The Whispering Woods

Gr 1-2–Sophie Mouse and her friends Hattie Frog and Owen Snake are back with a new adventure. This time, they answer the call of the great outdoors and go camping overnight in a nearby park. Though they prepare with the proper equipment and training, the friends are caught off-guard when they hear strange noises at night. The plot is predictable—the tension in the story created by the sounds at night is quickly explained away as a misunderstanding—however, the tone is gentle and easygoing. Sophie and her friends demonstrate good camping etiquette during their trip, touching on fire safety tips like keeping a bucket of water handy for emergencies, and hiking tips such as keeping buddies within eyesight. Illustrations are adorable and plentiful, breaking up the simple sentences and paragraphs and making this ideal for transitional early readers.