The Scary Mouse

By coincidence, a story with almost the same theme as that of the Julian story; here the fear to be overcome is of mice. Paul is terrified of touching mice (and his fear is convincingly described), but his friend Annette gives him hers to look after when she has to go into hospital. How Paul overcomes his distaste is well told, more simply than in Julian's Glorious Summer and so perhaps less satisfyingly, but still a thoughtful and interesting book. For reading aloud or for newly independent readers.