A place just for me

Silver Mouse is part of a multigenerational family whose bustling home in a large tree doesn't contain a quiet space for him to call his own. So, he ventures into the forest around him to seek privacy in the homes of other woodland animals. Each residence, while ideal for the animal already living there, fails to give Silver his longed-for peace and comfort, and he makes his way back home, where his beloved family has a welcome surprise waiting for him. Originally published in Italian, the text incorporates challenging vocabulary without breaking much new ground in terms of plot. Young readers tired of siblings and other family members invading their spaces and searching for respite will identify with Silver's longing for privacy and be warmed by the thoughtfulness of his loving family. Intricate colored-pencil drawings offer cutaway views of the various animals' homes, which will delight readers and have them returning again and again to search for new details. The overall experience is a gentle journey well suited to emerging and confident young readers.

A rodent seeks a room of his own in this Italian import. Silver resides in a lovely home under an old elm tree with his grandparents, parents, and five siblings. All have unique talents and have scouted out areas to explore them within the bounds of their burrow. But Silver--"the smallest mouse of them all"--wants a place that's "quiet enough for him to do nothing at all." That's hard to come by, so he strikes out, hoping to claim a spot at a friend's home. But Mole's house is too dark, Rabbit's is even more bustling than Silver's, and Bear's snoring is too loud. In a bit of a Goldilocks conundrum, with nothing feeling quite right, Silver heads home to discover that his mom has constructed a sweet little loft just for him. The emotional, intimate experience of looking for understanding everywhere and finally finding it in a warm familial hug gives Baldinucci's simply told, well-paced story universal impact. Berti's illustrations emphasize that the creatures' homes are all deeply special to them; the pages are filled with detailed visions of flowery fields and cozy domestic scenes, echoing nothing so much as the exquisite, naturalistic whimsy of Kaya Doi's Chirri & Chirra series. A homey tale with a classic storybook feel and a gentle, uplifting conclusion.(Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.