When March winds blow the first day of spring to your stoop, it is the perfect time to enjoy “The Mouse and the Meadow” with your child — especially those ages 4-10. Author-illustrator Chad Wallace has created a beautiful and engaging book detailing the adventures of a naive mouse as he encounters his fellow meadow dwellers — animal and insect alike. While they enjoy the lively tale, little readers are slyly introduced to concepts like the food chain, animal altruism, and metamorphosis.
Even pre-readers will be drawn into “The Meadow” by the free app, which can be installed on your iOS or Android tablet or smartphone. The app narrates the story, while enabling the pages to burst forth in 3-D. With a tap of the finger, the adorable characters move: the mouse takes off in a surprising scurry, the box turtle rears his head, and snoozing baby bunnies open their drowsy eyes. The whole family will be charmed by this fun, new way to enjoy story time.
“The Mouse and the Meadow” book by Chad Wallace; paperback, $8.95, or hardcover, $16.95; www.dawnpub.com.
