VIOLET AND JOBIE IN THE WILD

This lively animal adventure story by Newbery Medal winner Lynne Rae Perkins explores themes of friendship, family, kindness, bravery, and the meaning of home, and is illustrated throughout by the author. Funny and unexpected, this is a great read-alone and read-aloud for fans of Nuts to You and Skunk and Badger.

Violet and Jobie, two mice who are sister and brother, live a cozy and comfortable life in a human house where food is plentiful and the television is good. In fact, Violet, tucked safely behind a book in the bookcase, loves to watch nature programs along with the young boy of the family. That boy's mother, however, isn't a fan of mice and one day sets a trap that, alas, Violet and Jobie fall for - who doesn't like cheese? Perhaps inspired by those nature programs, the boy convinces his mother to let the mice go rather than kill them and so Violet and Jobie find themselves in tall grasses, under tall trees, surrounded by all kinds of unfamiliar scents and sounds. In short, in the wild. What follows is a short, generously illustrated adventure story packed with action, humor, heart, and friendship. Everything in the wild is brand new to two house mice - what will they eat? Where will they go? Where will they sleep? And then there are the hawks, foxes, owls, snakes, thunderstorms...

Episodic chapters make this an ideal novel to read aloud at story time and the gentle humor and themes of friendship, family, nature, and belonging will resonate with the young middle grade audience.

Lynne Rae Perkins is the creator of many acclaimed children's books. She was awarded the Newbery Medal for her novel Criss Cross, and its companion, All Alone in the Universe, was named an ALA Notable Book and ALA Booklist Editors' Choice, among other honors. Her recent novels include Secret Sisters of the Salty Sea and Nuts to You. She has written and illustrated nine picture books. Lynne Rae Perkins lives with her family in Suttons Bay, Michigan.