I broke my "no celebrity books" rule to check out The Great American Mousical recommended to me by my friend Denise after she heard Julie Andrews Edwards speak at the Texas Library Association's annual conference.  "You think you love Julie Andrews and then you hear her speak and you just *adore* her," she said.

Set in a theater within a theater, The Great American Mousical tells the story of a dedicated troupe of mouse actors who work far below the human stage of a Broadway palace, the Sovereign.  From the diva, Adelaide, to the ingenue, Wendy, the book is full of the types of characters popular in musicals . . . and mousicals. When the star of the show disappears on the eve of opening night, and the Sovereign destined for the wrecking ball, what will become of "Broadway Airs"?

With the cast of characters listed at the beginning to keep everyone straight, and a glossary of theater terms in the back to explain unfamiliar vocabulary, this delightful and imaginative story of triumph in the face of adversity illustrates the old theater adage "the show must go on" while introducing young readers to the world of musical theater.

Technically a "chapter book," this story is geared toward the 5-9 year old market, those newly independent readers who are ready for chapters but still enjoy clever illustrations to move the story along and break up those big blocks of text.  So, share The Great American Mousical with your kids, explain that the author is none other than the beloved "Mary Poppins" of Disney fame, and rent some classic Broadway musicals the entire family can enjoy.