Snug as a Bug
Sno-Mole
The New Friend
Sno-Mouse

Recommended at NELA. Has a Frog and Toad vibe. ( )

I am more of a fan of this series with every book of it I read. I love the rich vocabulary, especially the 'action words.' I love how these friends tease and challenge each other, which keeps the stories from being too sappy. I love, in this one, how they solve so many problems with just a bit of courage & ingenuity - almost so effortlessly that a reader might not realize the challenges.

(Btw, it's a bit helpful to read the first book first, but otherwise they can be read in any order, and if you can't get the first book, they pretty much stand alone.) ( )

I had mixed feelings about this book. It is a great book for advancing young readers because the language is light and inventive. The two main characters, Mouse and Mole, have very different personalities that are well-developed and very relatable for children. There are amazing illustrations throughout the book that are colorful and enhance the reading experience. The main idea of this book is to encourage others to try new things because they may enjoy it.

Story of friends' opposing viewpoints about winter weather. Mouse wishes for mole to play in the snowy weather and mole wants to stay in bed. Mole's curiosity swells and later he goes to see what mouse is up to. He finds mouse with a stranger (a snowman) and becomes concerned, he then thinks mouse has replaced their friendship with a new friend, only to learn the new friend is a snowman. They enjoy playing together and when they get too cold they retire to a warm fire inside.

Summary: Winter is at the doorsteps of the woods that Mouse and Mole live in and the ground is covered in a fresh snow. Mouse is so excited about the snow and cannot wait to get Mole to come outside with her, but Mole is grouchy and did not come to play. Mouse decided to still go out in the snow and she ended up making a snow-mole, which made Mole jealous because he thought it was a new friend. Mole came outside to play with mouse and Mouse told Mole he does not ever have to be jealous because he is her best friend forever.

Review: This is a great book for beginning readers that Yee has written. Yee has been able to tie his central message of cherishing friendships into a relationship between two animals. Mouse was so excited for Mole to come outside with her that she ran to his house and exclaimed to him, "It's a winter wonderland! Come!" (p. 7). When Mole said no, Mouse decided to have a blast without him and created a snow-mole to look like her friend. Mole was angry and sad when "mouse was with a friend...and it wasn't him" and decided to go outside and tell Mouse (p. 26). Mouse began chuckling because Mole was so mad, but she couldn't help it because it was not a real friend. This shows that Mouse truly cherishes her friendship with Mole because she did not get angry and Mole for accusing her of replacing him and Mole felt hurt when he thought he was replaced. ( )