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Mahalia Mouse Goes to College
- By John Lithgow
- Genre: Picture Book
Common Sense Media says
Animated, rhyming tale is a treat to read aloud.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this simple, inspiring book packs a big message about love and dedication to learning.
What's the story?
Mahalia Mouse leaves her struggling family to find her future at college.
Is it any good?
While lots of stars write books for kids, few have the talent to do the job regardless of their famous names. John Lithgow is one who consistently produces terrific books for young readers, and MAHALIA MOUSE GOES TO COLLEGE is no exception. Originally written as his commencement speech for the Harvard class of '05 (a recording of the speech on CD is included), this rhyming story naturally translates to an intriguing picture book.
Lithgow understands the power of rhythm and rhyme, making his books lots of fun to "perform" as read-alouds. He also conveys a love of words, using a vocabulary that is challenging for the littlest kids but within an easy-to-understand context. Igor Oleynikov's illustrations are finely detailed, as suits a book about a mouse. Dark colors wash through the first part of the story, but the colors warm and brighten as Mahalia finds her footing in school.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about college -- how is it different from elementary school? What kinds of responsibilities do college students have in school? Families can share their own favorite subjects and even play school together.
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| Author: | John Lithgow |
| Illustrator: | Igor Oleynikov |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Picture Book |
| Publisher: | Simon & Schuster |
| Publication date: | March 27, 2007 |
| Number of pages: | 40 |
| Hardcover price: | $17.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 4 - 7 |
| Read aloud: | 4 |
| Read alone: | 8 |
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