Little Shrew by Akiko Miyakoshi
Published by Kids Can Press on 6/4/24
ISBN: 1525313037
Genres: Animals
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

Little Shrew leads a quiet and structured life.  Every day he eats the same meals, wears the same clothes, and completes his assigned chores each evening.  Despite the monotony, Shrew finds joy in the simple pleasures of his life, like the smell of fresh bread and a nice visit with friends.  This book is broken into three chapters with minimal text on each page, making it ideal for young readers who are ready to start listening to longer stories.  The language the author uses is slow and gentle, reminiscent of Frog and Toad.  The pencil and charcoal illustrations carry this book.  The softly colored pictures balance the black and white sketches and complement the story beautifully, adding details that are not present in the simple text.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library