Meet Mo and Ella (First Friends First Readers) [Turtleback]

Tui Sutherland (Author), Rose Mary Berlin (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: First Friends First Readers

Is it possible for a mouse and an elephant to be friends? Apparently so, as Mo the mouse and Ella the elephant clearly illustrate in these two fun stories, Mo and Ella are Friends, and Mo and Ella at the Playground. Size doesn't matter when it comes to friendship!

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Preschool-Grade 1--Mo the mouse and Ella the elephant are an unlikely duo. Ella cannot help but clomp her big feet wherever she goes. Mo, on the other hand, squeaks his way through conversations. When Ella nearly steps on him, he wonders, "How can they be friends?" After a little contemplation, she lifts him onto her head with her trunk and they are pals. In the second story, the mismatched animals go to the playground. Unfortunately, the swing, slide, and seesaw are either too big or too small. Eventually they head for the lake, where they find it to be just the right size. The characters are endearing and their friendship is ripe with potential story lines. That said, the writing is awkward and assumes that certain inferences will be made, some of which may be beyond the target audience. For example, the text reads, "Ella has big feet/Can she go/Clomp clomp clomp!/now?/No!" Readers must now infer that Ella might stomp on Mo. Still, the repetitive nature of the text will suit most new readers. The cartoon art is detailed and mildly expressive, but the fine lines and flawless shading have a sterile, greeting-card look to them.

Louie Lahana, New York City Public Schools

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Turtleback
• Publisher: Demco Media (February 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0606213236
• ISBN-13: 978-0606213233
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely book, July 12, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Meet Mo and Ella: (Mo & Ella Are Friends; Mo & Ella at the Playground) (First Friends, First Readers: Pre-Level 1) (Paperback)

There are so few books today (even for kids) that are about unabashed joy, rather than scary things. This is a delightful, refreshing story with suitably adorable illustrations. I want to buy it for all the young children (and even some of the adults) I know!