PreS-Gr 2 Maestro Mouse guides readers on this wild musical ride. Readers follow him through jungles, pods, trees, fields, and seas to explore the animal kingdom. As readers learn about each type of animal, Maestro also reveals something new, with a secret lesson or two hiding on every page. The armadillo, who has a shell to keep out the bad things, reminds readers that "it's okay to block out the bad things, but don't forget to open up and invite the good things in." Brown does not disappoint with his picture book debut. Rhyming poems accompanied by Batori's detailed, animated illustrations share each animal's story and helpful lesson. An added feature of this musical book can be found on the inside cover; Brown's original musical compositions accompany each pageone for each animaland can be accessed through an interactive smartphone app. VERDICT A delightful musical debut sure to be a hit at story hours. Elizabeth Blake, Fields Corner Lib., Dorchester, MA

Through 20 short poems, Maestro Mouse invites readers to meet a series of animals who have lessons to impart and a symphony to perform.Brown, author of The DaVinci Code (2003) and other wildly popular titles for adults, here offers young listeners a poetry collection accompanied by music: a "symphony" performed, for readers equipped with an audio device and an internet connection, by the Zagreb Festival Orchestra. From the introduction of the conductor and the opening "Woodbird Welcome" to the closing "Cricket Lullaby," the writer/composer uses poems made of three to eight rhyming couplets, each line with four strong beats, to introduce the animals who will be revealed in the final double gatefold as the players in an all-animal orchestra. Each poem also contains a lesson, reinforced by a short message (often on a banner or signpost). Thus, "When life trips them up a bit, / Cats just make the best of it" concludes the poem "Clumsy Kittens," which is encapsulated by "Falling down is part of life. The best thing to do is get back on your feet!" The individual songs and poems may appeal to the intended audience, but collectively they don't have enough variety to be read aloud straight through. Nor does the gathering of the orchestra provide a narrative arc. Batori's cartoon illustrations are whimsically engaging, however. They include puzzles: hard-to-find letters that are said to form anagrams of instrument names and a bee who turns up somewhere in every scene.Aims high but falls flat. (Complete composition not available for review.) (Picture book. 4-7)

Best-selling author Brown's (The Da Vinci Code, 2003) debut picture book offers a wide-ranging, peppy blend of rhyming poems, puzzles, motivational messages, and music. Maestro Mouse and his animal pals are putting together something musical. From land to sea, Mouse introduces readers to kangaroos, armadillos, a whale, and more, connecting each to a platitudinous life lesson. For example, the subjects of "Impatient Ponies" "love to gallop, never trot, / Hate to stay in just one spot" is paired with "Tomorrow will be soon enough. Slow down and enjoy today!" Eventually, the animals' endeavor is revealed, as they all sit down to perform an orchestral finale. Lively, vibrant cartoon illustrations feature amusing touches, like a skateboard-riding beetle, as well as seek-and-find details incorporating hints of what's to come, such as letters within spreads spelling out the animals' instruments, though that element is more likely to appeal to older readers. While the abundant components can sometimes distract, there's much to engage, especially for animal and music fans. Musical accompaniment to the book, composed by Brown, is accessible via an app (unavailable for review).

Bestselling adult author Brown shares a menagerie of lighthearted animal poems, each composed of four sets of couplets, as Maestro Mouse introduces readers to musical animal friends, who gather at the end for a -big surprise.- Nearly every page introduces an animal through whimsical, nonsensical, and occasionally onomatopoeic lines (-Bounce and eat-Ka-chew! Ka-chew!/ Bounce asleep-Ka-snooze! Ka-snooze!- reads the kangaroo-s entry). Kittens, stingrays, hippos, and frogs are all present, with little organizational transition between habits or habitats. Batori-s assortment of digitally rendered, cartoonishly expressive animals and colorful landscapes complement the text; the creators further supplement with an aphorism beneath each poem, -a hidden game- to be played, and accompanying music via QR code. Though the busy volume feels unfocused, its interactive format allows for various levels of entertainment. An author-s note shares Brown-s musical background and a last coded message. Ages 3-7. (Sept.)