Little Nick is the youngest of four energetic mouse brothers. Rick, Mick, and Vick always know what they want and have no problem choosing their favorite color, food, or activity. Nick seems to like everything but never seems sure about his favorite anything! One thing he does know is that he always feels left behind can never quite keep up with his older brothers, no matter how hard he tries. Only after Nick brings home an unusual plant is everyone reminded that sometimes the smallest sprout can turn into the most spectacular flower. Nick's frustrations and feelings of doubt in this gently affirming story are realistically portrayed without being overly dramatized. The simple artwork reflects the straightforward text nicely, and the highly textured painting style adds visual interest, while the subdued palette creates an unobtrusive backdrop for small bursts of color throughout the pages. This is a familiar tale with a recognizable message, and it will likely resonate with young children who feel constantly overshadowed by older siblings.

PreS-Gr 2 Nick, the youngest of four mice, doesn't have the grand, brave, and adventurous plans of his older brothers. After Mick, Vick, and Rick claim the red, yellow, and blue T-shirts that reflect their personalities, the only shirt left for Nick is green. Most of the time, he doesn't mind being last, until they ride to the meadow to gather flowers for their mother. Because Nick can't keep up on his tricycle, Rick, Mick, and Vick pluck the red, yellow, and blue blossoms before Nick arrives. He has to settle for a small green sprout. Although Mommy puts all the flowers in a vase, Nick worries that his gift is too small and insignificant. To everyone's astonishment, the green sprout blossoms overnight into a magnificent flower, which Mommy labels a "late bloomer." Then Nick leads his admiring brothers on a return trip to the meadow. Text and acrylic illustrations work well together as colors differentiate the look-alike mice. From their reasons for selecting shirts (fire engine red for bravery) to food choices such as apple, each brother sticks with his preferred color. VERDICT Pair this title with Robert Kraus's exuberant classic Leo the Late Bloomer (Windmill, 1971) to provide a more low-key exploration of the same theme. Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University Library, Mankato