Young Simon Mouse wanted adventure.  He lives alone with his parents; his siblings all left some time back, and Mom and Dad are determined to hang on to their remaining child.

 Simon is elated to learn that he, and his parents, Morris and Irma will be moving with their people.  The Anderson’s will be going to Florida where the winters are nice and warm. 

The mice hurried to stock up on every scrap of food they can find, and carefully hid it in the stuffing in the Anderson’s big blue sofa.  The trip to Florida living in the sofa as it is transported in a big moving truck is a bit of a disappointment for Simon who has been wanting adventure.  All he can see is boxes until the day comes that he tumbles through a small crack near the bottom of the door.

Luckily Simon landed in soft weeds at the edge of the road.  His parents could not hear his desperate squeaks over the sound of the truck motor. 

Simon tried to remember and put into practice all the teaching his parents had given him about birds in the sky that might swoop down to snatch him up. 

Making his way carefully he found a group of buildings, terror filled him as he noticed a shadow moving nearby.  Simon was lucky, he dashed through a crack in the building just as THUD; the thing with the shadow hit the wall. 

From that beginning Simon is thrust into a new and different world.  He has come to a flea market where Simon makes mice friends, learns to avoid the dangers in this new place, and takes his place in the society as a working member of the colony.  

People only come on the weekends, and leave lots of food on the ground.  Simon joins the food gathering group.  And, he learns an important safety lesson; do not nibble stuff that looks like food left by pest control people.  Another lesson learned; people will call pest control if they see mice.  Stay quiet and hidden while people are in the flea market. 

Simon was overjoyed one day when he overheard people talking, a man said he had bought a sofa from Anderson.  He didn’t have room in his truck for the sofa but would be bringing it next time he came to the flea market. 

Was it possible it was his Andersons, was it possible his parents were still in the sofa? 

The narrative continues as Simon and his new friends go on with their foraging for food, teaching new colony members how to be safe, devising an ingenious plan for getting lots of food from the ground and up to attic where the colony lived. 

Simon has a near miss run in with a cat, luckily one of the colony members used to live with a doctor.  Doc soon arrives to provide help and medicine he concocts for Simon. 

The chronicle ends with a joyous reunion.

 I find Simon & Company to be a delight to read.  This well made book featuring a cover of heavy duty slick surface, multi hued paper will stand up to sticky little fingers.  I was able to gently wipe the surface without damage appearing using a moistened cloth and then when again testing, a handy wipe.  The cover shows no change. 

Child pleasing illustrations by Korey Scott are black and white  drawings.  Were I giving the book as a gift to a young emergent reader I would add a packet of colored pencils so the little reader could read and color the pictures. 

I particularly like the size of the book, it is one I would use were I still in the classroom.  It is a handy size for taking home in back pack to read with parents.  It is a good size to use for daily DEAR reading time. 

This sturdy book offers pages  that are securely glued,  I read the book, and turned pages over a several day period during which I  bent covers, and book as little readers often do.  Not a page came out. 

I taught K – 1 for the better part of 4 decades and would have no problem using Simon & Company Flea Market Mice in either the K – 1, where I spent most of my teaching time, or the 1 – 2  I taught for 1 year, or even the Grade 4 I taught for 2 years. 

Simon & Company Flea Market Mice is a beginning Chapter Book,  I would use it for reading a chapter a day with grades K – 4,  and for allowing emergent readers to take the book home to read with a parent.  Vocabulary used is such that some grade 2 and most grades 3 – 4 readers will be able to take the book to read to Kindergarten or First Grade students during mentoring time. 

Many lessons are taught on the pages of Simon & Company Flea Market Mice and can be used for discussion during the after reading chat.  Simon behaves as most human children, allowing children to identify with him, realize that his separation is really his fault, but, whose fault is not so important as how he is going to live through the separation. 

He put to good use the teaching of his parents, found safety, shelter and food.

  An excellent work, I will be keeping this book. I do not keep all books I receive for review. 

However, with retirement from the classroom now upon me; I plan to begin a ‘reading lady’ stint in nearby school when the new term begins.  I know Simon & Company Flea Market Mice will be enjoyed by students as I read aloud to them. 

Simon & Company Flea Market Mice has a place on the classroom book shelf, in the school and public library, as a gift for emergent readers and older reader. 

Happy to recommend Simon & Company Flea Market Mice for students K – 4. 

================================

Reviewed by: Molly’s Reviews     molly martin  

 http://www.AuthorsDen.com/mjhollingshead
------------------------------------------------------------

Amazon Product Details

            Listening/Interest Level  ages  5 to 8/10

Reading Grade Level: Read to 5 and 6 year olds

Read with help  emergent readers grades 1 and 2

Read Alone grades 3 and above

Read to other grades 3 and above

Paperback

Publisher: By Grace Enterprises (October 31, 2016)

Language: English

      ISBN-10: 194059104X

ISBN-13: 978-1940591049

Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.2 x 8.5 inches

For more product details, facts, and shipping information please check AMAZON site