Click on the down arrow and select books,
type in
Elizabeth Spires and click the GO button to go directly 
to the
Elizabeth Spires book section of Amazon .com

 

Search:
Keywords:
In Association with Amazon.com

 

 

Reviews of The Mouse of Amherst by Elizabeth Spires, Claire A. Nivola (Illustrator)

                     Amazon.com
                     "I am a mouse, a white mouse. My name is Emmaline. Before I met
                     Emily, the great poet of Amherst, I was nothing more than a crumb
                     gatherer, a cheese nibbler, a mouse-of-little-purpose. There was an
                     emptiness in my life that nothing seemed to fill."

                     That is, until Emmaline the mouse takes up residence in the wall of
                     19th-century poet Emily Dickinson's room in Amherst, Massachusetts.
                     Emmaline spends her days happily observing the reclusive poet: "She
                     seemed to be everywhere and nowhere at once, fluttering through the
                     house like a ghost, stirring up a batch of gingerbread in the kitchen, or
                     walking in the garden, lost in a reverie." The mouse's life changes when a
                     gust of wind blows one of Emily's poems her way. She blushes as she
                     reads Emily's evocative words that so aptly capture her own feelings, and
                     from then on is determined to be a poet herself. The exchange of poems
                     between the two species of poet is truly marvelous, as eight of Emily
                     Dickinson's poems are answered by seven of author Elizabeth Spires's
                     (an award-winning poet herself). "I'm Nobody! Who are you? / Are
                     you--Nobody--too? / Then there's a pair of us! / Don't tell! they'd banish
                     us--you know!" is followed by Emmaline's "It matters what we think, /
                     What words we put in ink, / It matters what we feel / What feelings we
                     conceal." A near miss with the family cat, an unpleasant interlude with a
                     thick-headed editor, and even a threatening stoat keep the story moving,
                     but the real excitement lies in the deepening friendship between Emily and
                     Emmaline... and in Spires's inventive portrayal of the process of
                     self-expression and the power of words. Along the way, illustrator Claire
                     A. Nivola's sweetly skritchy sketches reflect the shy demeanor of both
                     Emily and Emmaline. A brief portrait of Emily Dickinson concludes the
                     book, but readers will come away with a glimpse of the poet and her
                     work that no biography could ever communicate. (Ages 9 and older)
                     --Karin Snelson

Buy The Mouse of Amherst by Elizabeth Spires, Claire A. Nivola (Illustrator) at amazon by clicking here.

                     From Kirkus Reviews , February 15, 1999
                     A mouse becomes the perfect poetic companion to the reclusive poet
                     Emily Dickinson in this heartfelt daydream from Spires (With One White
                     Wing, 1995, etc.). When the small mouse Emmaline moves into the
                     Dickinson household, she accidentally reads some scraps of verse
                     penned by Emily. Reading poems inspires the rodent to write her own
                     lines on the back of Emily's paper, and to leave it for the poet to find.
                     Thus the two become ``pen pals,'' writing verse and sharing it with each
                     other, though rarely face to face. Readers gain a fanciful mouse's-eye
                     view of Emily's life at home, where she is visited by an editor, and where
                     she delivers homemade gingerbread to the neighborhood children by
                     lowering a basket to them on a rope. Emmaline's life is not as quiet as her
                     human mentor's; she's chased by a cat, rooted out by a ferret, and
                     eventually decides she must move on. Years later, Emmaline passes on
                     her appreciation of poetry to her mice children, and continues to write.
                     This diminutive little book, with its shy black-and-white line drawings and
                     amusing plot, is an ideal introduction to Dickinson's poetry. It's also a
                     strong advocate for the power of the written word, even in the absence
                     of fame or speech, to communicate, to inspire friendships, and to stir the
                     heart. (Fiction. 8-11) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All
                     rights reserved.

Buy The Mouse of Amherst by Elizabeth Spires, Claire A. Nivola (Illustrator) at amazon by clicking here.

                     Book Description of The Mouse of Amherst by Elizabeth Spires, Claire A.
                     Nivola (Illustrator)
                     When a mouse named Emmaline takes up residence behind the
                     wainscoting of Emily Dickinson's bedroom, she wonders what it is that
                     keeps Emily scribbling at her writing table throughout the day and into the
                     night. Emmaline sneaks a look, and finds that it's poetry! Inspired,
                     Emmaline writes her own first poem and secretly deposits it on Emily's
                     desk. Emily answers with another poem, and a lively exchange begins. In
                     this charming and fanciful introduction to Emily Dickinson, Elizabeth
                     Spires demonstrates the power of poetry to express our deepest feelings,
                     while Claire A. Nivola's delicate pencil drawings capture the intricacies of
                     life in Emily's world. Included are eight of Dickinson's most loved poems,
                     with seven corresponding poems by Emmaline that are sure to bring out
                     the poet in any child.

                     Synopsis of The Mouse of Amherst by Elizabeth Spires, Claire A. Nivola
                     When a mouse named Emmaline takes up residence behind the
                     wainscoting of Emily Dickinson's bedroom, she wonders what it is that
                     keeps Emily scribbling at her writing table throughout the day and into the
                     night. Emmaline sneaks a look, and finds that it's poetry! Inspired,
                     Emmaline writes her first poem and secretly deposits it on Emily's desk.
                     Emily answers with another poem, and a lively exchange begins, in this
                     charming and fanciful introduction to Emily Dickinson. Illustrations. 3/99.

                     About the Author of The Mouse of Amherst,  Elizabeth Spires.
                     Elizabeth Spires is the award-winning author of four collections of poetry
                     for adults and two other books for children. She lives in Baltimore,
                     Maryland. Claire A. Nivola has illustrated several children's books,
                     among them Elisabeth, which she wrote as well as illustrated. She lives in
                     Newton Highlands, Massachusetts.

The Mouse of Amherst by Elizabeth Spires, Claire A. Nivola (Illustrator)

Buy The Mouse of Amherst by Elizabeth Spires, Claire A. Nivola (Illustrator) at amazon by clicking here.
 
 

Other Elizabeth Spires Titles
 

                     The Instant of Knowing : Lectures, Criticism, and Occasional
                          Prose (Poets on Poetry Series) ~ Usually ships in 2-3 days
                          Josephine Jacobsen, Elizabeth Spires (Editor) / Hardcover /
                          Published 1997
                          Our Price: $29.95
                          Read more about this title...

 
                     Riddle Road : Puzzles in Poems and Pictures ~
                     Usually ships in 24 hours
                          Elizabeth Spires, Erik Blegvad (Illustrator) / School & Library
                          Binding / Published 1999
                          Our Price: $10.50 ~ You Save: $4.50 (30%)
                          Read more about this title...

                     Swan's Island ~ Usually ships in 2-3 days
                          Elizabeth Spires / Paperback / Published 1997
                          Our Price: $12.95

                     With One White Wing : Puzzles in Poems and Pictures ~
                     Usually ships in 24 hours
                          Elizabeth Spires(Editor), Erik Blegvad (Illustrator) / School &
                          Library Binding / Published 1995
                          Our Price: $9.80 ~ You Save: $4.20 (30%)
                          Read more about this title...

                     Worldling ~ Usually ships in 24 hours
                          Elizabeth Spires / Hardcover / Published 1995
                          Our Price: $18.95
                          Read more about this title...

                     Worldling : Poems ~ Usually ships in 2-3 days
                          Elizabeth Spires / Paperback / Published 1997
                          Our Price: $10.00
                          Read more about this title...

                     Count With Me
                          Elizabeth Spires / Paperback / Published 1981
                          Our Price: $5.95 + $1.85 special surcharge (Special Order)

                     Annonciade
                          Elizabeth Spires

                     The Falling Star
                          Elizabeth Spires

                     The Falling Star
                          Elizabeth Spires

                     Globe
                          Elizabeth Spires

                     Simon's Adventure
                          Elizabeth Spires, Judy Hand

 


Click on the down arrow and select books,
type in
Elizabeth Spires and click the GO button to go directly 
to the
Elizabeth Spires book section of Amazon .com

 

Search:
Keywords:
In Association with Amazon.com

 


 


 

Thanks for Visiting...