Wallace's Lists

by Barbara Bottner, Olof Landstrom (Illustrator), Gerald Kruglik

Overview

Wallace, a mouse, could do almost anything. Anything that is, as long as he had a list.

1. Wallace is a shy mouse.
2. He writes lists. Lists of recipes, funny words, and frightening experiences.
3. Wallace meets his lively neighbor named Albert.
4. His world is swiftly opened to new delights, such as painting and music.
5. Wallace and Albert experience the excitement of an adventure, and Wallace discovers a new joy.
6. Friendship.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780060002244
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	06/01/2004
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	499,674
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.34(d)
Lexile:	AD590L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Barbara Bottner is the author of many favorites for young readers, including Rosa's Room, illustrated by Beth Spiegel; the ever-popular Bootsie Barker Bites, illustrated by Peggy Rathmann; and Bootsie Barker Ballerina, also an I Can Read Book, illustrated by G. Brian Karas. Together with her husband, Gerald Kruglik, Ms. Bottner has authored the award-winning picture book Wallace's Lists, illustrated by Olof Landström, and the I Can Read Book Pish and Posh, which she illustrated.

Olof Landstrom is the illustrator of many internationally successful books for children, including the Boo and Baa and Will series with Lena Landstrom, and Benny's Had Enough and Benny and the Binky by Barbro Lindgren. He lives in Sweden.

Gerald Kruglik is the coauthor of Pish and Posh and Wallace's List. The author lives in Florida.

Editorial Reviews

Worried little Wallace … is an endearing hero … and Bottner and Kruglik chronicle his blossoming with affectionate wit.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“With its positive message…this picture book is a winner.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

“The book might dare readers to discover something new about themselves, too.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“This one goes on the recommended list.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

From the Publisher

Worried little Wallace … is an endearing hero … and Bottner and Kruglik chronicle his blossoming with affectionate wit.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Worried little Wallace … is an endearing hero … and Bottner and Kruglik chronicle his blossoming with affectionate wit.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Worried little Wallace … is an endearing hero … and Bottner and Kruglik chronicle his blossoming with affectionate wit.

The Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books

Three reasons to read coauthors Bottner and Kruglik's (Pish and Posh) new tale: 1. The two unlikely mouse heroes-the cautious, list-making Wallace and his light-hearted companion Albert-develop a friendship in which Wallace's shortcomings turn out to be assets. 2. The book might dare readers to discover something new about themselves, too. 3. The plot inspires Landstrom's (the Boo and Baa series) tongue-in-cheek artwork, which provides lots of witty entertainment. Wallace, a bespectacled mouse in shorts and a bowtie, wants to say hello to his new neighbor, but he can't-it's not on his list of things to do that day. (Readers are treated to many of Wallace's lists, written neatly on lined paper.) Albert wears an old undershirt, sports long hair and never hesitates to revise his plans: "Changing my mind is an adventure," he tells Wallace, who listens, appalled but rapt. Eventually Albert's rash adventure-seeking casts Wallace in the reluctant but gratifying role of hero. He remains steadfast in crises, it turns out, and comforts Albert when his wacky plans go awry. Taking a leaf from classic '30s cartoons, Landstrom furnishes interiors with many small but solid-looking items, visual tokens of Wallace's need for familiarity. His hilarious spreads make liberal use of crosshatching and gestural lines: cats are drenched with water; lightning strikes; luggage carousels send Wallace flying. Bottner and Kruglik don't insist on a magic transformation from Wallace-he just has to learn to bend a little. This one goes on the recommended list. Ages 4-7. (June) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

PreS-Gr 2-An earnest and likable mouse is so careful that he lives his life by lists. When a new neighbor introduces himself in the hallway of their apartment building, "Wallace would have liked to say, `Hello. My name is Wallace,' but saying hello was not on his list." Albert's spontaneity and joie de vivre slowly win him over. The story culminates in a whirlwind adventure through the airport, into a luxury high-rise, and then back home again, where Wallace makes another list with his new best friend's name on it. The writing is memorable, and the authors provide just the right details. Larger than life in all sorts of ways, the chubby Albert spouts wise statements such as "Laundry is laundry- but music is life!" Landstrom's pictures are expressive and witty, with soft colors, strong lines, and lots of personality. The world depicted is an intriguing one, an urban setting where the mice-sized mice coexist with human-sized humans. With its positive message about trying new experiences and embracing the horizon-expanding wonders of friendship, this picture book is a winner.-Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

A budding friendship begins, grows, and blossoms between two most unlikely characters: a shy mouse named Wallace and a confident, lively neighbor named Albert. Wallace has a penchant for lists and lives his life in lock-step with all that is delineated and predictable. In contrast, Albert is creative and spontaneous, seizing any opportunity to take off on an uncharted course, "smelling the roses," and enjoying painting, music, travel. Wallace does whatever is on his "to do" list, without deviation, whereas Albert welcomes the excitement of an adventure. An adventure according to Albert is anything that isn't planned. Yet thanks to Albert, Wallace does discover a new joy. A departure from his list leads Wallace to a departure of another sort: a frantic trip to the airport to warn his friend of stormy weather. The trip is aborted, but not without the realization that life can bring unanticipated pleasure and friendship. Cartoon characters move through the story with vitality and humor a young reader will relish, and a parent strapped with the routine and mundane will appreciate. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews

Wallace's life as an uptight urban mouse is ruled by the lists he makes for everything. He can't even greet his carefree new neighbor, Albert, until "Say hello" is on the list. Zach Braff brings life to these two opposite characters as they slowly form a friendship more important to Wallace than the safety provided by his lists. The story is enhanced throughout by sound effects and appropriate music for every detail—from doorbells ringing to violent thunderstorms. The accompanying book is essential as many of the sound effects are not mentioned in the text but are details from the humorous cartoon- style illustrations by Olof Landstrom. The dual-track disc includes a version without page-turn signals. R.H.H. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

JUN/JUL 08 - AudioFile