Library Mouse: A World to Explore

Library Mouse #3

by Daniel Kirk

Two friends learn about each other—and themselves—in author/illustrator Daniel Kirk’s picture book adventure Library A World to Explore .

One night in the library, Sam meets fellow mouse Sarah. Sam learns that Sarah is quite the explorer. She loves to scurry to the tops of shelves and explore the darkest corners of the building. Sam never climbs far up—he’s too afraid! He prefers to research subjects—such as exploration—and write about them. Sarah doesn’t know much about writing or research, but could reading and research help her learn more about the places she wishes to visit?

Together this duo shows that, with teamwork, anything is possible.

Library Mouse
Library Mouse
Library A Friend’s Tale
Library A World to Explore
Library A Museum Adventure
Library Home Sweet Home <!--? prefix = o ns = "" /-->

Genres: Picture Books, Fiction, Childrens, Animals, Adventure, Fantasy, Books About Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2010

Reviews

[Sonja Rosa Lisa ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ein süßes Kinderbuch über zwei Mäuse, die sich in der Bibliothek begegnen.
Sam liebt das Lesen und Recherchieren, während Sarah eine Abenteurerin ist. Sie klettert hoch auf die Regale und erkundet die dunkelsten Ecken.
Durch Sam erkennt Sarah, dass auch das Lesen ein Abenteuer sein kann :)
💜 Ich habe das Hörbuch gehört, daher kann ich zu den Illustrationen im Buch nichts sagen, aber die Geschichte ist einfach niedlich. Ein Pluspunkt ist natürlich, dass Bücher und das Lesen eine Rolle spielen. 💜

[Kris (My Novelesque Life) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A WORLD TO EXPLORE
(Library Mouse: #3)
Written and Illustrated by Daniel Kirk
2010, 30 Pages
Genre: picture book, children's

★★★

One night at the library, Sam finds out there is another mouse living in the library. Sam likes to write books for the patrons in the library, while Sarah likes adventure. Sarah takes Sam on an adventure in the library. I enjoyed this story but not as good as the first two.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sam the library mouse returns in this third picture-book devoted to his adventures, this time meeting and befriending Sarah, another mouse who lives in the library, and who has a more active approach to exploring than Sam himself does. Although he enjoys the games of make believe that he and Sarah engage in, such as pretending to be ancient Egyptians, Sam's fear of heights at first prevents him from joining her in other expeditions. Fortunately, he is able to overcome his trepidation, and discover a world waiting to be explored...

Like its predecessors, Library Mouse and Library Mouse: A Friend's Tale , Library Mouse: A World to Explore pairs an engaging story with bright, colorful artwork. I thought it was an interesting choice, on author/illustrator Daniel Kirk's part, to contrast the exploration one can do through books and reading with that accomplished through play and "real" world activity, demonstrating in the end that both have their place. Recommended to fans of the eponymous Library Mouse and his many adventures, as well as to those looking for children's stories about overcoming one's fears, and getting out into the world to see what it has to offer.

[Altivo Overo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam the library mouse has read all about the world outside the library, but is too timid to even climb to the top of the higher shelves. When he meets Sarah, a more adventurous mouse from the other end of the library, can she convince him to go exploring? Read and find out.

Daniel Kirk has created a fine character in Sam, one who will inspire readers to explore both their own abilities and the world around them.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are cute books. We've read a couple and they're pretty consistent three star books. Extra star because it's been months since we read a library mouse book and when my daughter saw this in the pile I brought home for her she remembered Sam's name! They must be quite memorable for a preschooler. :)

[Sarri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tälle kait pitäisi löytyä lukkarinrakkautta, kun kerran kirjastossa itsekin työskentelen. Mutta ei. Nössö kirjastohiiri Sam oleilee lastenosaston tietokirjaosastolla, kunnes paikalle tupsahtaa päällepäsmäröivä tyttöhiiri Sarah. Sarahin puoliksi pakottamana ja yllyttämänä Sam päätyy tekemään varsin huimia juttuja, joihin ei ikimainkaan olisi omissa oloissan ryhtynyt. Kuvitus on kuin suoraan kauhugalleriasta. Jäykät ja yksityiskohtaisesti maalatut hiiret näyttävät aivan ihmisiltä, joilla on jättiläiskokoinen hiiren pää. Jotenkin jälkimakuna ne näyttivät siltä, että voisivat puraista lukijan pään irti, jos kirjaa lukiessa ryhtyy varomattomaksi. Tämä tosin oli vain oma tulkintani. En kyllä kääntäisi selkääni näille.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

A mouse comes to the realization that it's okay to live vicariously through books or writing if you still have at least one person, or in this case - a mouse, who thinks you're normal and will drive you to explore things in new ways.

Moral of the story: "Be weird, kids! There's at least one crazy person that will be your friend out there somewhere, probably your mom!"

[Donalyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sam, the library mouse, loves to go on adventures in the pages of books, but he is nervous about exploring the world until his new friend, Sarah shows him that readers and writers are explorers, too.
A great book for showing young readers the fun of researching topics that interest them.

[Kristine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book but I didn't enjoy it as much as the first book in the Library Mouse series. Sam learns that he can be an explorer just like those in the books he reads and I think that's something that many kids will find inspiring.

[Cosette · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book set off warning bells in my head as I read. Why? Just too many boundaries being tossed aside - which may work for a mouse, but how does that relate to kids?

[Jessica Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Library Mouse A World to Explore is a children's picture book intended for children four to eight years of age. This story takes place in a library. Two mice, Sam and Sarah, each explore the world (which is the library) in their own way. Sam prefers to explore by reading books while Sarah prefers to explore by actually visiting different locations. The story shows how people can be friends even though they share different views and may have different personalities. I was disappointed in the plot, I was expecting more, maybe since Sarah gave Sam's way of exploring a chance that Sam would do the same with Sarah's way of exploring. The story itself was long. I felt that the ending could have happened much sooner than it did. When a story is too long and when there are too many words the intended audience will lose interest. The illustrations are beautifully done with gouache on water color paper. The illustrations stand out with so much text on each page. I don't think this would be a favorite among young readers. The story and plot are too long and there are too many words. The illustrations are nice but not nice enough to captivate the intended audience. Throughout the story, the reader can point out World Wonders such as the Egyptian Pyramids, The Great Wall Of China, and The Eiffel Tower in France.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

The publisher takes a certain moral from this story. Stated right on the left inside flap of this picture book, here's how it goes:

"With teamwork and determination, anything is possible."

Three big cliches all strung together in one inspiring sentence? What's not to like?

Plenty.

For me, I don't like any of these three platitudes. Call me simple if you wish, but to this Goodreads reviewer, Library Mouse Book 3 is about friendship. FRIENDSHIP.

Remember Friendship?

And I don't mean friending on Goodreads, Twitter, or Facebook. Hey, I do them, but never do I confuse that cute social media activity with having real-life friends.

When we read books to youngsters, we're teaching them about life. We're showing them that cool people (US!) like to read. Most of all -- maybe best of all -- we're opening our hearts to them, learning from them, looking them in the eye, laughing together.

Friendship! It makes the world go around.

I'm gladly rating this book at FIVE STARS because Library Mouse Book 3 is about friendship. And I'm hungry for more about that to share with young readers. Aren't you?

Helping children to grow up humanly: caring about other people, using good communication skills for sharing life with others? Big personal growth! Even spiritual riches! Here's to friendship, not just more teamwork and determination!

[Patrice Doten · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not a fan of some of the messaging in this story - a (presumably) juvenile mouse goes off with a stranger who promises fun and adventure and engages in dangerous risk-taking, but not one negative consequence occurs and instead his life is improved by it. As a kid who tried dangerous things I saw in cartoons and tv shows, and an adult whose 11-year-old niece was being groomed by a sex-trafficker (her parents discovered it accidentally just in time) I prefer a more balanced, realistic approach in stories for children. I appreciate Sam confronting his fears, but don’t like that he only does so because the aforementioned stranger shames him into it (“You’re not scared, are you?”).

To be fair, there are also some positive messages - trying new things can be fun, there are multiple ways to learn and explore the world, it’s ok to be different, and reading is enjoyable when you find the right books for your interests. The illustrations are beautiful and the characters are super cute. When my kids were young, I’d probably have read this to one of them but not the other (who had a knack for getting into dangerous scrapes).

[Portable · Rating 5 out of 5]

This third book in the Library mouse series has worked really well in our K2 Structures Unit, but it s a great starting point for discussing research methods, taking action, asking and answering questions, and being a risktaker. At first I was concerned that its length made it a little beyond our kindergarten students, but having read it to K2 classes, they really enjoyed it, and the combination of a compelling story and bright, detailed illustrations definitely held their attention. Worth buying the series for reading together at home! Library Mouse loves researching things in the library, but when he meets a new friend, Sarah, he is pushed beyond his comfort zone in order to find out by exploring high up shelves. He conquers his fear by using the knowledge he has gained through reading, and together they both learn from one another. Marvelous!

[Renate Deutsche Oma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new to this Oma author and illustrator of children's books. As an avid reader, I enjoy reading books with a library setting. My granddaughters, as preschoolers and even now as elementary school age enjoy reading books with animals and visiting the library. As a retired teacher, the book has a relevant theme - there is a difference between reading about adventures and exploring the world in person. Personal experiences. A delightful story about facing fears for elementary aged children. Delightful illustrations about different modes of transportation to explore the world and places to visit. Fun story, but the illustrations can be used for discussions and vocabulary building.

[Rubi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam found a new mouse friend in this story. She wasn't very literate but he showed how to research and they learned about the world. I like how they implemented some of what they read to have real life experiences....a good book always leads us to want to do or see or experience something. But, I also like that it shows that just because someone isn't brave enough, doesn't mean they're not knowledgeable. People just like to experience things differently, and that's okay. Another cute book by Mr. Kirk

[Meg McGregor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this story between the developing friendship of the two characters - Sam and Sarah.

Sam is a mouse who likes to write stories but who is very shy. Sarah is an adventurous mouse who loves to explore!

Through a series of events they learn that exploration and discovery has no boundaries. Sam also learns that he is braver than he imagined! As he says several times in the story, "He had never met a mouse like Sarah!"

I just hope the little ones who hear or read this story won't want to start climbing the shelves! LOL

[L Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh!!! This is an Indiana Jones style Library Mouse story! I loved it!
Two mice live in the library (my favorite place to be); one is an explorer and one a writer. The explorer learns how to research and the writer mouse becomes more like the explorer! It's a fun way to learn to see things in a different perspective!

Wonderful pictures and story for children!
Check out other fun Library Mouse stories!

[Alyssa Gassel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was spectacular! My students loved it. It’s a great book for all age students and people, young and old, as it brings a spark of imagination and curiosity. It also plays into the power of books and the library. Basically, there is a mouse that is in a library, and he befriends another mouse, who teaches him how to have fun, be imaginative, and explore! And to try things that may be challenging, difficult, or scary.

[Carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great illustrations. Cute story. I picked this up because it had two of my greatest loves in it...a Jeep and the library! You can always find an adventure at the library and go anywhere you want to go!

[Milton Public · Rating 3 out of 5]

So the guy who does research is scared to go out and do things for himself? The librarians are offended. Also, other than saying that books are fun, this book doesn't do much in terms of illustration or text.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book about two clever mice who are interested in exploring. This would be a really fun book to share with younger students about research. The author lives in one of my home towns, which has a terrific library!

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's good to try new things, but there's a fine line between that and letting friends pressure you into breaking your boundaries. I'm not sure if the age range this is aimed at can quite see that difference yet.

[Jillian]

No Rating

Read as an e-b00k. I honestly don't have much, or anything, to say about this picture book. It had cute artwork. It was fun. I like books set in libraries. I like the ideas of libraries and books turning readers into explorers. Other than that, I don't have anything else to say.

[Rani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meet the library mice who have fun doing some #research and #adventure in the library.

[Kenson and kirra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. it was pretty cool to hear the story of how sam met sarah. we have one more library mouse book to read. i'm excited.

[Monique the Book Geek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a cute picture book series for children!

[Arnetha Villery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam meets fellow mouse name Sarah.
Sam learns that Sarah is quite the explorer.
She loves to scurry to the tops of shelves and explore the darkest corners of the building.
🌟🌟🌟🌟😊

[Lydia Gates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet iillustrations.

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet little book about a shy mouse who loves to do research in the library. I wasn't crazy about the illustrations, but you could certainly build some fun library lessons around this one.