And Nick - Hardcover

Leonid Gore moved to the US from his native Belarus in 1991. He has illustrated many beloved books for children and is also the author and illustrator of Danny’s First Snow. Mr. Gore lives in Oakland, New Jersey. Visit him online at LeonidGore.com.

Emily Gore has always had a picture book in her hand, as her father, Leonid, is an illustrator. She began creating her own stories when she was very young. And Nick is inspired by her work as a camp counselor. When she is not writing, she is studying to be a doctor. She lives in New York.

PreS-Gr 2—Nick, the youngest of four mice, doesn't have the grand, brave, and adventurous plans of his older brothers. After Mick, Vick, and Rick claim the red, yellow, and blue T-shirts that reflect their personalities, the only shirt left for Nick is green. Most of the time, he doesn't mind being last, until they ride to the meadow to gather flowers for their mother. Because Nick can't keep up on his tricycle, Rick, Mick, and Vick pluck the red, yellow, and blue blossoms before Nick arrives. He has to settle for a small green sprout. Although Mommy puts all the flowers in a vase, Nick worries that his gift is too small and insignificant. To everyone's astonishment, the green sprout blossoms overnight into a magnificent flower, which Mommy labels a "late bloomer." Then Nick leads his admiring brothers on a return trip to the meadow. Text and acrylic illustrations work well together as colors differentiate the look-alike mice. From their reasons for selecting shirts (fire engine red for bravery) to food choices such as apple, each brother sticks with his preferred color. VERDICT Pair this title with Robert Kraus's exuberant classic Leo the Late Bloomer (Windmill, 1971) to provide a more low-key exploration of the same theme.—Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University Library, Mankato