102

George comes home from school with a fever of 101, but it rises to 102. A mouse runs across the kitchen with something black in its mouth. Mom catches the mouse, and they put it into a tank. George offers it water and sunflower seeds, but it won’t eat. George falls asleep, and at 1:02 am, a cricket awakens him, signaling George to follow. The cricket magically makes George tiny, and they go through a tunnel to the outside. Nearly captured by an owl, they escape into a hollow tree where they find a mouse family, the family of the mouse George’s mother captured. They are waiting for Father Mouse to bring a black bean home, the final ingredient in 102 Bean Soup that will cure the sick child mouse.

Matthew Cordell is both author and illustrator of this lovely book. The story is a bit like a fever dream, but it is very sweet, and it will spark the imaginations of young listeners and readers. The illustrations are wonderfully creative pen drawings in muted colors with delightful details to keep youngsters engaged all the way through. This will become a fast favorite with little ones.