Of Mouse and Magic is the growing up story of Manny, the smallest of six mice siblings, born in a warm and sheltered nest deep in a jumble of wood and tree branches on Farmer Frank’s farm. He and his family forage for food in the fields, in the garden, and in the secret confines of Farmer Frank’s house with its unimagined riches of food and textiles.

A cast of memorable characters share Manny’s habitat: many mice, an elderly rabbit, a loquacious gopher, two country mutts, two city French poodles, a calico cat, a pretentious beaver, and several villains (foxes, owls, snakes, hawks). Predators are ever-present, and Manny copes with his fear by escaping into vivid daydreams —his respite from real life vulnerability —in which he is Zeus, Lord of Lightning, Titan of Thunder, omnipresent and omnipotent, protecting all mice from harm.

When a hawk snatches and transports him far from his home, Manny manages to escape but faces a long and dangerous trip home that becomes a life-defining journey, along which his fate becomes entwined with those of others seeking refuge and finding acceptance, friendship, and love. Manny stays alive, not through the magic of his fantasy, but with real life skills and by supplementing self-reliance with partnerships, even with animals that initially do not seem natural allies.  It proves a winning strategy.

Amid the practical jokes, tragedy, love, ceremony and serendipity of the lives of the young mice, emerges the story of children discerning safe from dangerous, healthy from unhealthy, friend from foe; learning tolerance, judgment, and collaboration; learning to love and be loved. Every child empathizes with being small and vulnerable, while dreaming of being big, strong and feared. Child readers will see their dog, their cat, and every small, wild creature, especially mice, with new curiosity and wonder.

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