Writing children’s books,” says Jim Aylesworth “is my way of being the teacher beyond the walls of my classroom for children that I may never know.” He demonstrates this in his picture book Little Bitty Mousie, published in 2007. He tells the story of a realistic looking mouse in a polka-dotted purple dress creeping into a house at night to taste and smell — in alphabetical order!
She ate the “H” from “Happy”
On a chocolate birthday cake
Her fur got full of Icing
And it wasn’t by mistake.
Aylesworth has great talent for rhythm and sound – ideal for children learning new language skills. The kindergartensthat I read this book to loved reciting back to me:
Tip-tippy tippy
went her little mousie toes.
Sniff-sniff sniffy sniffy
Went her little mousie nose.
The language is similar in style to Aylesworth’s other great alphabet book called Old Black Fly which also uses ordinary household items throughout the story – alphabetized. This is shown here again in Little Bitty Mousie.
She tried to get some Jelly—
tried with all her mousie might
She also tried the Ketchup
But the lids were on too tight.
When little bitty mousie reaches the end of the alphabet she is in for a shock.There, she discovers the household cat making the sound of “Z’ing-Soft, soft breathing, like a snore.”
Sweet Little Bitty Mousie
Just as scared as scared can be,
Went run run run run running!
That was all she cared to see!
Michael Hague’s illustrations enhance these rhymes with vivid colors and striking three-D effects. And children will love the mouse’s-eye view of towering cakes, monstrous vacuums and lap-sized hot cross buns.
Check the WRL catalog for Little Bitty Mousie
Blogging for a Good Book 
Leave a Reply