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This book review of the fun and fireworks-filled Fourth Of July Mice children's book mainly explores the appeal the little volume holds for young children up to first grade. From the very first impression that the joyful, funny and colourful cover gives, it is clear that little ones are going to have fun with this story. Against a background of a warm navy sky, fireworks shine with razzle-dazzle shapes, and a family of marching mice with long gangly legs and enthusiastic goofy faces parades over a sandy hilltop. The message is a call to action to open up the book to see what else is going to happen and what they are going to get up to.

Author Bethany Roberts and illustrator Doug Cushman have done a great job of enticing children to peep inside the Independence Day story, and to encourage them to learn some new vocabulary and rhymes while doing so. The first page continues the Fourth Of July Mouse family story as the two youngest mice bounce along, gleefully playing their instruments, a scene which provides lots of opportunity to introduce new topics and language such as bugle,' drum-roll,' independence and 'parade.'

The illustrations are presented in vivid color-washed watercolour style over a whole page and offer a nostalgic representation of the holiday mice that is almost reminiscent of Beatrix Potter in style although the Fourth of July Mice are bigger and more amusing with their cheeky faces and long gangly legs! This gives the mouse family a cheerful, welcoming and non-threatening appeal. Pre-school age children will find this presentation comforting and entertaining. The text is good and large and is placed over the picture at the foot of the page, nicely tying it in with the pictured action.

On a subsequent page, a younger mouse appears with his toy at his feet. That matters because there is a little mishap with the toy mouse later, but not one that little mouse can't solve if he is brave enough to risk the water. Reassuringly, Mommy Mouse is on that page too, cheerfully singing and waving a drumstick little mouse has a flag in each hand! The names of colours appear in the rhyming text which is helpful for a teacher to point out.

Illustrator Doug Cushman has a keen eye for detail, and his sketched strokes are full of the movement and enthusiastic comical action which children respond to. He depicts the Fourth Of July mice going on to celebrate America's birthday with fun-packed activities such as baseball, playing at the pond, a picnic, races and a little bit of competition with some bugs. Later on of course, there are vividly depicted showers of fireworks in bright colors all joyful Independence Day activities which children up to First Grade will enjoy. The fireworks could provide a stimulus for some art work with sparkly colors and some dark paper.

Of course there are some patriotic rousing tunes and everyone cheers for America, and this could tie in with musical learning activities too. Whatever else the children learn from Fourth of July Mice, they will learn much about their country's birthday from the many follow-up activities this charming book provides and that whatever else happens, the mice won't let anything rain on their parade.!

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