Charley Mouse cleans house

Charley Mouse lives a tidy life in her polka-dot teapot, even organizing her cheese stash by type and size. She adores cleanliness, and she extends her propensity for order into sprucing up her neighbors' houses, too. Her first stop is the Burrow, an underground warren inhabited by the lively Mole family. Charley next pops by the swamp to sweep out a snail's shell and flush out the Frogs' lily pad. There's a fox den to fix, a witch's hut to wash down, and even a unicorn stable to sweep. A week of cleaning for others means that her own house has fallen into disarray, but Charley is happy to restart the process as the sun sets on her messy mouse house. Every incredible spread, featuring complex cross sections of each abode, sets out a task for the reader (find missing keys, spot a strawberry mug, tally the tadpoles) and contains enough delightful (and occasionally dark) detail to warrant repeat readings. Charley's sunny naiveté provides a comical contrast to some slightly sinister imagery, as she breezily ignores clear signs of carnivorous snacking while she straightens the predators' pads. It's the perfect offbeat entertainment for any young reader with a penchant for puzzling and a wicked sense of humor.

In this interactive tale, a rodent happily cleans homes. Charley Mouse loves keeping things tidy; she spends each day putting her neighbors' houses in order. The whimsical art depicts cross-sections of the homes, starting with Charley's, a polka dot teapot filled to the brim with cheese. Despite the cheery text, many of the other habitats are filled with macabre details that will remind readers that these residents are unapologetic carnivores, such as a wicker basket of bunny tails in Mr. Wolf's house. Charley's comments often indicate a naïveté that will elicit giggles. She thinks the moles are playing hide-and-seek with the earthworms rather than preying on them. Rumors abound that Mr. Wolf is responsible for the disappearances of several pigs and goats, but Charley vouches for his vegetarianism despite all evidence to the contrary, including the skulls, bones, and knives strewn throughout his house. The Gingerbread family and the Unicorns are among the few clearly benign neighbors; the latter have strawberry jam--scented manure. Invitations to find items such as Mama Mole's lost keys or Mr. Fox's misplaced eggcup are challenging but doable. Humor abounds, and the contrast between the cozy charms of the homes and their grisly contents makes for an oddly delightful tale for the right reader. Drolly unique. (ways to use this book)(Picture book. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.