THE ADVENTURES OF SOPHIE MOUSE: A NEW FRIEND by Poppy Green. Illus. by Jennifer A. Bell.  New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc. 2015. 64p. ISBN 978-14814-28330 hc. $16.99.  Gr. 2-4  JUV

Green's series of early chapter books features Sophie Mouse and her realm of forest friends who include frogs, squirrels, rabbits, moles, and assorted birds.  Her classroom teacher, Mrs. Wise, is the proverbial wise old owl.  Sophie is a good little mouse with many friends, who likes school and always has a helping hand for her little brother.  However, Sophie was surprised on the first day of school by the addition of a new student - a snake.  After a few misconceptions about the character and habits of snakes, the forest friends found that they could welcome a new friend into their group.  The characters are reminiscent of "Peter Rabbit" and the animal stories written by Beatrix Potter. 
Lynette Suckow, Superiorland Preview Center, Marquette, MI