The City Kid & the Suburb Kid

The grass may seem greener on the other side—but in the end there’s no place like home. That’s what two boys discover in this fresh and contemporary version of Aesop’s timeless “The City Mouse and the Country Mouse.” And it’s a great value, because the tale is told twice. When kids are done with one half, they simply flip the book over for a different side of the story! Jack can’t wait to spend a week with Adam in the suburbs. No more honking horns! No more hot and noisy subways! And he does enjoy the tree climbing, fishing, and triple-dipped cones. But soon he starts wondering what’s happening with his friends back in the city. And when it’s Adam’s turn to visit, he happily leaves behind his annoying sister and lawns that need mowing: hello, skyscrapers, skateboards, and shopping downtown! Then, just like Jack, he begins to miss all the familiar things he took for granted. Deb Pilutti’s witty writing emphasizes the similarities in the boys’ lives, while Linda Bleck’s vividly-colored pictures cleverly play up the differences. The result: a book that children will read—and love—again and again.