Robert Kraus poses some leading questions and skillfully guides "Mouse" to answers that culminate in a decidedly satisfying ending. Mouse's experience unfolds with the validity and charm of a nursery rhyme, and his reaction to one of childhood's harsher experiences will add gayety and meaning to any story hour. The result is a happy picture book, illustrated by Jose Aruego with wit, tenderness and joyful ingenuity.

Robert Kraus, New Yorker cartoonist and cover artist, created numerous classic picture books for very young children, including Leo the Late Bloomer and Milton the Early Riser.Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey have illustrated many books together -- he draws the outlines and designs the pages; she paints the illustrations. Aruego, a native of the Philippines, was a lawyer before becoming an illustrator, and now lives in New York City. Dewey was born in Chicago and also lives in New York City.