• Age: 3 to 7
• Grade: p to 2

Jellybean Mouse is the second tale in the exciting new picture book series, "Happy the Pocket Mouse." When a "boring" trip to the laundromat to wash their clothes frustrates Happy's insatiable appetite for adventure (and neither the skating rink nor the bowling alley can entice John away from their mundane task), Happy arrives at the laundromat in a funk, only to come face-to-face with his first jellybean machine. Thrilled with the discovery, Happy is confounded for a second time when John explains that he has only enough quarters for the wash. Refusing to give up, Happy makes a careful reconnaissance beneath the washing machines until he finds a quarter of his own. But the stingy machine conspires against the treasure seeking mouse, steals his quarter, and refuses to release its jellybeans. Unwilling to accept defeat, Happy convinces John to tilt the machine until its sweet treasure spills out in abundance. No adventure is too small for a mouse with a prodigious appetite.

Philip Roy continues to travel back and forth between Nova Scotia and Ontario, keeping residence in both places. For some half-dozen years now, he has been presenting orally a series of stories at local schools, fairs, and markets called “Happy the Pocket Mouse.” The first of the series, Mouse Tales, illustrated by Andrea Torrey Balsara, will be released by Ronsdale Press in spring 2014. This series of picture books complements Philip’s “Submarine Outlaw” series for young adults, which is now up to volume six. Recently he travelled to Australia to research the materials for the next book in the series, Eco Warrior, to appear in the fall of 2014. Travelling makes for great adventure, Philip contends. The only thing better is writing about it and visiting schools and libraries to share the stories with young readers. Visit Philip Roy’s website at www.philiproy.ca

Philip Roy's profile page

Andrea Torrey Balsara has illustrated her own stories for children as well as numerous books by other storytellers. She lives in Bowmanville, Ontario. Visit www.torreybalsara.com.

Andrea Torrey Balsara's profile page