A mouse family heads to the country for a picnic, only to lose one of their young children on the way. As the little mouse finds herself stranded, the family arrives at the picnic ground and gets set up. When they find that Bitty is missing however, they immediately set off to find her, leading to a happy reunion for all...

Originally published in 1984 as a wordless picture-book, Picnic was reprinted in this new 2003 edition, with text added. I don't know if I would feel differently if I hadn't known about the previous wordless version, but I actually found the text here a bit superfluous, and think that Emily Arnold McCully's beautiful watercolor artwork is more than sufficient to carry the story. Leaving that aside, I found this quite an enjoyable little mouse story. I'll have to seek out the two companion volumes - First Snow and School - and see if they are just as charming. Recommended to McCully fans, and to anyone looking for sweet family stories, whether wordless or not. ( )

Another wordless mouse book. The one mouse bounces out of the truck on the way and no one notices. They picnic and she very unhappily makes do on her own. When they discover she's gone, they go in search and eventually find her before recommencing the picnic where she fell out of the truck. Odd but enjoyable. ( )

One of my son's favorite books! There are no words, so the "reader" has to discern the story based on the beautiful illustrations. Good memories! ( )

This is a sweet little story with vivid illustrations about a mouse family that ventures out for a picnic one day, and one little mouse falls off the back of the pick-up truck. When the mouse family realizes they have lost a family member, they begin searching. The lost mouse, meanwhile, is lonesome, but she remains calm and brave until she is found. ( )

Wordless picture book