Tiny's Big Adventure - Hardcover

Waddell, Martin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0763621706 ISBN 13: 9780763621704

Publisher: Candlewick, 2004

Synopsis

With the help of finely detailed engravings by John Lawrence that leap from the page, Martin Waddell scampers off on a new adventure — from a wee mouse’s point of view.

Two little mice jumped out
of their hole in the barn.
"I want to go to the cornfield,"
Tiny said.

Tiny Mouse has never been to the cornfield before, so he’s thrilled that his sister will take him. It’s the perfect place to play games like climb-the-tractor and sit-on-the-seat, or hide-and-seek-mouse. But the cornfield is also a place full of strange new sights that make Tiny quiver and shiver and call out for his sister, who helps him feel braver. With boldly animated illustrations and a sympathetic story, Tiny’s Big Adventure captures all the excitement — and trepidation — of a first-time experience.

About this title

About the Author

Martin Waddell is the author of more than one hundred books for children, including HI, HARRY! and the Little Bear books, illustrated by Barbara Firth; FARMER DUCK, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury; and A KITTEN CALLED MOONLIGHT, illustrated by Christian Birmingham. Of the inspiration for TINY'S BIG ADVENTURE, he says, "I saw a rusty old tractor nestled in high grass on a farm. It looked like an exciting thing to play with, but who would play there? The idea of a small field mouse, who had never been to the field, came to me — and Tiny was born." Martin Waddell lives in Northern Ireland.

John Lawrence is the illustrator of many books for children, including THIS LITTLE CHICK, which he also wrote; THE MYSTERIES OF ZIGOMAR by Allan Ahlberg; and A YEAR AND A DAY by William Mayne. His signature wood engravings also grace the pages of many classic novels and anthologies. Of TINY'S BIG ADVENTURE, he says, "I’ve enjoyed going on this outing with Tiny Mouse and his big sister. I hope, perhaps, they might ask me again some time." He lives in Cambridge, England.

Reviews

PreSchool-Grade 2–Tiny's big sister Katy is brave, adventurous, and willing to teach him everything she knows. When the young mouse wants to see the wheat field, she immediately agrees to take him there. They encounter many things that are new and scary to Tiny, but Katy, with her greater knowledge of the world, is able to reassure him. Their activities, which include playing games and encountering all sorts of critters, are superbly rendered in Lawrence's eye-catching illustrations. Made from vinyl engravings, watercolor washes, and textured printing, the artwork will be familiar to fans of the artist's This Little Chick (Candlewick, 2002). Aside from a few full-bleed spreads, the pictures and text boxes are framed, making them feel like sequential snapshots of the siblings' expedition. The palette consists primarily of muted blues and browns with highlights of rich gold, red, and yellow, giving the impression of light filtering down through the stalks of wheat. Children will relate to the sometimes-frightening feelings that come with venturing into the unknown and they will be reassured by this gentle, fun adventure.–Genevieve Gallagher, Orange County Public Library, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PreS-Gr. 1. The fun of exploring and playing with a willing older sibling is wonderfully conveyed in this tale of two barn mice in the fields. Katy Mouse agrees to go with Tiny on his first expedition, which Lawrence depicts in the technique he used to such good effect in This Little Chick (2002). The rich mixture of vinyl engravings, watercolor washes, and printed wood textures gives a timeless flavor to the adventure, as do Waddell's sweet story line and clear sentences: "The two little mice scampered away through the long grass by the side of the stream. They climbed the knobby tree." Katy identifies for Tiny all the new, somewhat scary creatures they see: a rabbit, a tractor, a pheasant, a snail, a spider, and--oddest of all--an old boot. And together the mice come up with good games to play, such as "climb-a-stalk." Lawrence brings their world to life with inviting colors, textures, and details; the mice may be small but they live a big adventure. Abby Nolan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0763621706
• ISBN 13: 9780763621704
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Lawrence John
• Number of pages: 32