FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
Bestselling author Spencer Johnson teams up with artist Steve Pileggi to teach younger readers his "a-mazingly" Cheesy -- and highly successful -- message.

Simplifying his tale about Sniff, Scurry, Hem, and Haw, Johnson now gives kids an easy method to "deal with change -- and win!" When the four characters come upon Cheese Station C, they think there are enough orange slices and yellow cubes to last forever. But as the cheese dwindles down, Sniff and Scurry realize it's time to set out and look for more. After Sniff and Scurry take off, Hem and Haw are left waiting for more cheese deliveries. After a while, Haw understands that he ought to get over his fear of looking, and when he finally meets up with Sniff and Scurry at the awesome Cheese Station N, he puts the "Handwriting on the Wall" about everything he's learned.

Showing that change is a positive experience if you keep aware and active, Johnson delivers a useful tool that kids can apply to school life, extracurricular activities, or certain family situations, such as moving to a new town. With Pileggi's colorful illustrations helping readers easily keep track of who's who, this far-reaching parable should have children navigating life transitions with ease -- or Cheese. Matt Warner

ANNOTATION

This picture book adaptation of the popular bestselling adult title allows young readers to follow the story of four little characters, who make their way through a maze looking for the "Magical Cheese" that makes them happy.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Spencer Johnson's Who Moved My Cheese? is a bestselling book that has helped millions of people around the world adapt and succeed in changing times. Now Dr. Johnson has adapted his story for the picture book audience so that, starting from the earliest age, children can view change as a positive thing that can lead to new opportunity.

Young readers will enjoy following the story of the four little characters, Sniff, Scurry, Hem and Haw, who make their way through a maze looking for the "Magical Cheese" that makes them happy. And once they find the Cheese, it seems like it will last forever-until one morning when everything changes. Who moved their Cheese? Will it come back? Or will they have to look for different Cheese, venturing onto strange paths, around corners they've never explored? As children follow these friends through the maze of change, they can try to figure out which character they're most like-or which they most admire-and what their own Magical Cheese might be.

Spencer Johnson, M.D.'s New York Times #1 bestselling book Who Moved My Cheese? - An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change at Work and in Life has inspired and entertained millions of adults. Now even the youngest readers can share the story, learning how to deal with change-and win!

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Spencer Johnson, M.D., adapts his bestseller for a picture-book crowd: Who Moved My Cheese? For Kids: An A-Mazing Way to Change and Win!, illus. by Steve Pileggi. Readers can follow the four friends Sniff, Scurry, Hem and Haw as they negotiate a maze in search of the cheese that they think will make them happy. "The Handwriting on the Wall" summarizes important lessons such as, "When you stop being afraid, you feel good!" Six discussion questions follow the text. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Gr 2-5-While this picture-book allegory is not a panacea to every change occurring in a child's life, some may find it a useful discussion tool. Johnson shows the different ways that four little friends search out the Magical Cheese that will make them happy. The author explains that some children may look for change early like Sniff, some may hurry to action like Scurry, some may resist change like Hem, and still others may learn to adapt like Haw. Rhetorical questions are asked, for example, "What do you think your New Cheese could be?" Haw frequently pauses to write inspirational comments on the wall such as "Imagining Your New Cheese Helps You Find It!" This book could aid children in understanding that "the best change happens inside of you-like when you believe a change can lead to something better." The cartoon characters are distinguished by their colors and the names on their caps and jumpsuits. Endpapers portray a maze, which is also shown within the pages of the book. The author concludes with discussion questions to consider.-Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.