A Nest for Celeste: A Story About Art, Inspiration, and the Meaning of Home

By Henry Cole

A fanciful history lesson for middle graders, featuring a charming mouse named Celeste.

Celeste is a mouse who is looking for a home. Is it nestled in the toe of a warm boot? In the shirt pocket of Celeste’s new friend Joseph? Or is home the place deep inside Celeste’s heart, where friendships live?

Beautifully illustrated with hundreds of black-and-white drawings, A Nest for Celeste is a short novel that tells the story a mouse living in the 1800s and his friendship with John James Audubon’s young apprentice. While enjoying this sweet amd appealing story, young readers will also learn about nineteenth-century plantation life and the famous naturalist who was known for his paintings of birds and American wildlife.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Feb 6, 2010
• ISBN: 9780061992001

Henry Cole

HENRY COLE is the award-winning illustrator of many books for children, including Mouse Was Mad by Linda Urban, Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC by June Sobel, and The Rubber-Legged Ducky by John G. Keller. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia. 

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

The Basket Maker

She was weaving a basket from blades of dried grasses. Above her head was a shelf full of the baskets she had made, some with dried wildflowers or colored threads woven into them. Several had long shoulder straps, which made the baskets perfect for carrying bits of food or scraps of cloth. All of the baskets were skillfully made, with perfect knots and minuscule braids and weaving so tight the baskets could hold several thimblefuls of water or honey.

Celeste’s newest basket was going to be of a design she hadn’t tried before, with a side pocket and a fold-over flap to keep things from spilling out. Her nook was dim, but Celeste was used to it. From her pile of dried grasses she pulled another long blade and, using her teeth and nimble fingers, began twisting and weaving.

Over, under, around, through, left over right… said Celeste to herself as the grasses sang. The blades smelled sweetly of sunshine, of summertime.

As she wove them together she pondered over where the grasses may have grown. She had nearly forgotten what a sunny day was like. She spent her time under the floorboards, or upstairs in the dining room, furtively darting about in the shadows, searching for bits of food, plucking strands of horsehair from the dining-room chairs’ seat cushions, or searching for bits of grass that had been tracked into the house on the shoes of humans. And always at night.

And lately Celeste had been finding something else on her expeditions upstairs: feathers. This was something new; she had never seen any before. Some were as small as her ear; others, long and pointy. Some were soft brown, others vivid green, still others brilliant blue and white. More often than not, after a venture to the dining room or crossing the hallway, she would return with a feather.

Finally, her paws a bit numb, Celeste tied off the last knot and sat back to examine the completed basket. Goes quickly, once you have a rhythm going, she mused.

Her nose twitched, and she brushed dust from her whiskers.

She heard the deep gong of the dining-room clock resonate through the floorboards above her head.

Then she heard a rustling sound, and she glanced nervously down into the darkness of the tunnel between the musty floor joists.

Two gray rats emerged from the shadows and crowded into Celeste’s nook.

No, it wasn’t living in the darkness under the floorboards that Celeste minded. But these two, they were a different story.

CHAPTER TWO

Illianna and Trixie

The first rat, Illianna, had small, narrow-set eyes like a pair of black pepper-corns and a tongue like a lancet.

Honestly, Celeste, another of your precious baskets? she hissed. Don’t you have anything better to do than this silly pastime? She brushed the remaining grasses off the table, then slumped in a chair.

The other rat, Trixie, began pilfering Celeste’s food stores, searching through her baskets, helping herself. Celeste felt defenseless against the two marauders, who frequently bullied their way into her nook, ransacking and filching.

Hmm…bread crust…more bread crusts… Trixie said, her raspy voice wheezing between bites. This bread is moldy! Where’re the good bits, missy?

Um…what good bits, Trixie?

‘What good bits, Trixie?’ In an instant the rat whirled around and nipped Celeste on the back. Celeste squealed. The pain was sudden and intense.

You know what good bits! Trixie screeched. The really tasty bits…the bacon scraps and the sausage bits and the biscuit pieces…. You’ve hidden them from us, haven’t you?

N-n-no, honestly, Celeste stammered.

Try looking in her bed. Illianna squinted at her.

Trixie yanked the oily scrap of rag off Celeste’s bed.

Nothing! she hollered. There’s nothing here! Well, then, you’d better get to it, missy. Take one of those baskets to the dining room and bring back something good. And mind you. No eating along the way! I’ll smell your breath when you get back just to make sure.

But I hear humans in the dining room…. It’s still early yet.

Well, I’m hungry! Trixie snapped, and she made a sudden move, as though she were about to bite Celeste again.

Me, too, Illianna chimed in. Just keep to the shadows. Keep track of where the food is falling. And watch out for the cat.

Celeste obeyed the two rats. She knew if she didn’t, the shoving and biting and insults and bullying would only increase. She skittered down the dark passage.

CHAPTER THREE

Mr. Audubon

Celeste sat in the shadows beneath the sideboard, listening and watching. She was worried about being seen, even a glimpse. Once she had clumsily let her tail protrude from the shadows, and a lady had screamed and dropped a dish. She wouldn’t let that happen again.

She watched for the cat, a silent mass of gray fur that roamed the dining room. She saw five sets of shoes around the dining-room table. This meant that there were guests dining.

Two pairs belonged to the ladies of the house; she had seen them before and knew them well, remembering their silk shoes beneath the rustling skirts and petticoats.

Another pair of shoes at the head of the table belonged to the master of the house. Celeste had seen him before, too. He had a fuzzy set of graying whiskers on each cheek and a red nose. Celeste noticed a napkin fall as he scooted his chair back and stood up.

And now, Mr. Audubon, he said. May I formally welcome you and your young assistant to Oakley Plantation and wish you a happy stay here. There was a clinking of glasses.

"Merci…ah, thank you, Monsieur Pirrie, boomed another deep voice. Both Joseph and I are so very grateful for your hospitality. Your good wife, Madame Pirrie, is a most charming hostess. And your daughter, Miss Eliza, is a delight; I look forward to instructing her in the art of dancing, of drawing, and of painting. She looks to be someone…mmm…light on her toes? And she is now at the age to have dancing with many beaux, yes? Outgrown the dolls, yes? I have the latest gavottes and cotillions from Paris for her to learn."

Excellent, Audubon, said Mr. Pirrie. That sounds fine, mighty fine. I can’t have my daughter right on the verge of bein’ courted by every buck in the parish and not knowin’ the proper way to dance. That Mr. Bradford over at Bayou Sara has taken on a fancy teacher for his daughters, and I won’t give Liza anything less. I’ll leave you in charge of all the drawin’ and the dance steps.

"Thank you, monsieur."

And I understand that you’ll be studyin’ the birds around here? And paintin’ their pictures?

"Their portraits, monsieur. Yes, I will be collecting specimens of as many different species as I possibly can when not instructing Miss Eliza here. It is my intent to paint the portraits of every single species of bird in North America. And to paint the birds in their natural surroundings, and as lifelike as possible."

Quite an undertaking!

Yes, it is indeed. And this evening I have brought along an example of what I am trying to achieve. He held up the large sheet of paper. "Voilà…a canvas-back duck."

Celeste could see a painting of a beautiful bird.

Very nice, very nice indeed, Audubon, said Mr. Pirrie.

It’s quite large, commented Mrs. Pirrie.

Yes, it is. It is life-size. I have much to do. It may take many, many months. My assistant here, Monsieur Joseph, is but a lad but is quite capable as an artist himself. He will be helping me with backgrounds perhaps, yes, Joseph?

Celeste heard another

Reviews for A Nest for Celeste

[waleni-21603 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The author gives us the experience of what it might have been like when John James Audubon and his assistant Joseph stayed with a family. Audubon was an American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter who made extensive drawings and paintings of many american birds in their natural environment. This story portraits what life might had been before cameras and technology, therefore it is realistic and explains that most of the times the artist shot and used pins and wire to fabricate poses so he could take his time to paint them. The book becomes a valuable document that shows how things were different before.

The writing is great and I couldn't put it down.

This is a sweet story of Celeste a little mouse and friendship. Celeste lives in the same house where Audubon is staying for a while to paint his birds. Celeste has to deal with bully mice, a cat but is also rewarded with friendship with other birds and even with Joseph. It also makes you think about loss. Would you rather have not known a friend for a short time to avoid the pain of loss or would you rather remember the sweet short moments of happiness.

The illustrations are delightful and I might get my hands on a hardcover instead of a Kindle version for that when it's possible.

[stillwaters12 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A Nest for Celeste by Henry Cole. Celeste is a sweet, hard working - and scared little mouse until one day a young man befriends her. Celeste learns to trust and love and is a delight. Her friend is an assistant of James Audubon, the gifted artist of birds. This is a chapter book mix of fantasy and historical fiction (1800s) that is entertaining and delightful. FYI; Audubon almost always shot and killed the birds he painted which is referred to in the book a few times. The soft, charcoal illustrations by Cole are warm and cute, a real plus.

[librarian1204 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Illustrations are wonderful and Celeste's story is sweet but the dead birds will not be accepted by today's children.

[sullywriter_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great illustrations and a wonderful story with a charming, intrepid mouse at its center.

[raechelewanaka · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a wonderful tale about a mouse that has to find a home for herself when she is forced to leave the one she has. On her journey to finding a new home she meets new friends and looses a few of those along the way. There are some very colorful characters in this story including the boy Joseph. Joseph is the assistant to John James Audubon. Henry Cole does a fantastic job in describing what little Celeste the mouse experiences and how she helps Joseph and Mr. Audubon in there collection of bird subjects and paintings,

[currerbell-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A whimsical and charming book. The story isn't all that strong, but it's strongly supported by the author's illustrations. My one qualm about this book, if used in schools and especially with any African-American children, is that it's set in an antebellum Louisiana plantation with no reference to Black slaves. Now, of course, this isn't the purpose of Cole's book, which is simply a charming animal story, but somehow I have a discomfort that this story might too idealize antebellum life in the Big House.For this reason, take some caution with using it with school children, at least unless the teaching includes some explanation of life on antebellum plantations.

[christianr_899499 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The pen and ink illustrations that fill this book are lovely and truly add to the experience of reading the book. The story could use a little beefing up -- it's pleasant, but doesn't particularly capture the reader's attention. It's about a mouse who lives in a plantation where James Audobon visits and paints some of the native birds. Audobon comes across as a rather rude man, but his assistant befriends Celeste, the mouse.

[debbiemccauley-2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As a small, basket weaving mouse, Celeste lives in a hole in the wall of a large plantation house, spending her time collecting food, weaving and serving two bullying rats. An attack by the household cat results in Celeste’s separation from her two “friends” (if you can call them that). Celeste welcomes her new-found freedom but is unsure what to do when she discovers the cat is guarding the entrance to her home. She decides to journey upstairs where she becomes friends with visiting artist John Audubon’s (1785-1851) apprentice Joseph Mason.I liked this book because it uses descriptive language and is about art with most pages having beautiful pencil sketches. I recommend this book for everyone who likes a happy ending and a bit of adventure.

[jfoster_sf · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a sweet story about a mouse who longs to find a nest she can call home. The illustrations in this book are wonderful and really bring the characters to life. This story is also about Audubon and his assistant Joseph. The story takes place in 1821 on a Louisiana plantation where Audubon spent several months collecting and drawing birds. I never realized before that Audubon killed almost every bird he drew so that he could pin it in the position he wanted to draw it! Joseph is disgusted with this method and with Celeste they try to change Audubon's mind. I think this book is best for read alouds or for early readers.

[refpenny · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Celeste the mouse lives all by herself under the floorboards of the dinning room. She didn’t mind living in the dark but she did mind the 2 rats – Illiana and Trixie. They bully her into venturing out to get them some food and Celeste has a narrow escape from the cat. She can’t get back to her home so is forced to find a new one and ends up with a new friend as well – Joseph – apprentice to the great bird painter Henry Audubon. By the end of the summer she has had some exciting adventures and learnt more about friendship.This is a beautiful story which is made even more special by the many, exquisite pencil drawings. Recommended for ages 8 and up although younger children would probably enjoy this as a read-aloud.

[librarianreads · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a story of friendships. Celeste is a mouse who lives in a house where John Audubon is visiting in order to paint the birds of the New Orleans region. Celeste has been happily living under the floor, but when rats Illianna and Trixie come around, they torment Celeste by making fun of her basket making and demanding she give them food. In Celeste's hesitation to go into the dining room, the two push her out of the way and take off, but they didn't see the cat lounging in a chair, and it is the end of Illianna. Now the cat knows where they hide and guards the hole. Celeste goes out for food and must get a new home. She climbs up a rail and finds a boot as a new home. That doesn't last long as it is the boot of Audubon's assistant Joesph. When Joesph finds her, he carries her around in his pocket and she is his new friend. Both are disturbed that Audubon seems to be ok with killing the birds he needs then repositioning them to paint them. (A few may be bothered by this, but it is what happened, and most kids will focus more on Celeste and her friendships then the unnecessary death of animals.) Joesph even gets grazed by a bullet during a hunting trip. Celeste helps the live birds pose and provide artist with inspiration. When Celeste goes outside to get some dogwood berries for the wood thrush Cornelius, Celeste gets caught up in a storm. Lafayette, an osprey, takes her back home. When he is caught, she also helps him by showing him how to pose for the painting. Celeste ventures out and must find another new home due to the cat. She goes to the attic and lives in a doll house that she thinks is perfect for her. Trixie shows up again and insists that Lafayette take her on a ride. That doesn't end well. Finally Celeste watches Audubon and Joseph leave while she is still in the attic home. She couldn't make it back to Joseph and he is sad to leave without her. But Violet, a friend of Cornelius comes to visit and Celeste knows that friends are worth having even if they must leave us.

[dianevogan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful little story that includes great illustrations, wildlife, true friendships, a mouse hero and a little about Audubon's bird paintings.