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Mina



written and illustrated by
Matthew Forsythe

Edition
Hardcover edition
Publisher
Simon & Schuster
Imprint
Paula Wiseman
ISBN
9781481480413
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
None
$19.56   $16.30
SEE MEMBER PRICE
QTY
Out of stock

JLG Category

Kindergarten Plus

From the creator of the acclaimed and beloved Pokko and the Drum comes an emotionally resonant picture book about trust, worry, and loyalty between a father and daughter.

Mina and her father live in a hollowed-out tree stump on the edge of a pond on the edge of a forest. Nothing ever bothers Mina, until one day, her father brings home a suspicious surprise from the woods.

Should Mina trust her father—or listen to her own instincts?

Full-color illustrations were rendered in watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil.

POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
None

Details

Format

Print

Page Count

68

Trim Size

11" x 8 1/2"

Dewey

E

AR

2.5: points 0.5

Lexile

AD500L

Genre

Fic

Scholastic Reading Counts

0

JLG Release

Apr 2022

Book Genres

Picture Book

Topics

Mice. Cats. Pets. Fathers and daughters. Humorous stories.

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Cover Art

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Praise & Reviews

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2-Mina is a bookish little mouse whose peaceful solitude is often interrupted by her irrepressible father, who has a habit of bringing home "surprises from the outside world." When he brings home a truly shocking surprise, Mina can only respond with, "I don't think that's a squirrel." It is clearly a cat. As Mina's unease about cohabitating with a cat grows, her father brushes off her concerns. It is only after bringing home two more "squirrels," and seeking the advice of a doctor because they will not eat the proffered acorns, that the simmering tension boils over. Forsythe (Pokko and the Drum) delivers a wickedly humorous cat and mouse tale. Many young readers will identify with Mina, who is so obviously correct and so unjustly dismissed. Mina's father does not come off as cruel, simply too stubbornly optimistic to give credence to worry. Forsythe's wry, concise text is enhanced by stylized and whimsical illustrations in watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil. Mina and her father are drawn in a slightly abstract, minimalist style, which has the effect of making the more richly detailed cats seem all the more threatening. One indelible page pairs the text, "That night Mina couldn't sleep," with the image of a wide-eyed Mina and her sanguine father in their brightly lit bedroom, while the massive face of the smug cat looms over their beds, its dark body extending into the adjoining page, seemingly draining the light and color from around it. The visual storytelling is exquisite, drawing readers in to search for the small details, such as the direction of a character's gaze, that tell the real story. The book as a whole is engaging, perfectly paced and full of controlled suspense and biting humor. VERDICT This expertly crafted and delightfully quirky picture book is recommended for first purchase.-Elizabeth Lovsin, Deerfield P. L., IL

Praise & Reviews

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2-Mina is a bookish little mouse whose peaceful solitude is often interrupted by her irrepressible father, who has a habit of bringing home "surprises from the outside world." When he brings home a truly shocking surprise, Mina can only respond with, "I don't think that's a squirrel." It is clearly a cat. As Mina's unease about cohabitating with a cat grows, her father brushes off her concerns. It is only after bringing home two more "squirrels," and seeking the advice of a doctor because they will not eat the proffered acorns, that the simmering tension boils over. Forsythe (Pokko and the Drum) delivers a wickedly humorous cat and mouse tale. Many young readers will identify with Mina, who is so obviously correct and so unjustly dismissed. Mina's father does not come off as cruel, simply too stubbornly optimistic to give credence to worry. Forsythe's wry, concise text is enhanced by stylized and whimsical illustrations in watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil. Mina and her father are drawn in a slightly abstract, minimalist style, which has the effect of making the more richly detailed cats seem all the more threatening. One indelible page pairs the text, "That night Mina couldn't sleep," with the image of a wide-eyed Mina and her sanguine father in their brightly lit bedroom, while the massive face of the smug cat looms over their beds, its dark body extending into the adjoining page, seemingly draining the light and color from around it. The visual storytelling is exquisite, drawing readers in to search for the small details, such as the direction of a character's gaze, that tell the real story. The book as a whole is engaging, perfectly paced and full of controlled suspense and biting humor. VERDICT This expertly crafted and delightfully quirky picture book is recommended for first purchase.-Elizabeth Lovsin, Deerfield P. L., IL

Grades PreK-K
Kindergarten Plus
For Grades PreK-K

Filled with concept books and simple stories, this is an ideal category for youngsters who enjoy reading by themselves and following narratives through pictures. Vivid illustrations are an integral part of each book. Get 12 books per year filled with exceptional illustrations.

14 books per Year
$276.08 per Year
Interests
Animals,Beginning Readers,Fiction,Nonfiction,Picture Books,Storytime/Read Alouds
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Grades PreK-K
Kindergarten Plus
14 books per Year
$276.08 per Year

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