"There is a wonder in reading Braille that the sighted will never know: to touch words and have them touch you back."
~Jim Fiebig
(this is my most favourite quote of all times so far, I love it!)
Title: The Blueberry Mouse
Author: Alice Low
Illustrator: David Michael Friend
Ages: PS - Grade 2
"Out in Blueberry Cove/On the island of Skye/Lived the Blueberry Mouse,/In her blueberry pie." Yep you heard it right. This little mouse lives inside a blueberry pie that is nestled in a blueberry patch. The problem with that is she is eating everything around her. Now blueberry mouse loves everything blue. She has blueberry whiskers and long eyelashes and wears a beautiful, stylish red and white polka dotted dress while she sits around and nibbles on her house. First she eats her table and dishes and then her blanket and sheet. " I can do without them,/I can turn up the heat." Then she starts in on the walls...oh my...that could be disastrous. Yep it was. Finding herself homeless she comes up with the perfect solution: "I will make/A much, much better house/In a blueberry cake." I like the way little mouse thinks - unlimited blueberry snacks sounds just the perfect answer to her shrinking house dilemma.
The story is in rhyme and the illustrations are adorable and really carry the storyline of the book. You will fall in love with Miss Mouse and you will understand why she has so many friends. She has a very giving and generous heart and invites her friends to come and celebrate with her. Nibbles for all! The colour pallet is fantastic and the detail sublime. Hurray for the blueberry! They make your mouth water and like Miss Mouse you will be asking for blueberry snacks too.
About the author:
Alice Low
About the illustrator:
David Michael Friend is a freelance illustrator and animator living in Brooklyn, New York, whose creations have been used by such companies as Sesame Workshop, Disney, Jim Henson Company, and the Cartoon Network. He illustrated JT Petty's The Squampkin Patch, Blueberry Mouse by Alice Low, and the graphic novel Daniel and the Great Bearded One by Richard W. Friend III. Visit him at www.dmfriend.com.
Book Review Rating: 8 (Fantastic!)
Read on and read always!
Enjoy your day and try a blueberry treat today while you read the book!
Blueberry snacks for you to try:
Blueberry Bars
Ingredients:
2 sticks butter -softened
1 3/4 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp almond extract
3 cups of flour
2 cans of pie filling (blueberry)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease 11x17 jelly roll pan.
In large mixer cream together the softened butter and sugar. Add 1 egg at a time to mixer. Add vanilla and almond extracts, and then carefully add flour, a little at a time, until mixed. The batter will be very thick.
Bake until top and edges are slightly brown (about 45-55 minutes). Cool completely before cutting into squares.
Crunchy-Top Blueberry Muffins
(Portion size 12)
Ingredients:
2 cups (500 ml) all -purpose flour
3/4 cup (175 ml) granulated sugar
1 tbsp (15ml) baking powder
1 tsp (5 ml) baking soda
1/2 tsp (2 ml) salt
1/2 cup (125 ml) plain yogurt
2 tsp (10 ml) grated orange rind
1/4 cup (60 ml) orange juice
1/4 cup (60 ml) vegetable oil
2 eggs
1-1/2 cups ( 375 ml) fresh blueberries
Crunchy topping:
1/4 cup (60ml) granulated sugar
1 tbsp. (15 ml) grated orange rink
Preparation:
Adjust oven rack to centre. Heat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C)
Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.
Pour flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a large bowl; whisk until blended.
Pour yogourt, orange rind and juice, oil and eggs into another large bowl and whisk until smooth.
Pour yogurt mixture over dry ingredients. Sprinkle with blueberries. With wooden spoon, stir just until you can't see flour.
Fill muffin cups three - quarters full with batter.
Prepare topping in small bowl, mix in sugar and orange rind. Sprinkle over batter in each cup.
Bake muffins in oven until tops are golden brown and firm to touch. About 25 minutes.
Place rack on counter. Wearing oven mitts, transfer muffin tin to rack and let cool.
Enjoy!
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