Toe Shoe Mouse

PreS-Gr 1—A young mouse fleeing for her life from a cat escapes a city's sewer through a small hole and finds herself in a beautiful theater. Enchanted by the music and the ballet dancers on stage, she longs to stay there. Briefly, the rodent finds a refuge in the ballet shoe of one of the dancers. Although she encounters some dangerous moments, from the custodian's broom and a pack of rats, eventually the young ballerina, Céleste, befriends her and names her Tendu. Céleste allows the mouse to fulfill her dream of living—and dancing—in her new home. Tendu is charming, with her oversize ears and soft round form, while Céleste is lithe and kind. The soft pastel palette and details such as vases with roses and small decorative perfume bottles and boxes create a romantic, graceful, Old World feel. The illustrations from Tendu's perspective capture how scary just the feet of the custodian are, not to mention his broom. Curled up in a ballet slipper, Tendu looks vulnerable and irresistible. This resourceful and enthusiastic little mouse captures the beauty and wonder of the world of ballet.—Carol Schene, formerly at Taunton Public Schools, MA