Charlie & Mouse Are Magic
by Laurel Snyder
illustrated by Emily Hughes
Chronicle Books, 2022. 38 pages.
Review written September 30, 2022, from a library book
Starred Review
I love the Charlie & Mouse series! These books are easy readers with four short chapters, lots of white space on the page, and pictures on every page — pictures that include lots of expressions and lots of joy. The books are about two young brothers, Charlie and Mouse, and the things they get up to together.
In this book, we start out with Mouse mixing up a magic potion while Mom is making dinner. After he finishes making the potion, he puts a drop on his nose and makes a wish. I love what happens next:
“Mouse,” said Mom.
“I would really like to finish dinner. Do you think if I gave you a cookie, you could wait in the other room?”“Mom!” shouted Mouse. “Wow! I CAN’T BELIEVE IT!”
“What?” said Mom. “What can’t you believe?”
“A cookie is EXACTLY what I was wishing for.
Isn’t that amazing? My potion works!”“Amazing!” said Mom. “Now scram.”
And that’s only the beginning. As things continue, Charlie and Mouse go outside and try being invisible with the potion. (There is some joyful naked dancing in the rain with strategically placed plants.) And Mom apologizes for being grumpy. And all the animals share dinner with them. And at the end, Dad gets his wish.
It’s all a bunch of gentle and imaginative good fun. And will keep both beginning readers and their parents entertained.
I always love what it says in Laurel Snyder’s bio, where she mentions her two sons: “She would like to state for the record that while none of these stories are exactly true, none of them are exactly untrue either.”
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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.
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