  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 03/01/2017 PreS-Gr 2—Morris the mole is unique in his family. His brothers spend their days digging, eating, and sleeping. Morris is smaller than his siblings and follows a slightly different routine. One day the moles discover that they have run out of food. Morris has a suggestion that he thinks can save the day. When Morris attempts to inform his brothers about his idea, he is ignored. Morris proceeds to go on an adventure filled with twists and surprises along the way. Vibrant and bold colors contrast with the dark backgrounds. Black space adds depth to the tunnels that the moles continuously dig. White space is used to depict Morris's eventual emergence aboveground. Morris sports a blue checkered suit, which makes him stand out easily from his brothers. His choice in outfit mimics his equally distinctive personality and thoughts. This engaging read-aloud illustrates how an outsider can help solve problems in ways that members of a unified group may not have considered, and encourages children to be open to accepting and exploring different points of view. It also demonstrates how teamwork can benefit everyone. VERDICT Morris may be small, but he can indeed do big things; a must-have for all shelves.—Deanna Smith, Mamaroneck Public Library, NY - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 04/01/2017 Morris Mole and his brothers live deep underground. His siblings spend all their time digging, eating, and sleeping, while little Morris expresses his individuality by dressing dapperly, reading books, and enjoying a good meal. When the brothers run out of food, everyone decides to dig deeper, except Morris, who tunnels up instead. There he finds flowers, birds, friendly folk, and delicious foods. Just as he is about to return home with his haul, Morris meets a hungry fox, who is in turn set upon by an angry wolf. Morris hides the fox, mending their relationship in the process, and then the mole surprises his brothers with a delicious feast. Yaccarino’s mixed-media illustrations are richly hued; the navy moles wear bright orange and green work clothes, and the aboveground fauna is vividly depicted. The effective use of backgrounds (black for underground; white for aboveground) also helps to signal key setting details for young listeners. A gentle reminder that thinking differently can have its rewards. - Copyright 2017 Booklist. Loading...
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