Mildred and Sam take their babies to various different areas. Every time the babies dream of something, Mildred and Sam take them away. Throughout the first chapter, Mildred worries about the babies while Sam assures her that the babies are fine. In the second chapter, the babies have grown up and are preparing to go to school.
Realistic family structure, behaviors of parents, setting. Unrealistic behaviors of mice, thoughts and soeech of mice,
Medium: pencil, paint

Early reader story about two mice parents and their group of babies (leads up to the babies’ first day of school). I picked this up because there was a group-mind element: the babies act as a unit, and even dream together. I didn’t use it for my essay since I was focusing on picture books, but it’s still a good example. I like the way the dreams touch upon the way in which the babies are being stifled by their mother/parents without actually giving us the babies’ direct thoughts. Not sure I love the way the mother is depicted as an overprotective worrier throughout, while the dad is more laid back. No one actually changes, other than the babies, who grow up a bit; the mother worries throughout and the dad is not worried througout and in the end the babies are fine. But then again, it is a beginning reader; not a ton of room for deep character development. ( )