Mole's Quiet Place

Readers of Chapman’s Good-bye, Bear (2022), in which Bear’s friends learn to grieve his death, should be delighted by this return to the forest, though new readers may be confused by the fact that Bear is mentioned sometimes—but not his death. The story starts with Mole and Beaver lighting candles in a treehouse (as, we’re told, Bear used to) and gazing out the window at the constellation Ursa Major. Friends Rabbit and Bunny come for a visit and to tell stories. The next night, Squirrel and Mouse come over and play music. Each night, more friends come over. We see Mole shrinking into his pillows, looking more and more uncomfortable. Finally, Mole’s friends build him a little rowboat, and he paddles out to the middle of the lake, reveling in the quiet. Watercolor illustrations suffuse the scenes with a glow and lend a Beatrix Potter–like look to the animals. A nice look at one little introvert’s solution to too much stimulation. --Booklist