lonely all over again.  But is has taken a long time to repair the boat, it takes a long time for his leg to heal and somehow the seasons pass. Seabold is surprised he enjoys being on land and he admires the importance of Pandora's work. One day in the Spring the pair spy a drifting crate with a flag. Seabold rows out to investigate and inside are three little mice - a boy, a girl and a tiny baby.  In fact the baby is named Tiny.  His brother  Whistler and sister Lila have escaped from an orphanage.  Now Seabold will stay - he loves Tiny, Pandora has a family to care for and the three little mice have found a true home.

"Seabold grew quite attached to Tiny. He put her in the soft roll of his knitted cap and she went everywhere with him, seeing all that he saw."

Here is a review of The Storm.  Take a look at this video of Cynthia's first book When I was Young in the Mountains.  There are some audio samples of The Storm and The Whale here.

Missing May by Cynthia Rylant and A Taste of Blackberries by Doris Buchanan Smith

At this time of year we start to review our library collection and "weed" out the older books that are beyond repair or have not been borrowed or books that just look too old to appeal to our students.

Our library copies of these two classic books are so old the paper has turned brown so last week I bought them home to re-read before I purchase replacements.

I do remember A taste of Blackberries (1973) as a very sad book but oddly on this re-reading it did not seem quite so sad.  I imagine on my first reading I missed some of the signposts that Doris Buchanan Smith includes that give a hint of Jamie's mortality.  He loves a challenge - especially one that pushes his physical limits into dangerous situations, and he is not scared that the farmer might shoot him for stealing apples.

The idea of collecting Japanese beetles from Mrs Houser's yard seems quite simple but no one could anticipate that bees lived there too or know that Jamie would have such a violent and ultimately deadly reaction.  I did enjoy re-reading A taste of Blackberries but I think the resolution of grief is a little simplistic.  That said, this is an important story and I will buy a new copy for our library.

Missing May (1992) is a better book with the same theme of how we cope with grief.  Summer has lost her parents and after being sent to live with a succession of family members is taken in my May and Ob.

"That first night ... with Ob and May was as close to paradise as I may every come in my life.  Paradise because these two old people - who never dreamed they'd be bringing a little girl back from their visit with the relatives in Ohio - started from the minute we pulled up in Ob's old Valiant, to turn their rusty, falling-down place into a house just meant for a child. ...  I was six years old and I had come home."

Missing May is such a special book. (Newbery winner 1993). Every word is carefully chosen and the insights into Summer herself along with her love and care of Ob are profound.  If you enjoy a sad and thoughtful book Missing May is perfect. You might also enjoy the books in the Silk series and Dicey's Song.  Here are some teacher notes for Missing May.  You might also like to read the Kirkus Review:  A beautifully written, life-affirming book.

The High-Rise Private eyes series by Cynthia Rylant illustrated by G. Brian Karas

The hot topic among my second grade students (boys and girls) right now is spies.  I am not sure why but this is a topic that seems to arise from time to time.  The two little books in this review are about spies or perhaps detectives but sadly they are not going to meet the expectations of my second graders because they want 'how to' guides. They want to be spies!

All that to one side these are two little fun beginner books where the spying is more often a case of setting straight a misunderstanding or righting a tiny wrong.  There are eight books in this simple series and we now have two - The case of the Missing Monkey and The case of the Climbing cat.

Bunny Brown and Jack Jones are the High-Rise private eyes.  In the first book a glass monkey goes missing from a diner.  Bunny and Jack stake out the joint at breakfast and review the suspects. There is a fox eating chocolate chip pancakes, a crow eating powdered doughnuts and a sheep with a lunch box but it is Bunny who sees the truth.  The fox is reading a book about trains - he likes machines not delicate monkeys and the lunch box owned by the sheep is badly dented - he is too clumsy to want a glass ornament. Suspicions must fall on crow who has a large tote bag.

What is in this bag?  Is crow the real thief?  Why did he take the glass monkey?

The setting for the second book, The case of the Climbing cat, is the high-rise apartment building where our two intrepid heroes live but Jack lives on the ground floor because he is afraid of heights.  This is a problem because Miss Nancy lives on the twentieth floor and her binoculars have been stolen.
If you enjoy this little episode you might like Andy Shane and the Barn Sale Mystery by Jennifer Richard Jacobson.

These two little books are perfect for beginner readers because they contain satisfying stories that can be read easily in one or two sittings, they have loads of colour pictures and Bunny and Jack themselves have a happy jokey relationship.

Be sure to look for other books by Cynthia Rylant in our library including the marvelous Mr Putter series.

Mr Putter and Tabby fly the plane by Cynthia Rylant

I am so excited when I find a very simple junior book for beginning readers with a marvelous story. It does not happen very often but here is one I read about in Horn Book. There are about 18 different books about Mr Putter and we have just begun to collect them for our library.

In this one Mr Putter and Tabby fly the plane we learn that Mr Putter loves toys (so do I) and he especially loves to visit toy shops (so do I) and when he was a boy he was fascinated by toy planes especially remote control ones (me too!).

Mr Putter finds the exact plane of his childhood dreams, he buys it, flys it and along the way acquires a heap of new young friends. The most special part of this book comes right at the end.

One little shy outsider child loves this plane. Mr Putter recognises something of himself in this little boy. Look for Mr Putter in our school library. These books are perfect for our youngest students who are just beginning to gain confidence with reading.