School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3-A whimsical story that is reminiscent of Crockett Johnson's Harold and the Purple Crayon (HarperCollins, 1955). Henry gets more than a scolding for coloring on the walls with his sister's box of magic colored pencils because everything he draws with them comes to life. He makes six attempts to create the perfect mouse and, becoming frustrated, decides to sketch a hedgehog instead. The misshapen mice follow the hedgehog off the wall and into Henry's bedroom. The real trouble begins when his creations discover the magic pencils and start drawing whatever they fancy. Henry then comes up with the perfect solution to restore peace and order to his bedroom-he draws a teacher. Cartoonlike watercolors outlined in black successfully depict the little boy's surprise, panic, and relief as well as the animals' rowdy and then subdued behavior. Biet occasionally extends his illustrations into the white margins of the pages, creating an interesting and effective layout. This delightful book is sure to generate a few chuckles.-Christine Lindsey, Lake Superior Primary School, Ashland, WI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Ages 5^-7. Children know that drawing on walls will get them in trouble--but not the kind of trouble Henry finds himself in when he borrows his sister's magical colored pencils. Whatever Henry draws becomes real, including six mischievous mice. The mice draw an assortment of toys and insects, making a mess of Henry's room, until Henry thinks to draw a teacher mouse who brings the situation under control. Biet's illustrations, especially the picture showing mouse chaos, are full of vibrant color and action. The mice, each with its own personality and expression, are the sort of not-quite-right creatures a child might draw, complete with mismatched ears, too round noses, and too long tails. Consider pairing this with Crockett Johnson's Harold and the Purple Crayon for a story time dealing with art, or using it with Seuss' The Cat in the Hat for a second perspective on messy guests. --Catherine Andronik
