by Poppy Green, illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell
The Sophie Mouse series started in 2015 and the 20th book comes out this May, 2023. We did not read these in order when first discovering them. The first one I remember reading to the kids was Book 14, The Great Bake Off. And while these books all end with more of an “Awww…” than an emotional tear, this particular one hit me at the right time and I definitely got misty-eyed.
Sophie Mouse’s world in Silverlake Forest is charming. It’s lovely and ideal, with all animal species getting along, but it without ever feeling sappy. These books make me want to run and play outside, and if I could live in a book, this world would be a top-contender. Sophie and her friends deal with themes of jealousy, fear, doubt, feeling left out, even prejudice. But all of it is treated in an extremely light-hearted way. I ADORE that Sophie makes her paints for her art from items in Nature. I love that all the items in their world, from the brooms to the dishes are made with objects from Nature. I love reading about the culinary delights that Mrs. Mouse is baking! I love that the animals are all kind to each other. I sometimes skip over parts when Sophie feels frustrated by her younger brother wanting to tag along, but even these moments are handled in a very nice way. These are relatively short chapter books, with about nine or ten chapters in each one and accompanying illustrations throughout. Everything about the Sophie books is endearing–the characters, the stories, the illustrations, the plots. My kids have loved these books from the beginning, and I definitely have too. I look forward to reading them just as much as they do!
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