Fourth of July Mice! by Bethany Roberts -- PUBLIC

Roberts, Bethany Fourth of July Mice!, illustrated by Doug Cushman. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2004 (reprinted 2014). $12.99. Content: G.

Four mice celebrate the Fourth of July with a parade, a picnic, and a swim by the river -- followed, of course, by a round of fireworks and sparklers. While this is a cute, fun story with a bit of adventure mixed in, it actually has very little to do with the Fourth of July. Unfortunately, it is just relevant enough to not work at any other time of year. Since many schools are out of session during the summer, and the book isn't strong enough to add to the curriculum to the school year, it would most likely work best in places that are active around the Fourth, such as daycares, public libraries, or homes.

Pre-K, EL (K-3) -- PUBLIC. Reviewer: Caryn