A cute read about a family of mice who all play musical instruments. When the mice make music, the forest is very quiet.

It is a twist on the City Mouse and the Country Mouse and they see although they are different in a lot of ways, they are similar in some and can work through their differences.

My little readers and I loved the characters and artwork, but I had to quickly summarize each page of text to hold their attention.

Everyone has to go to the beat of their own drum. I like how the pictures really show the emotion and feeling of the story. I think the pictures tell the story on their own.

It's ok to be different. This book teaches that statement at a childhood level. Isabel loves music and wants to share it with her siblings, but they refuse to think anything can be as beautiful as theirs. Great lessons for kids to learn.

Mouse Music is a story of coming together, of the power of cooperation, and the beauty in the world surrounding us that is greater than any individual one of us. The main character in this story, Isabel, loves music, so do her siblings. Isabel's love for music, however, goes beyond her love for a particular instrument or style. She hears music all around her and with a humble heart is able to appreciate the uniqueness of them all. She longs to share the joy of her discoveries with her siblings, but alas, they are too quick to judge, dismiss and look down upon others. How will Isabel show her siblings what they are missing? The beautiful illustrations and the engaging story of this book will engender a love for music in young children. At the end of the book, there are suggestions for how to continue the conversation and music education with children.

Review of uncorrected advance reader eBook

Isabel, her sister, and her two brothers all make music. Isabel and Andre play the violin. Lavinia plays the harp and Wibi plays the piano. When the four mice make music together, all the other animals in the forest are very quiet . . . they don’t want to miss anything.

Every day, Isabel walks in the forest, listening for new sounds she doesn’t yet know. One day, she hears a bird singing. Another day she hears ants marching. Each time she calls her brothers and sister to hear the beautiful music she has discovered, but they believe their own music is better.

And then, one day Isabel hears strange music in the distance and meets four mice from the city . . . .

This charming musical tale, written for young readers ages four through nine, speaks to being acceptant, to diversity and inclusion, as well as to the celebrating of beautiful music in all its forms. The bright, colorful illustrations are likely to capture the attention of the youngest readers [although the story may be a bit discursive for four-year-olds]. Most importantly, the lesson of appreciation for and acceptance of the music of all is one that easily relates to other life experiences and situations.

Suggestions for listening for sounds, for making music and enjoying music in its various forms [singing like a bird, stomping like an ant, making music with your body or with objects], and enjoying music in different ways are included.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Clavis Publishing and NetGalley
#MouseMusic #NetGalley

If there’s one thing I love in children’s books, it’s adorable, musical animals.

This book is lovely and I’ll absolutely be adding it to my music classroom library and recommending it to other music educators.

I loved the diverse names of the mice in the story. It’s important that my diverse school population see names like theirs reflected in our literature without tokenizing them.

This book would be excellent to begin to discuss different types of music, why music from different areas sound different, or even beginning to discuss differences between what our western music traditions sound like compared to other parts of the world - but it’s totally accessible for young students!

The illustrations in the book are also beautiful, and I particularly love the illustration of Isabel the mouse with her violin case on her back - she looks like a little music student in the forest!

With bright and quirky illustrations, this book about learning to appreciate the rhythms and melodies of those who are unlike us. And how those sounds can blend beautifully with our own personal music.

Mouse Music was a sweet book that tells the story of Isabel, a curious mouse who loves adventure and music.

As she goes on her daily adventures, she encounters different animals and sounds. Excited by these she comes back to her brothers and sisters who are not interested in befriending those who are so different from them.
When Isabel and the City Mice come together and collaborate, a beautiful new sound is found and her brothers and sisters realize the beauty in coming together to make a who new thing!

I really like the illustrations of this book and think that it would be good for the 4 to 6 year olds in anyone's life!

I liked this story about differences and inclusion. I thought the story was interesting and presented the lesson in a way kids fam easily grasp.

This one had really adorable art but the actual story wasn’t my favourite.

I do like the messages that this little book portrays but it did drag on a little bit. I think kids will still really enjoy this one though! Especially with how colourful each page is.

I’d definitely recommend this if you have kids!

3/5 ⭐️

ARC received for honest review. This children’s book was so adorable! My children loved it! It is about the different types of music and how the mice only like their own music until they truly listen to others and all unite. It’s beautifully written and helps teach good morals! Highly recommend!!!

My least favorite of the three children book I pick on NG yesterday. The story was less captivating and I'm not sure I will try it with my son, might not be quite his style. I'm sorry!

This is a good book that shows that each person is different and what they like doesn't have to be the same. This would be a great classroom read aloud.

Mouse Music by Suzan Overmeer teaches about the beauty the world has to offer if we stop to observe it with an open mind. The illustrations are colorful and adorable. Isabel Mouse finds music in everything, but her siblings have a hard time appreciating anything beyond their purview. They ultimately come to observe and appreciate the music Isabel finds in daily life from different creatures. I loved the book's message of appreciating what others have to offer even if it's different from what you're used to. I liked the last pages which includes suggestions for musical education from the examples used in the book.

Thank you Clavis Publishing and NetGalley for providing this ARC.

This was such a lovely, colourfully-illustrated cheer of a children's book.
I love the idea that there is no "better" or "wrong" kind of music and that there is room for all kinds of music.

The educational part on how one can stomp, sing along, clap the hands, etc. was also lovely #inspiring

I really liked this book. Bright, interesting, simple yet detailed art and a story about loving all types of music really resonated with me. Recommended!

I've been on a bit of a children's book kick because I've been spending time with my younger cousins, and I'm trying to get inside their heads when reviewing something like this. It has the read-aloud aspect of a great children's book. Because of the music and the animals, I could see it being an enjoyable time for both the reader and the listeners if the reader wanted to do voices, or something like that. Additionally, the illustrations are beautiful. The book felt very imaginative and creative, and the right length for an older child who is still learning to read, but is also becoming interested in music.

This is a lovely kids book about keeping an open mind to others, told through the perspective of a mouse violinist. I adored the art style and the message was lovely. A great book for young kids!

Definitely recommend this for a little bit older child, as it’s a little wordy for a toddler. It was a great story, and the lesson of being open minded is always one that people can use. Definitely recommend.