Wilfred to the Rescue

Wilfred, a young mouse, becomes involved in an unusual rescue when days of rain inundate a nearby stream. The Voles must evacuate their home and come to stay with neighbors. During a game of Hide-and-Squeak, Sissy, one of the young voles, hides under an umbrella in a basket boat and falls asleep as it drifts away. Wilfred and Sissys brother join forces to save her. After several pages of anxious exploration, the young vole is found and safely returned to her worried mother. Readers will enjoy the books gently paced plot and satisfying conclusion. Done in watercolors, the pastoral setting, full of whimsical details that also serve as visual clues, and the sweetly executed characters add to its appeal. The text works well as a read-aloud and for newly independent readers. Children who enjoy visiting the worlds of Beatrix Potter and Kenneth Grahames The Wind in the Willows will take pleasure in this cozy tale.