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Product Description In this first of a charming series about a little mouse and her forest friends, Sophie Mouse must convince her classmates—and herself—that a new student is nothing to fear. Even if he is a snake! Readers will delight in The Adventures of Sophie Mouse! In the first book of The Adventures of Sophie Mouse, springtime has arrived at Silverlake Forest! The animals are coming out of their homes, buds are blooming on the trees, and the air smells of honeysuckles and tree bark. Sophie Mouse can’t wait to go back to school after the long winter break. Even better, there’s a new student in class—Sophie loves meeting new animals! But the class gasps when Owen enters: he’s a snake! No one is brave enough to sit near him, or play with Owen at recess, or even talk to him. Can Sophie help her friends understand that Owen’s not scary after all? With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Adventures of Sophie Mouse chapter books are perfect for beginning readers. From School Library Journal Gr 1–3—Sophie is a young anthropomorphized mouse who lives in Silverlake Forest with her family. Sophie's mother is a baker, her father is an architect, and their forest boasts a school, post office, library, and bakery. In Sophie's world, all young forest animals attend school together and are taught by Mrs. Wise, a squirrel. On the first day of class, a new student arrives: a snake named Owen. Out of fear, the other animals exclude him from their games. Sophie feels bad for Owen, but can't conquer her own fear enough to befriend him. It takes an accident and a save by Owen to open Sophie's eyes. If readers ignore the reality that many snakes do indeed eat mice, the lessons Sophie and her friends learn about the danger of being judgmental and about the importance of friendship are good ones. Bell's sketch artwork has a whimsical quality—Sophie is seen in a dress and leggings with a dainty bow on her tail. All animals are roughly the same size, and while not realistic, this makes the classroom feel comfortable (no one is towering over the mice). A gentle read for early chapter book readers who love animals.—Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA About the Author Poppy Green can talk to animals! Unfortunately, they never talk back to her. So she started writing in order to imagine what they might say and do when humans aren’t watching. Poppy lives on the edge of the woods in Connecticut, where her backyard is often a playground for all kinds of wildlife: birds, rabbits, squirrels, voles, skunks, deer, and the occasional wild turkey. Jennifer A. Bell is an illustrator whose work can be found in greeting cards, magazines, and more than forty children’s books. She studied fine art at the Columbus College of Art and Design and spent many years designing seasonal giftware and greeting cards before becoming a children’s book illustrator. She lives in St. Paul, Minnesota. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. A New Friend