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Library Mouse #2
Library Mouse: A Friend's Tale
Celebrated writer and illustrator Daniel Kirk brings to life the joys of reading, writing, and sharing in this all-new Library Mouse adventure. Sam the library mouse loves to write, and the children love his little books, which he leaves on the library shelves for them to find. But no one at the library has ever met him. When Tom can’t find a partner for a book-making assignment and finds Sam’s secret hole behind the children’s reference section, will the pair be able to work together, or will Sam’s secret identity be spoiled forever? A heartwarming tale about collaboration and creative ambitions, this book will enchant any young aspiring author or illustrator.
F&P level: L
F&P genre: F
F&P level: L
F&P genre: F
32 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2009
1 person is currently reading
228 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
November 4, 2024
Tyvärr mycket tråkig.
May 3, 2021
Sam the mouse seemed to live an idyllic existence for he was a library mouse, who lived inside a little hole behind the children's reference section of his local library. The bonus for Sam was that he loved to read.
The only problem he had was that he was shy and so the children who used the library never met him.
Once a week the children met there for their writers and illustrators' club. And the particular week in question, Mrs Forrester, the librarian, invited the children to work in pairs to write and illustrate their own story. Unfortunately there was an odd number of children so poor Tom had no partner; Mrs Forrester therefore said that she would work with him.
As was his wont, Sam entered the library once it was closed and he took with him his notebook as he was working on his own story. This particular night he was tired and he eventually fell asleep, to be awoken when the children started coming in the following morning. In his haste to get back to his home he forgot his notebook, which was left behind.
Tom found the notebook and showed it to Mrs Forrester who decided that the author must be their mystery writer who had written and illustrated, and left out for others to see, any number of books without being identified. They decided to leave the notebook on Tom's desk to see what happened.
And something did happen when Sam returned the following night and retrieved it. He stepped on an ink pad and left his tiny footprints on the top of the desk. This was the start of an amazing event.
The following morning Tom searched for somewhere that a mouse, for he had worked out that was what had made the footprints, could go but he had no luck spotting Sam but did spot his entrance. So Tom thought a piece of cheese would entice the mouse out of the hole that he had found underneath the bookshelves.
And it worked, but Sam was one step ahead of Tom for he did not rise to the bait. His hope was that whoever had left the cheese would go away and forget about him.
Meanwhile Tom began a story entitled 'The Shy One' but he had no illustrator. He need not have worried for one came along when he had left his story behind on the library desk overnight.
The next thing Tom knew was that Mrs Forrester was praising him for his story that she had found on her desk ... and it was beautifully illustrated. The mystery was, who by?
I feel sure you can guess who by and Mrs Forrester was so enthralled with the story and its illustrations that she used it regularly to read to the boys and girls who used the library.
But she always wondered who the mystery illustrator named Sam was. She asked Tom if he knew but he preferred to keep quite about it although secretly he knew exactly who it was!
Delightfully illustrated, it is a lovely story that is ideal for all book lovers and it is one to read aloud to the children.
The only problem he had was that he was shy and so the children who used the library never met him.
Once a week the children met there for their writers and illustrators' club. And the particular week in question, Mrs Forrester, the librarian, invited the children to work in pairs to write and illustrate their own story. Unfortunately there was an odd number of children so poor Tom had no partner; Mrs Forrester therefore said that she would work with him.
As was his wont, Sam entered the library once it was closed and he took with him his notebook as he was working on his own story. This particular night he was tired and he eventually fell asleep, to be awoken when the children started coming in the following morning. In his haste to get back to his home he forgot his notebook, which was left behind.
Tom found the notebook and showed it to Mrs Forrester who decided that the author must be their mystery writer who had written and illustrated, and left out for others to see, any number of books without being identified. They decided to leave the notebook on Tom's desk to see what happened.
And something did happen when Sam returned the following night and retrieved it. He stepped on an ink pad and left his tiny footprints on the top of the desk. This was the start of an amazing event.
The following morning Tom searched for somewhere that a mouse, for he had worked out that was what had made the footprints, could go but he had no luck spotting Sam but did spot his entrance. So Tom thought a piece of cheese would entice the mouse out of the hole that he had found underneath the bookshelves.
And it worked, but Sam was one step ahead of Tom for he did not rise to the bait. His hope was that whoever had left the cheese would go away and forget about him.
Meanwhile Tom began a story entitled 'The Shy One' but he had no illustrator. He need not have worried for one came along when he had left his story behind on the library desk overnight.
The next thing Tom knew was that Mrs Forrester was praising him for his story that she had found on her desk ... and it was beautifully illustrated. The mystery was, who by?
I feel sure you can guess who by and Mrs Forrester was so enthralled with the story and its illustrations that she used it regularly to read to the boys and girls who used the library.
But she always wondered who the mystery illustrator named Sam was. She asked Tom if he knew but he preferred to keep quite about it although secretly he knew exactly who it was!
Delightfully illustrated, it is a lovely story that is ideal for all book lovers and it is one to read aloud to the children.
November 20, 2019
Sam the library mouse returns in this second picture-book adventure, following upon his initial story, chronicled in the eponymous
Library Mouse
. In this installment of author/illustrator Daniel Kirk's five book series, a young boy named Tom inadvertently discovers Sam's identity, while participating in a writing project for the library's Writers and Illustrators Club. Together, Tom and Sam create a story about a shy author who avoids his many fans. But will the story give Sam's identity away to the rest of the children...?
Like its predecessor, Library Mouse: A Friend's Tale pairs an engaging story with bright, colorful illustrations. Young child listeners will enjoy being "in the know," when it comes to Sam's identity, and will enjoy watching Tom as he too gets to share in the secret. Without any didactic fanfare, Kirk manages to teach a lesson here about authors and illustrators, and how they (sometimes) work together to create picture-books. Recommended to fans of the original story about Sam, and to anyone looking for children's stories about storytelling and the creative process.
Like its predecessor, Library Mouse: A Friend's Tale pairs an engaging story with bright, colorful illustrations. Young child listeners will enjoy being "in the know," when it comes to Sam's identity, and will enjoy watching Tom as he too gets to share in the secret. Without any didactic fanfare, Kirk manages to teach a lesson here about authors and illustrators, and how they (sometimes) work together to create picture-books. Recommended to fans of the original story about Sam, and to anyone looking for children's stories about storytelling and the creative process.
August 15, 2023
Parker and I might have misjudged his need for a nap when we started this cute story of a shy mouse writer who calls the library his home.
We will be back when he’s 5-6 years!
We will be back when he’s 5-6 years!
December 2, 2017
Text-to-Teaching
What a cute book! This story surrounds around a little boy and a shy mouse that eventually works together on a writing project. For my activity, I would actually have it resemble to the book's original story. For example, I would have the classroom to collaborate on a writing/reading activity in a group of three. The first person would be the author, the second person will be the illustrator and the last person will be the narrator. This will be a great opportunity for the children to collaborate collectively and express their thoughts. It teaches them to work together, have opinions and take ownership.
What a cute book! This story surrounds around a little boy and a shy mouse that eventually works together on a writing project. For my activity, I would actually have it resemble to the book's original story. For example, I would have the classroom to collaborate on a writing/reading activity in a group of three. The first person would be the author, the second person will be the illustrator and the last person will be the narrator. This will be a great opportunity for the children to collaborate collectively and express their thoughts. It teaches them to work together, have opinions and take ownership.
March 10, 2021
Sam the mouse is now a mysterious author. The children and the librarians have all read his books, but no one knows who he is. His work has inspired a group of the kids to write their own books and illustrate them.
Tom needs a partner to illustrate his book. Then he figures out who Sam is. Can he convince Sam to help him? If he does, will it put Sam in danger?
Tom needs a partner to illustrate his book. Then he figures out who Sam is. Can he convince Sam to help him? If he does, will it put Sam in danger?
March 9, 2023
I would have loved this book 📖 if it had been a read along so you also got to see the pictures. Cute little story about a lot better art mouse who lives to write.
March 29, 2017
The illustrations were my favorite part! I loved how there were other children's books in the pictures. Too cute! The story had a great message about friendship too.
May 6, 2015
Wanted to love it more, but was set off by something about keeping secrets - a tricky subject for youth.
November 12, 2022
I love these Sam library books. In this one, a boy named TOm is visiting the library for a writer's and Illustrator's Club. He is to be partnered with the librarian to write a book.
During the night, Same the mouse is out using the library and falls asleep at the table. Same dashes away as he hears people entering the building as it opens. In his hurry, he leaves behind his research notebook.
Tom finds the notebook and brings it to the librarian. She mentions it must be their mystery author Sam who writes these little books. When Same goes to get the book from the librarian's desk, he leaves stamped mice feet print behind. Tom puts 2 and 2 together and realizes Sam is a mouse.
Tom tries to lure Sam out with food. It doesn't work--only stories can lure him out. Tom writes a story about Sam titled "The Shy One." Sam finds it and illustrates it. The story continues from there with Sam and Tom being friends.
The whole premise is lovely. I love that Sam's temptation is words. I love the pictures with Sam running through a stamp pad with library specific "discard" stamps nearby. I love the allusions to to books kids might recognize on the different pages (Fancy Nancy, I Spy, Henry and Mudge). I like the expressions on Sam and Tom's faces as they experience different emotions.
It says on the dust jacket there are instructions on how to make your own little book at the author's website www.danielkirk.com
During the night, Same the mouse is out using the library and falls asleep at the table. Same dashes away as he hears people entering the building as it opens. In his hurry, he leaves behind his research notebook.
Tom finds the notebook and brings it to the librarian. She mentions it must be their mystery author Sam who writes these little books. When Same goes to get the book from the librarian's desk, he leaves stamped mice feet print behind. Tom puts 2 and 2 together and realizes Sam is a mouse.
Tom tries to lure Sam out with food. It doesn't work--only stories can lure him out. Tom writes a story about Sam titled "The Shy One." Sam finds it and illustrates it. The story continues from there with Sam and Tom being friends.
The whole premise is lovely. I love that Sam's temptation is words. I love the pictures with Sam running through a stamp pad with library specific "discard" stamps nearby. I love the allusions to to books kids might recognize on the different pages (Fancy Nancy, I Spy, Henry and Mudge). I like the expressions on Sam and Tom's faces as they experience different emotions.
It says on the dust jacket there are instructions on how to make your own little book at the author's website www.danielkirk.com
June 8, 2022
Sam the mouse is a mysterious writer. After leaving his little green book from the night before on the librarian's desk, Sam came out of his hole to find it. Little did he know that Tom, a student, had already found it and shown it to the librarian. While retrieving his book, Sam stepped on an ink pad which left footprints leading to his hole in the wall under the children's reference books shelf. The next day, Tom seen the ink marks and followed them to Sam's hiding place. This sparked a bond between Tom and Sam, where they wrote letters back and forth to each other and eventually wrote a book together with Tom being the author and Sam being the illustrator.
I would love to use this book in my classroom to present story elements. This story is great for showing problem and solution. It is also a great way to show how friendships can be created with people who are very different than you.
I would love to use this book in my classroom to present story elements. This story is great for showing problem and solution. It is also a great way to show how friendships can be created with people who are very different than you.
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March 11, 2024Read as an e-book
I was in the mood for a fun picture book to help me get in the mood for reading. It has been a few days since I picked up a book, and I was beginning to fall into a bit of a slump. As much as I wanted to avoid picture books this year, I can't deny they help me get out of ruts. Plus, there are a few that remind me picture books are still worth reading.
Specifically, picture books like Library Mouse: A Friend's Tale. Sam and Tom make a cute writer/illustrator duo. You see how their friendship/partnership, even though they never meet, somehow works out well.
I was in the mood for a fun picture book to help me get in the mood for reading. It has been a few days since I picked up a book, and I was beginning to fall into a bit of a slump. As much as I wanted to avoid picture books this year, I can't deny they help me get out of ruts. Plus, there are a few that remind me picture books are still worth reading.
Specifically, picture books like Library Mouse: A Friend's Tale. Sam and Tom make a cute writer/illustrator duo. You see how their friendship/partnership, even though they never meet, somehow works out well.
August 5, 2019
I didn't love the first book, Library Mouse, because I found the writing style a little preachy but the overall message was still really cute. I decided to read the next one in the series because sometimes the next one is better than the first. I did not find that to be in the case in this series. This book's writing is still halting and not really kid friendly. The friendship story is cute but not quite as redeeming as the author story from the first book. I think I am done with this series.
February 29, 2020
Sam the library mouse loves to write, and the children love his little books.
N one at the library has ever met him.
When Tom can’t find a partner for a book-making assignment and finds Sam’s secret hole behind the children’s reference section, will the pair be able to work together, or will Sam’s secret identity be spoiled forever?
These books will enchant any young aspiring author or illustrator.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟😄
N one at the library has ever met him.
When Tom can’t find a partner for a book-making assignment and finds Sam’s secret hole behind the children’s reference section, will the pair be able to work together, or will Sam’s secret identity be spoiled forever?
These books will enchant any young aspiring author or illustrator.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟😄
November 26, 2020
Aww I liked this one JUST as much as the 1st if not MORE! Once again, the librarian had a cute idea to get the kids writing and in the professional world many times children's books ARE a teamwork between an author and illustrator. One little boy didn't have a partner and came to know Sam's secret but they somehow worked together and Tom was a very good friend to Sam. I really liked this little tale.
November 3, 2021
Sam, the library mouse is at it again! But this time, he accidentally leaves a trail. One of the children, Tom, discovers his identity and makes friends with Sam. This is the story of how they work together on a book project - and how Tom respects the friendship enough not to reveal that Sam's a mouse.
I liked this one more than the first, and found the art slightly less 'uncanny valley' and more charming. Once again, I wish this had been around when I was a child!
I liked this one more than the first, and found the art slightly less 'uncanny valley' and more charming. Once again, I wish this had been around when I was a child!
January 20, 2022
A very cute and creative book. This is about a mouse who lives in the library named Sam and makes friends with a boy named Tom. When Tom has to write a project, he discovers Sam's true identity and tries to befriend him by leaving a story he had written. Sam then helps him to finish his story, and the librarian loves the story.
May 19, 2024
A new to this Oma author and illustrator of children's books. As an avid reader, I enjoy reading books with a library setting. My granddaughters, as preschoolers and even now as elementary school age enjoy reading books with animals. As a retired teacher, the book has a relevant theme (friendship) and the illustrations are colorful and delightful.
October 2, 2017
I liked this book because we already knew the characters. i really like to read books in a series. I thought the really cool thing about this book is that i saw two books that we have read together as a family in the pictures. (age 5)
April 30, 2018
I think this is a fun book for young readers who may be shy in sharing their own stories that they have made because in the end they should be proud of their work no matter what it is about.
Six +1Traits: organization, idea
DRA Level: 34
Lexile: 660L
Six +1Traits: organization, idea
DRA Level: 34
Lexile: 660L
February 6, 2020
Book about the friendship a mouse and a boy have, and how through their love of books and writing stories they created a friendship. Love the pictures and how they incorporated a library mouse into the book.
March 11, 2021
This was a nice surprise! I enjoyed the secret book-making team plot. The best parts were all the hidden gem children’s books illustrations on every page. Also, this story actually felt like a story with a beginning, middle and end. Sometimes kids books are pretty flat.
February 10, 2017
I love the content and the pictures. This is a great book for grades K+. This book can be read aloud to kindergartners.
June 20, 2017
Loved the cameos of popular children's books. Great book to read before teaching a writing lesson.
June 9, 2018
The story was cute but the pictures seemed off and kind of weird looking. Especially the kid's face, it looked creepy.
November 14, 2018
サムの秘密を守るトムがまたいい！😊
このシリーズ全部よみたい！
サムがかわいすぎて、サムグッズ欲しい！！
このシリーズ全部よみたい！
サムがかわいすぎて、サムグッズ欲しい！！
July 25, 2019
I thought this was such a cute story! I loved the illustrations!
February 4, 2020
This book teaches a great lesson about friendship and teamwork.
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June 24, 20202967
February 3, 2021
Aww, this series is great so far!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews