This post is part of a weekly series of synopses of children’s books, written by First Book staff members.

Lion and the Mouse, by Gail Herman, illustrated by Lisa McCue. In this retelling of the classic Aesop fable, an adventuresome mouse proves that even small creatures are capable of great deeds when he rescues the King of the Jungle. Grades K-2.


Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell, adapted by Cathy East Dubowski, illustrated by Domenick D’Andrea. Set in 19th century England, the magnificent horse Black Beauty tells his own life story. Some of it is sad and some of it is joyous, but through it all you feel connected to this animal. It would be hard to read this book and ever look at a horse the same way again. Grades 3-4.


Cricket in Times Square, by George Selden. Chester, a cricket from the Connecticut countryside, gets inadvertantly swept up in a picnic basket and winds up in the heart of Times Square, where he meets Tucker the Mouse, Harry the Cat, and a little boy named Mario.

It’s soon discovered that Chester has an incredible ability to chirp amazing music, which draws listeners (and customers) to the down-on-its-luck newsstand belonging to Mario’s family. Yet despite the fame and fortune, Chester misses his country home, and his new friends figure out a way to help him find his way back. Grades 5-6.