Before biking to work one Monday, Mr. Norton grabs his new hat, only to find that it has become a mouse’s house. No matter! He wears it with the mouse on top. On Tuesday, he finds birds in his bicycle basket, but unperturbed, he cycles to work. On Wednesday, the squirrel in his shoe barely slows him down. Soon he has stoats in his satchel and cats clinging to his coat as well. On Saturday, he goes to take a bath and finds his tub full of animals. And polite Mr. Norton loudly shouts, “Enough!” Stunned, the animals leave. After a quiet but lonely day, kind Mr. Norton finds a way to accommodate them all. When the story begins, Mr. Norton appears to be a happy, energetic sort of person as he bicycles off to work. But as time goes by and the collection of animals grows, clearly a crisis is coming. Well-structured and rooted in folklore, the tale has a timeless quality. Egbert’s illustrations are nicely composed, fresh, and amusing. Fun for reading aloud. –Booklist
When Horace Norton finds a mouse in his hat, he lets it stay but quickly begins to accumulate animals.
Pale-skinned, mustachioed Mr. Norton—with a gray beard to match—is a kind man. So kind, in fact, that when he discovers that the little rodent has made a house in his hat, he leaves it be and makes his way to work. When he notices birds in his bicycle basket, he’s equally obliging; he also decides not to disturb the squirrel in his shoe, the stoats in his satchel, and the cats in his coat. Mr. Norton’s rising frustration with his growing zoo finally culminates in an explosive response: “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!” The animals scurry off, and Mr. Norton realizes just how loud and lonely silence can be. A surprising gift provides a welcome fix for his solitude. Children are sure to pick up on—and enjoy—the repetition and alliteration of this cumulative tale. Mr. Norton’s slim figure and long face give him a distinctive look. The animals who join his menagerie are adorable, making even their mischief sweet. Readers will enjoy lingering on the energetic, chaos-filled pages where the animals make mayhem.
Zany yet utterly sweet—and a winning combination of storytelling and visuals. (Picture book. 4-6)–Kirkus Reviews
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