The Midsummer Mouse

Midsummer tales of Tiptoes Lightly and the Summer Queen

The sun is rising higher into the sky every day. Summer has come and Farmer John builds a great pile of wood for the Midsummer's Eve festival taking place on his land. June Berry forgets a basket with a cookie inside by the oak tree when she and her brother, Tom Nutcracker are helping their dad build the wood pile. This leads Jeremy Mouse on a merry dance as Jemima Mouse tries to preserve the cookie for the festival. Meanwhile, Pine Cone and Pepper Pot are not opening their door to anyone other than Tiptoes (and even then only reluctantly). Their beards, it seems, are entangled. Hopelessly entangled. Then the Summer Queen begins to appear in the forest and spreading her magic. She joins the festival and tells The Tale of Turana before mysteriously vanishing before the crowd. 

The Midsummer Mouse is a summer tale, full of midsummer mirth, misadventure, mystery and delight. It will bring sparkles to children's eyes, and laughter to adults, too. Suitable, as always with Tiptoes Lightly tales, for family reading from kindergarten through age 10 or so. This book is a little older in tone overall, so save it for later if you have small children and are buying your first Tiptoes' book. Sample stories: The Tale of Turana / The Midsummer Mouse

Illustrated by the author-artist. Soft cover, 138 pages. Purchase Book

Reviews

"Tiptoes is at it again! Just in time for Midsummer, another in the Tiptoes Lightly series. Reg Down is a masterful storyteller and The Midsummer Mouse entertains through its many twists and turns leading to the appearance of the Summer Queen. An unbroken stream of unbridled imagination - just what children (and their parents) need now. If you're not a Tiptoes fan, this is your chance to get on board."  David Kennedy, Waldorf Today

"A modern fairytale certain to delight young readers (and their parents!), The Midsummer Mouse: Midsummer Tales of Tiptoes Lightly and the Summer Queen weaves together an engaging world of fantasy and enchantment, gladness and jollity, mystery and misadventure, and great fun from beginning to end. The Midsummer Mouse is enthusiastically recommended for family, school, and community library collections for children ages 5 through 10." Midwest Book Review

"A classic children's tale in the making! My family and I really enjoy the Tiptoes Lightly books and this one did not disappoint. In fact, I think it may be the best of the series, if not one of the best children's books ever written. Definitely on par with the original Pooh stories of A. A. Milne and the stories of Elsa Beskow and I wouldn't be surprised if these were read 100 year from now too. It was hard to read only a little at a time to my 5-year-old because I could hardly wait to see what happened next. Luckily I'm over 40 and can control myself. I was full of wonder and laughing just as much as my children. After we finished, my son wanted it read to him again and I was more than happy to oblige." Amazon Review