Interview with the Readers

 Want to hear other readers' opinions on Bethany and Mika's books? Today, we are interviewing our parents and our fish, Melinda. Enjoy!

Q: What is your favorite book that Bethany and Mika have written?

Mom: A Different Thanksgiving.

Dad: A Different Thanksgiving.

Melinda: A Different Thanksgiving.

Q: Who is your favorite character in Mouse's House?

Mom: All of the bees.

Dad: Mouse, because he is the title character. 

Melinda: The mom, because of her long hair. 

Q: What would you do if you were a mouse who was trying to find his house?

Mom: I would go online and search the listings for houses. 

Dad: I would use my nose because I smell better than I see.

Melinda: I would use my nose to sniff out treats and other mice. 

Q: What is your favorite part of Polly and Penny?

Mom: The ending, when Polly realizes that she's happy right where she is.

Dad: My favorite part is when the pet store owner stuck to his principles and refused to let Fiona only adopt one of the sister parrots. 

Melinda: I like the part about Diamond, Emerald, and Clown when they were getting their fish food. 

Q: What is the big idea of Polly and Penny?

Mom: Circumstances can be different than you thought they would be, but they can still be good.

Dad: That there is a right home for everyone, you just have to be patient. 

Melinda: That family is more important than having a fancy house.

Q: If you were parrot in a pet store, what type of house would you like?

Mom: I would like a house with very tall ceilings and a lot of windows, so that I could fly around in the house and be safe, but still enjoy myself. 

Dad: Just one where the people love me. 

Melinda: If I were a parrot, I'm not sure what I would do. I would probably want to be at a house that has lots of treats, like a restaurant. 

Q: If you were to write a sequel to Polly and Penny, what would happen in it?

Mom: The little sister, Hannah, would get better at animal care. 

Dad: Their owners decide to move, but they don't want to move houses because they are happy in their old house. Then they realize that it doesn't matter what house they are in, as long as they are with their family.

Melinda: Maybe they can help the other parrots in the pet store try to find their homes!

Q: Do you think there should be a spin off or sequel to A Different Thanksgiving, or do you think it is better on its own? Leave a comment in the comments section below to share your thoughts.

Mom: I think a spin off/sequel is an excellent idea. I think one for every major holiday would be ideal.

Dad: A spin off would be good, but a sequel would not be. 

Melinda: I think it would be nice to have a sequel. 

Q: Do you think it was right for Rosie and Gobble Gobble to throw a secret Thanksgiving party?

Mom: Sure, there was no harm done.

Dad: Yes. I think that they have a right to have a party. 

Melinda: I think that their mom shouldn't have said that they couldn't have a party, so I think it was right for them to have a party. 

Q: Which do you prefer, the original Christmas Carol or A Fishmas Carol?

Mom: A Fishmas Carol, because, in the original one, there was a definite lack of fish. 

Dad: I guess I like A Fishmas Carol. The other one is too scary. 

Q: What is the message from A Fishmas Carol?

Mom: Don't worry, be happy!

Dad: You should live for the day and enjoy the present moment. 

Melinda: Christmas isn't about presents, it's about family. 

We love hearing from other readers! Let us know in the comments section how you would answer these questions!

From Bethany and Mika.

Top 5 Amazing Picture Books

Wondering what to read after you enjoyed Mouse's House, A Different Thanksgiving, and other modern classics? Try of my favorite picture books! Hope you enjoy!!!

5. Olivia: Best Sister Ever- by R.J. Cregg

This fantastic read is about a little girl who is trying to find the perfect present for her baby brother, William. With help from her family, she spies on William. Will she find the perfect gift for him? While being an exciting story, it is still easy to read. 

4. Olive, The Other Reindeer- by J. Otto Seibold. and Vivian Walsh

This hilarious book is about a dog named Olive. When hearing her favorite song, Olive wonders, "am I the other reindeer?" When Olive takes a bus to the North Pole to lead Santa's sleigh, she ends up being the superhero of Christmas. I like this book because it shows that even just a little dog can make a big difference in the world. This book is recommended for ages 4 to 9. 

3. The Sneetches and Other Stories- by. Dr. Seuss.

"The Sneetches" is a wonderful and sweet story about two different types of creatures who realize that it's what's on the inside that counts. "The Zax" is a story about two creatures who are too determined to stay on their own path to move. This hilarious story will have you hunched over in laughter. "Too Many Daves" is a creative story about a mother who named all her sons Dave and wishes she had named them something else, like Sunny Jim or Blinkey. It leads to confusion all around. "What was I Scared of?" is a sweet and slightly scary story about a creature who comes across a pair of pants that is walking on its own. Will the creature and the pair of pants become friends, or will they continue hiding from each other forever? I recommend this book for ages 2 to 10. 

2. An Elephant and Piggie Series- by Mo Willems.

This series is about an elephant named Gerald and a pig named Piggie who go on lots of hilarious adventures. One of my favorite books in the series is Should I Share My Ice Cream. It is about Gerald getting one ice cream cone, but he remembered Piggy, his best friend. Should he share it with his best friend, Piggy, or should he keep it all to himself? Spoiler alert: he should share it. I also recommend I Will Take a Nap. This lovely and partly sleepy book is about Gerald, who is very cranky and very tired. His plan is to take a nap, until his friend Piggie interrupts him. Gerald is so cranky that he makes his friend Piggie cranky too. They both try to take a nap, but, unfortunately, Piggy is too loud. Will Gerald ever get to sleep? If you' like to read more, Biggie is a compilation of 5 books that I love. "Today I Will Fly" is a book about Piggie wanting to try to fly. She tries almost everything, but pigs just cannot fly, can they?  "Watch Me Throw the Ball" is a confusing book about Piggie throwing Gerald's ball. Piggie thinks that playing ball is just about winning having fun, but Gerald has different ideas. Will Piggie be able to throw the ball without being trained. "Can I Play Too?" is a book about a tiny snake who wants to join the game. Will Piggie and Gerald find a way for everyone to play? "Let's Go for a Ride" is about Gerald and Piggie planning to go on a big trip, but are they prepared enough? It seems as if they remembered to pack everything, except a car! What will they do? "I Really Like Slop" is about Piggy wanting Gerald to try Piggy's favorite food. But Gerald refuses to try it! Will Gerald ever try this new, unusual food? This series is good for kids who like longer picture books and like to read on their own. 

 1. Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree- by Robert E. Barry

Mr. Willowby has a perfect Christmas tree, but there's just one problem. The top is a little bit too tall. As the mini-Christmas tree is passed on to smaller and smaller animal families, it brings Christmas joy to each one of them!!! I love this book because it shows that the top of a Christmas tree can bring joy to many other little families. 

Have you read these books? Let us know what you think in the comments section!

- Bethany and Mika