Commander in Cheese: The Big Move

Gr 1–3—Ava and Dean Squeakerton are hidden residents of the White House. They, along with their numerous mouse family members, dwell secretly in the walls and attic of the presidential home, unbeknownst to the human occupants. The series opener takes place on a very important day: the inauguration of a new president. The small rodents are excited because this means new people with new belongings will be taking up residence below. They are always searching for artifacts for their Treasure Room, especially the most coveted of all things, "The Lego." They are sure the new president's son will have these awesome trinkets. Problem is, Ava and Dean take off exploring before the movers have even unpacked any boxes and find themselves in a bit of an awkward and dangerous situation. The human children, and their pet cat, see the little mice, and chaos ensues. The black-and-white illustrations are simple yet not without some charm, adding to the appeal for new readers. The borrowing tendencies of these young mice and their ancestors bring to mind John Peterson's "The Littles" series, though the writing here is not as polished or as clever as that of Peterson.