This book is a perfect read-aloud book for children even as young as 2yrs old. There are so many neat things happening on each page that my children were hesitant to turn to the next page. We have been reading this book over and over again for several years and my children find a different reason to love it each time. I am making it my standard "1st year" birthday present for all my friends and family.

Written by a young girl, Mouse Surprise has fantastic illustrations of a pack of mice sneaking past a sleeping cat, pushing around kitchen equipment, and having a fantastic time preparing their "surprise" cake. The illustrations are lively and interesting, and the story is fantastic.

This book is a wonderful inspiration for kids to write and illustrate their own stories. Mouse Surprise was written and illustrated by an (I think -- I haven't got the book jacket in front of me) 11-year-old girl and won an award (and the chance to be published) in a nation-wide contest called, "Written and Illustrated By..." It comes complete with simple instructions for making your own specially designed birthday cake to match the one the mice create in the book.