Library Mouse: A Friend's Tale

Written by Daniel Kirk

Narrated by Chris Sorensen

In this sequel to Daniel Kirk's Library Mouse-a Parenting magazine Book of the Year-Sam falls asleep in the library and awakens just in time to scamper out of sight. In his haste, he leaves behind his mouse-sized notebook. As a boy named Tom puzzles over the mystery of such a small book, he discovers Sam's mouse hole. Soon Sam and Tom form an unusual partnership that would surprise others-if they only knew. "A sure-fire hit . This is fun, fun, fun."-Booklist, starred review

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: May 24, 2013
• ISBN: 9781470355562

Daniel Kirk

Daniel Kirk has written and illustrated forty popular and bestselling books for children, including Library Mouse, which Booklist heralded in a starred review as "fun, fun, fun." He lives in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. www.danielkirk.com.

Reviews for Library Mouse

[js1102 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good for everyone!

[jtaylo41 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was an awesome read! I would love to read this to my students because it is a very inspiring plot. The librarians and students keep finding enjoyable stories in the morning on the library shelves, however, they are unaware of who the author is. The author of the short stories ends up being a little mouse who lives in a hole in the library wall. The characters are very well developed and are visually detailed in the illustrations. For example, the mouse is personified by wearing clothes and using a pencil to write his stories. This is a great story that expresses to students that anyone can write regardless of your age, height, intelligence, or looks. The main message in this book is that everyone can be an author and has the capability of doing great things! It was a cute way to inspire young writers.

[lmeza-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's nice, especially if you have doubts about writing or not ;)

[wishanem · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lovely and inspirational

"We loved it!", raves my 4 year old. I liked the way that the story encourages kids to write their own books. The art is detailed and bright, in a way that reminds me of Mr. Rogers.

[dms02 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a great book for showing the ease in which a child can write their own books!

[mirikayla · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Library mouse lives behind the shelves in the library and encourages kids to write their own stories. Very cute.

[cheryl_in_cc_nv · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm a huge fan of libraries with over four decades experience getting to know them as well as a patron can. So I loved this. I believe that the children's program described could be very effective. I even believe it could be used for all ages - and could even inspire people who don't think they're creative, like me, to tell stories.

Now I do see that at least one real children's librarian was not wowed by this. But that person did not write a review, so I'm not sure what makes the book less than wonderful from their pov.

And I did have a bit of trouble getting used to the illustrations, especially of the people. But the mouse is adorable and the art is cheerful, clear, and a good fit for the text.

[lsierra19 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I totally recommend this book. It is a children's book full of nice pictures and with a great message for the readers. It is about a little mouse that started writing books and invite others to do the same thing. One of my favorite books!

[dukefan86 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a very clever story! Sam the library mouse enjoys his home in the public library so much, that eventually he starts writing little books of his own. He adds them to the collection overnight, while the library is closed. Sam's books are discovered, and develops a fan base among library staff and patrons alike! :) The library director leaves Sam a letter (not knowing he's a MOUSE) to "Meet the Author Day." Being shy as a mouse, Sam comes up with a creative way to turn the library's younger patrons into authors, themselves. Cute!

[kidlit9 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Sam, a shy but creative mouse who lives in a library, decides to write and illustrate his own stories which he places on the shelves with the other library books. But when children find the tales, they all want to meet the author.

[leshauck · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great explains everything you need to know about this book.

[acwheeler · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked this book a lot because it keeps you interested in the book the whole time. It is also a self motivating book to teach children how to write books and that everyone can be an author and write their own books if they use their imgaination.

[quicksilvertears · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was very interested in reading this book to my son because the design was boring but as I read the story, I became interested in writing a children's book. My son decided he wanted to make his own scary book like Sam the mouse did. I figure if this book can inspire a four year old to write a book, it must not matter that the design was a bit on the boring side.

[abigailadams26 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Sam the mouse lived in a little hole in the wall behind the children's reference section, emerging every night to read and enjoy the library's many books. He enjoyed every kind of book, from reference to genre fiction, and eventually decided that he would write one of his own. His miniature autobiography proved quite a hit with the library's patrons, prompting Sam to write other books, each of which he left out for the library's visitors to peruse. When Mrs. Forrester, the Head Librarian, posted a note inviting him to an author visit, Sam was torn. Although he wanted to please his fans, he was (like most mice) very shy. Could he find a solution...?The first of five picture-books featuring the adventures of this book-loving and writing mouse, Library Mouse pairs an engaging story with appealing illustrations. Sam is a lovable little hero, and his nighttime writing escapades will keep young listeners involved, as they wonder whether the little murine author's identity will ever be revealed to the human patrons of the library. In the end it isn't, at least here, so I will have to keep reading, to see if anyone ever discovers Sam's identity in subsequent titles. Daniel Kirk's artwork is colorful and immediate, with full-page spreads alternating with illustrations inset on the pages with text. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books about the joys of the library, and the delights of being an author.

[aharey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read this book to my Kindergarten through 2nd grade students on the first day of their library class. It's a great introduction to the library and they love the character of Sam.

[danusia_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not a fan of Kirk's flat art work, the story is cute-ish. A mouse lives in a library, reads books at night when all the children go home. After reading all the books, he decides to write his own. The children, coming to finally see who the author is are met with a box with a mirror inside labeled "meet the author". AWWW, cute? not so much.

[thornton37814 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A good read for younger children. The book demonstrates a love for reading, learning, and libraries. It also encourages children to write!

[kdemott_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I don't give a lot of five stars but I love this book! Maybe it's because I was a teacher and am studying to be a librarian. Great book if you're trying to get students to write stories of their own. Love it!