Isabel reads "Mousie Love."It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and what could be better than a good picture book?

Dark chocolate, you say?

A clean house?

A day off work with pay?

Well, maybe. But only if you’re off of work, in your clean house, eating dark chocolate WHILE you read this picture book.

The book is Mousie Love (Bloomsbury USA, 2009). It’s about a mouse named Tully who is quite taken with a mouse named Frill. He tries to propose, but a cat and Tully’s own ideas about love keep getting in the way.

It’s written by Dori Chaconas. Yes, she’s the author who wrote my favorite Christmas picture book featured here. Yes, that book also is about mice. But what can I do? A good book is a good book.

And I wasn’t the only one who liked it. Meet Isabel:

Our reviewer: Isabel (who also goes by “Izzy”)

Age: 7

I like: Playing video games and playing with my little sister, Abby.

This book was about: A boy mouse named Tully. He meets a girl mouse named Frill. Tully keeps asking, “Will you marry me?” But Frill never gets a chance to answer because Tully always goes and does something before she can.

The best part was when: Tully gets a blueberry muffin for Frill. I like to eat blueberry muffins when they are hot.

I laughed when: Frill never got to answer Tully’s question. But I knew she’d say “yes,” because I knew they were in love.

I was worried when: The cat kept following them.

I was surprised: At how many mice were in the book. And that there was a spider.

This book taught me: Three things. Mice can fit under very small things. People fall down when animals run under their feet. And, don’t ever fall off the roof.

Other kids reading this book should watch for: The cat. He’s always lurking around and running under people’s feet.

Three words that best describe this book are: “Marry.” “Mice.” “Love.”

My favorite line or phrase in this book is: “She didn’t say ‘no.’ She didn’t say ‘yes.’
She didn’t say ‘maybe.’”

You should read this book because: I like it that the two mice fall in love. At the end, Tully and Frill look up at the stars and say, “Oooh.” Then, there’s a big mouse wedding.

This book has illustrations by Josee Masse.

Oh, and by the way, Isabel says if someone as nice as Tully asked her to get married, she’d say, “Yes. Or at least maybe.”

Keep the love going. List YOUR favorite Valentine’s Day book in the comment section.