Short description
Sam is a mouse who lives in a library. He loves to read all kinds of books. He learns that he also loves to make up and write his own stories, just like the books he finds in the library. He begins to leave his stories (that he also illustrates) in different parts of the library - the mystery he writes he places alongside the other mysteries.
Long description
Sam is a mouse who lives in a library. He loves to read all kinds of books. He learns that he also loves to make up and write his own stories, just like the books he finds in the library. He begins to leave his stories (that he also illustrates) in different parts of the library - the mystery he writes he places alongside the other mysteries; the fairytale goes with similar books and so on. Humans find his stories and want to know who the writer is. So Sam, who is a bit cautious around humans, devises a plan to introduce them to the writer inside themselves.
Review
Mouse becomes muse. Late at night when the library is closed, Sam the mouse, an enthusiastic reader and writer, sneaks out of his comfy hole to take advantage of the library's resources, leaving the books he writes behind. One morning, Sam works all night and falls asleep at a table, waking up just in time to avoid an elementary-school writing club. In his haste to escape, however, he leaves behind his notebook. Young Tom discovers it and takes it to the librarian, who suggests he leave it for Sam to find later. Tom has another idea, deciding to find Sam. He leaves cheese and a story he's written called The Shy One by Sam's mousehole. In no time flat, the duo is collaborating, with Sam doing the illustrations. And Tom's text gives Sam an idea for another book. Kirk's substantial text suits early grades. While his illustrations hold little artistic nuance, they do incorporate well-known titles by other author-illustrator duos, and children will enjoy spotting such favorites as Goodnight Moon and Miss Nelson Is Back. In all, a solid nudge to budding writers. (Picture book. 6-9) (Kirkus Reviews)