In the heart of the great metropolis of New York City, the bright lights of Broadway shine. And down, down, down, beneath a theater known as the Sovereign, there sits a long-forgotten architect's model -- the Sovereign's miniature replica. In this secret space, an adorable troupe of theater mice busily prepare to stage their own show, "Broadway Airs." Among the cast and crew are Emil, the director; Harold, the character actor; Adelaide, the diva; and young Pippin, the intern. Rehearsals are in their usual state of chaos when suddenly the production is threatened by the imminent demolition of the theater and the devastating disappearance of Adelaide. As the clock ticks toward opening night, everyone is worried -- will the little Sovereign survive? How can they pull off the most important night in mouse theater without their star? Somehow, the show must go on!

In this loving spoof of life in the theater, we join a delightful cast, follow a daring adventure, and welcome a brave new hero. This delicious tribute to the Broadway musical is written by two bestselling authors who have firsthand experience of this much-adored world.

FROM OUR EDITORS

Far beneath the bright lights of Broadway, in the deepest recesses of the Sovereign, sits a long-forgotten and (if truth be told, slightly decrepit) architect's model of the theater. Unbeknownst to all the creatures who stride the stage above, this tiny replica has become the playhouse for a troupe of thespian mice. In the face of adversity more frightening than any mousetrap, the plucky little rodents pull off an opening-night coup. A "miniature" tribute to the theater from beloved actress Julie Andrews and her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In the heart of the great metropolis of New York City, the bright lights of Broadway shine. And down, down, down, beneath a theater known as the Sovereign, there sits a long-forgotten architect's model -- the Sovereign's miniature replica. In this secret space, an adorable troupe of theater mice busily prepare to stage their own show, "Broadway Airs." Among the cast and crew are Emil, the director; Harold, the character actor; Adelaide, the diva; and young Pippin, the intern. Rehearsals are in their usual state of chaos when suddenly the production is threatened by the imminent demolition of the theater and the devastating disappearance of Adelaide. As the clock ticks toward opening night, everyone is worried -- will the little Sovereign survive? How can they pull off the most important night in mouse theater without their star? Somehow, the show must go on! In this loving spoof of life in the theater, we join a delightful cast, follow a daring adventure, and welcome a brave new hero. This delicious tribute to the Broadway musical is written by two bestselling authors who have firsthand experience of this much-adored world.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Edwards and Hamilton (co-authors of Simeon's Gift) set their tale below a decrepit Broadway theater, where the architect's model of the building serves as the home of a professional troupe of mice actors. "On a night in late December, just after Christmas, when our tale begins, [a] little door was wide open," states the omniscient narrator. The narrative opens as the diminutive thespians rehearse for their New Year's Eve extravaganza. Suddenly plaster and shards of colored lenses rain down on the stage, and the mice soon spy a wrecking crane. Adding to the drama, the company's diva falls prey to a mousetrap, from which a construction worker frees her on the outskirts of Manhattan. A kind rural mouse plays a key role in escorting the leading lady back to the theater just in time for her grand finale. In a fitting, theatrical flourish, one of the Broadway mice finagles a way to lead the developer and his son to the tiny underground theater. When the man sees how exquisite the original venue was, he has a change of heart. Clearly written from an insider's perspective, the story brims with theater lingo, fittingly applied touches of melodrama ("The show must go on") and cleverly placed familiar lines ("Our revels now are ended"). The players here may be small in stature, but the story is big of heart and deserving of an enthusiastic round of applause. Final artwork not seen by PW. Ages 5-9. (Feb.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-5-Deep beneath the grand but dilapidated Sovereign on New York City's Broadway, in a perfect miniature of the theater, a group of mice are furiously rehearsing for their own musical, due to open the next night, New Year's Eve. However, the tempestuous leading lady, Adelaide, gets caught in a mousetrap, is abandoned outside the city, but with the help of a kindly stranger makes her way back in time for the performance. All's well that ends well, but readers may not stick it out to the happy finale. So many stock characters are introduced so quickly-only a few of whom are fleshed out even to the smallest degree-that it is impossible to care about the fate of any of them. A long list of the characters at the front and a glossary of theatrical terms in the back add nothing to children's appreciation of the magic of Broadway musicals.-Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

This mother-and-daughter team has created an amusing spoof of the New York theater world through the device of a parallel theatrical community of mice existing in the basement under a famous old Broadway venue. The mouse troupe is rehearsing a New Year's Eve performance called Broadway Airs: A Tribute to the Great American Mousical, with songs and dances from favorite shows. The novel's large cast of mouse characters includes both actors and backstage pros, most with names from well-known musicals, but with over 30 characters, it's hard to keep all the players straight. When the star of the musical revue, Adelaide, is caught in a trap and transported to Brooklyn, the cast has to revamp the show, as Adelaide finds her way back to Broadway in a snowstorm with the help of a kindly mouse professor named Henry. The omniscient narrative style, sophisticated vocabulary and convoluted theatrical situations will be of interest mainly to good readers who are also budding thespians. A glossary of theatrical terms is included. (Illustrations not seen) (Fiction. 8-11)