After observing the action and considering the facts, Scooter Mouse encourages a community solution to the pothole problem in Scooter Mouse and the Pothole, written by Alice Rhea Mitchell and illustrated by Sheryl K. Perry.
As Scooter Mouse searches for Miss Mattie, he discovers Christmas joy and love in Scooter Mouse Finds Christmas written by Alice Rhea Mitchell and illustrated by Sheryl K. Perry.
When a Mississippi mouse seeks a better opportunity in Scooter Mouse Finds the Library by Alice Rhea Mitchell, he follows a path from the country to McComb City, where he escapes from a Tabby cat, lands in the library, and meets Miss Mattie, the children’s librarian.
Nineteen vibrant watercolor paintings by artist Sheryl K. Perry illustrate the text.
After Story Hour with Miss Mattie, Rabbit falls from Alexander’s backpack and hides under the circulation desk until Scooter Mouse rescues him and engineers a hide-and-seek reunion.
Twenty-one watercolors by illustrator Sheryl K. Perry depict the text by author Alice Rhea Mitchell in Scooter Mouse and Rabbit, the second in the series dedicated to children’s librarian Mattie Rials.
Published by the Magnolia Gazette Publishing Corporation in Magnolia, Mississippi, Scooter Mouse and Rabbit is the second in the series of Scooter Mouse books. The publisher will contribute a portion of the proceeds to The Miss Mattie Foundation, which gives competitive college scholarships to high school seniors in the Mississippi counties served by the Pike-Amite-Walthall Library System.
The tale of Scooter Mouse and Rabbit began in 2013 as a long poem, “Rabbit’s Habit,” after Perry requested that Mitchell write about her grandson’s stuffed rabbit’s hiding, i.e., being lost. To reduce the length of the manuscript, Perry recommended a prose version. Mitchell tried and then set the writing aside until after Scooter Mouse and the Teddy Bears evolved. Then Perry asked if Scooter Mouse and Rabbit could have an adventure, and Mitchell’s imagination took over. As always, Perry’s illustrations capture the story.
Instigated by award-winning radio talk show host Fern Crossley to have books about Miss Mattie and prompted by Darlene Morgan, Director of Pike-Amite-Walthall Library System, the Scooter Mouse series began with the 2016 edition of Scooter Mouse and the Teddy Bears, authored by Mitchell and illustrated by Perry. That book then came to life with ballet productions presented by Rejoice Dance Academy of McComb, Mississippi, for seven kindergartens in the tri-county area and for the general public.
Following robust sales by the Miss Mattie Foundation, Scooter Mouse and the Teddy Bears was reprinted by the publisher in 2018. Fans of Scooter Mouse and Miss Mattie may expect the next book, A Mouse in the Stacks, in the fall.
When Miss Mattie, the children's librarian, invites the teddy bears to spend the night at the library, Scooter Mouse wonders if he will have to sleep too. However, Scooter Mouse watches the bears from his hole until he joins the fun and knows, along with the reader, about the bears' night at the library.
Fourteen watercolor paintings by artist Sheryl K. Perry illustrate the text.
The sale of Scooter Mouse benefits the Miss Mattie Foundation, which gives competitive college scholarships to high school seniors in Pike, Amite, and Walthall counties in Mississippi.
Congratulations on a wonderful job of collaboration with your beautiful art work. Not only will my young grandsons enjoy the book but their granddaddy already has.
Your use of colors and minute detail are impressive. l looked closer through a magnifying glass to appreciate the fine points, especially page fifteen. The colored numbers one through five in the text on page sixteen was a creative soft touch. I appreciated, too, Miss Mattie on page twenty-nine where you gave such an understanding of her circumstance. I could visualize her struggle in pushing off with her right hand in getting off her knees to stand up. The reader has to sympathize with her commitment to Scooter. Each page had its own clever magic. Scooter’s signature with the eyes and the inverted "e's" revealed his mischievous personality.
Your art work really brought Scooter and the Bears alive, and I know the book will be a big success and raise lots of money for the Foundation. - Norman Singleton
Scooter Mouse and the Teddy Bears reviewed in the Fall 2019 issue of Mississippi Libraries
This is the first of the Scooter Mouse series dedicated to real life children’s librarian, Mattie Rials. This colorfully illustrated children’s book is based on a teddy bear poster Mitchell saw hanging in a library. Sheryl K. Perry’s watercolor pictures will grab the attention of young children, school age readers and adults alike. Scooter Mouse, or a part of his body, is painted somewhere within each watercolor and children may enjoy finding him each time the page turns. Mitchell’s variations on font choice, size and color add to the story, such as using an old English type of font to describe “old” teddy bears and a taller font, when describing big bears. Younger children may benefit from seeing the larger font or the different colored font to understand the terms, while school age readers will probably make these connections, which adds to the overall strength of the book and its story. Single pictures of a cookie or a crawling teddy bear will appeal to preschool children, as they will most likely be able to identify these items.
When the little girl in My Mama's Closet explores her mother's closet, she spies the corner where her mother has placed items for the little girl to wear. Creatively, the little girl decides independently, adjusts accordingly, and emerges confidently to reveal the results.
Eighteen watercolor paintings by artist Sheryl K. Perry illustrate the text.
Stan, the lad of four in Our Game, explores a storeroom of sports equipment until he hears his dad calling him. Gathering his gear and his dad’s first glove, he focuses on baseball and responds, ready to play.
Fourteen watercolor paintings by artist Sheryl K. Perry illustrate the text.
