Emmie Builds Something New by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall

Emmie was little. But her ideas were big. ...

Everything was just the way she liked it. Until one day ...

Turn the page - an enormous shadow fills the space - yes, it is a cat. Emmie has read lots of books about cats such as "Care of Cats"; "Puss in Boots"; and "Cats in Wonderland".

Image source: Marjorie Crosby-Fairall

This cat is terrifying so Emmie hides inside her little home, but Emmie is a problem solver. She is determined to scare that cat away. As with the way with all good stories she tries three times to make the perfect robot-like monster which she is sure will work. Her final creation sprays water all over the cat and at this point Emmie realises something - this little soggy cat is not scary at all. Is there a way to fix this situation? Perhaps the word 'sorry' will help. 

Thinking about the book design - the end papers are terrific and I love the illustration on the title page. With your library group talk about the use of a cog to dot the 'i' in the title and the choice of font and use of capital letters. You might notice Emmie is wearing glasses - do these make her look smarter? Does it matter that the bell has a crack? Opposite the title page Emmie is surrounded by a tangle of wool - why does she look triumphant? Compare this with the second last page after your reading. And this is also a 'noisy story' which means it will be perfect to read aloud. 

Sprang! Crash! Bang! Boom! Bash! Swooped! Crash! Bang! Boom! 
Stamped! Stomped! Splashed! Yippee! Hooray!

On the whole, it’s a welcome reminder that it’s just as important to be kind as it is to be smart. A sweet social-emotional book that’s the cat’s (and the mouse’s) pajamas. Kirkus

This delightful story not only entertains but also inspires young readers, especially girls with a passion for STEM. Join Emmie on her roller-coaster journey of discovery, where every challenge is an opportunity to create, learn, and ultimately build a bridge of understanding with her newfound companion. Ultimately Emmie finds a way to coexist with the cat and discovers that empathy is the pathway to peace and friendship. A Book and a Hug

The cool-toned palette--full of teals, coppers, and dusty greens--adds to the atmosphere, giving the attic world a muted glow that feels both forgotten and full of potential. The perspective shifts and textured lines bring Emmie's world to life with energy and wit. The illustrations brim with mechanical marvels and visual riddles, and the story hints at broader ideas: that even long-held assumptions, like cats and mice being enemies, can be reimagined through curiosity, creativity, and a little kindness. Shelf Awareness

In your school library or Kindy or Grade One classroom it would be fun to explore either the topic of inventions or the topic of the rivalry between the cats and mice. With an older group you could investigate women inventors such as Joy Mangano; Hertha Ayrton; Ada Lovelace; Margaret Eloise Knight or Josephine Cochrane. I am sure you can think of many others. Take a look at this Pinterest from my friend at Kinderbookswitheverything. It is could also be interesting to talk about the reversal in this story where the mouse has the upper hand over the cat. Your senior students could look at Mr Maxwell's Mouse as a comparison text. 

Here are some sketches by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall from her book. 

I had Emmie Builds Something New in a basket of books I borrowed from a school library at the end of 2025. Today I saw someone on social media say this was their favorite Australian picture book of 2025 - that's a big call so I knew I needed to look more closely at Emmie Builds Something New. I do like Emmie Builds Something New - surely it will be listed as a CBCA Notable Picture Book in 2026. 

Here are other books illustrated by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall. I previously talked about Summer Blue.

The art in Emmie Builds Something New reminded me of this wonderful book:

The Tin Forest

Talking about cats and mice try to find this really old (very funny) book:

This one is great too:

A most Mysterious Mouse

Mortimer's Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson illustrated by Jane Chapman

Book seller blurb: It’s Christmastime, and Mortimer Mouse, unhappy in his cramped, cold hole, goes in search of a new home. He spies a nativity scene that looks just right for him, so he moves the statues out and settles himself into the manger! But when he hears the Christmas story being told and realizes that the statues are of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, he understands that the crèche is meant for them and returns everything to its rightful place. Then, suddenly, a Christmas miracle occurs and Mortimer discovers a new home, at last!

This book was published in 2005 but hopefully you can find a copy in a library - that's how I found this copy. Take a look at the Kirkus review.

After you have shared the nativity story with your family this Christmas try to find Mortimer's Christmas Manger. Reading this book will be made even more perfect if you also set up a nativity set in your home. My friend has a truly special one with knitted pieces and another friend has one with special European carved characters sitting in a small barn that she made herself.

Here are some other books by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Jane Chapman:

I previously talked about The Gift of Christmas. Here are some of her other Christmas books:

Oops Pounce Quick Run! by Mike Twohy

I was browsing the Alphabet books (421) in the library and I saw this book. The title and cover illustration immediately grabbed me. Then I looked inside.  Such a creative idea to use each letter of the alphabet to tell the story using only one or two words on each page. The twist which begins from the letter T onwards is perfect. The subtitle for this book is 'An alphabet caper' and yes it is a caper as we watch the dog chasing the mouse all over the house. 

I am a huge fan of innovative alphabet books. I have a plan to ask the Teacher-Librarian from the library where I borrowed this book if we can set up an alphabet book display. This book needs to be put into the hands of her preschool visitors.  Oops Pound Quick Run was a 2017 Geisel Award Honour Book. Good news this book published in 2016 is still in print. Bad news it is very expensive here in Australia. I wonder why the publisher (Scholastic) didn't decide to publish this terrific book in a board book format.   Here are two other books by cartoonist Mike Twohy which I had added to my 'to read' list. You can see the whole book here.

Best Test by Pippa Goodhart illustrated by Anna Doherty

Bird finds a delicious huge strawberry. Frog would like to eat it and so would shrew so they decide to hold a competition and the winner will win the strawberry.  The competition is constructed around the talents of each competitor. Frog can jump and make silly faces; rat is a great runner; bird can reach high; mouse is skilled with colouring in and squirrel enjoys guessing the contents of bags (especially if they contain acorns). Shew decides to be the referee and she designs the race course. Are you ready? Are you steady? Go! It is wonderful to see how the animal friends actually help each other through the race. Squirrel helps bird guess what's in the bag by offering a hint; rat helps squirrel with the colouring test.

"I declare you to ALL be the best!' laughed Shrew." Now they can all enjoy that strawberry - or can they? The final twist will give you and your young reading companion a huge smile. I highly recommend this book as a perfect addition to a Primary school or Preschool library. The end papers are terrific showing all the animal friends making funny faces. You will see they are filled with photo selfies.

You can find some activities and a poster on the Tiny Owl web page. The trailer is fun too.

Of course this book will remind you of The Little Mouse, the Ripe red Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear.

This is the second book in a series by Pippa Goodhart and Anna Doherty on the theme of celebrating our talents.

Mouse and Mole by Joyce Dunbar illustrated by James Mayhew

Mouse and Mole are planning a picnic but there is the problem of the weather. It's a cold rainy day so the pair have to settle for a day inside. Mole is a grumbler. Mouse is an optimist. Mole is always hungry. Mouse likes to cook and share his hospitality. After their day indoors though, the next day the sun is shining. That's great but the house is a mess. Mole ate so much yesterday he decides it is time for exercise so helpful mouse begins to clean up. The pair of friends shift all the mess into the kitchen. It is exhausting so they decide to have a cup of tea before starting their exercises. Oh no - the kitchen is a mess. 

"So together they tidied up the kitchen. They scooped up all the bits and bobs. They gathered in all the odds and ends. Then they bundled them into the bedroom. It took them the rest of the day."

They enjoy their cup of tea with pancakes and treacle. Feeling exhausted they head off to the bedroom deciding to have an early night BUT ... 

Finally, Mouse tells Mole they need to clear away all their "stuff". 

"You can have stuff, or you can have space ... but you can't have both."  

The friends fill three sacks which they take to the rubbish dump BUT the dump is full of such interesting "stuff". 

Mouse and Mole are characters in several books and there are different editions of the stories by Joyce Dunbar so it has taken me a while to sort out this tangle. In my former library we had these books by Wong Herbert Lee which are not related to the books by Joyce Dunbar.

We also had this book by AH Benjamin illustrated by John Bendall-Brunello 

This post is about the Mouse and Mole books by Joyce Dunbar illustrated by James Mayhew but adding to my confusion the Joyce Dunbar books were also released as Corgi Pup titles with a different illustrator - Alison De Vere:

And finally here are the four books by Joyce Dunbar illustrated by James Mayhew.

I have been hunting for the James Mayhew Mouse and Mole books for many years. They are on my wish list but here in Australia the only editions I can find are hardcover and each title costs more than $30 which is way beyond my budget for a slim 27 page junior book so I actually squealed when I saw a paperback copy at a charity book sale last week and it only cost 50 cents! My copy was published in 1993 but it is in great condition.

A new Mouse and Mole book will be released in May, 2021.

Joyce Dunbar is the author of over 80 books and James Mayhew is probably most famous for his books about Katie who visits art galleries and Ella Bella the ballerina titles.

There are lots of stories which contain unlikely friends.  My colleague from Kinderbookswitheverything and I have been collecting them and you can see many in this Pinterest.

The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright illustrated by Jim Field

"No matter your size,

We all have a mouse

AND

a lion inside."

There is SO much to love about this book.

Vocabulary
"the sand sparkled gold"
"a mighty flat rock - all craggy and old"
"tinyful"
"toothsome"

Power relationships
Lion is powerful. He has a loud roar, he is strong, he is feared. He is the King Cat.
Mouse is small and insignificant but he aspires to greatness.
Mouse needs to be brave - he knows the only way to learn to roar is to ask Lion.
"But if you want things to change, you first have to change you."
When our little mouse meets the lion he is in for a big shock. Our fearless lion is terrified of mice - now who has the power?

"The mouse, while still little, felt big in his head.
And Lion? He still roared ... but with laughter instead!"

Preschool and Kindergarten participation
As you read this book your child listener/s will anticipate the rhyme.
Everyone will enjoy joining in with a loud ROAR and later an EEEEEEAK!!

Told in rhyme this book is fun, of course, but it also has a nice message about differences and how some people (or animals) are aggressive and loud, and others are meeker and milder, and how really, of course, there's room for all sorts whether it's in your family, your nursery class, or out in the wilds of Africa. The Book Bag


Read more about Rachel Bright and Jim Field.  You may recognise some other books illustrated by Jim Field - they are some of the most popular titles in many library collections: