Silverlake Art Show

by Poppy Green

  The work was hard and the day was warm. But by dinnertime, all the stepping stones were in place. The path was complete.

  “Wow!” said Owen. “I didn’t think we’d get this much done. Someday, maybe I’ll make it longer.”

  But already it made for a lovely place to take a stroll. Everyone in town could come and enjoy it.

  On the way home, Sophie stopped at the bakery again. She checked the sign-up sheet.

  Sophie could not believe her eyes. All the lines were filled!

  There were many new names since the day before. Willy! Willy’s mom too! Mr. Handy from Handy’s Hardware. Mrs. Weaver, the seamstress. Even Mrs. Reeve, the librarian!

  Sophie’s mind was racing. Should she put out a new sign-up sheet? How many more artists would sign up the next day?

  Then she gasped.

  Tomorrow was Friday. Friday was the day of the show!

  Double gasp!

  What about her own piece of art for the show? She hadn’t had a chance to work on it. And time was running out!

  Chapter 7

  A Long Evening

  Back at home, the Mouse family sat down to a quick cold supper: radish sandwiches and a salad of fiddlehead ferns. Then Sophie planned to return to the bakery with Mrs. Mouse. They needed to do some setup that evening. On Friday, Sophie would be in school until three o’clock. That left only an hour before the art show began at four.

  “James is so excited about tomorrow, Sophie,” Winston said, his mouth full of ferns. “He has been working on his painting all week. He’s really proud of it.”

  “When will I find time to work on my painting?” Sophie wondered out loud.

  Lily Mouse smoothed the fur on Sophie’s head. “Why don’t you stay home and paint?” she suggested. “Your dad and Winston and I can handle the setup.”

  Mr. Mouse and Winston nodded in agreement.

  “Aw, thanks,” Sophie said. “But that doesn’t seem right. It is my project. I should go too.”

  Mr. Mouse stood up from the table. “Then how about we all go together. Four mice could make quick work of it, right?”

  Sophie grinned. Maybe she could get home early enough to paint, after all. “Okay,” Sophie said. “Let’s go!”

  Full of energy, the family walked together down the path to the town. Mr. Mouse whistled a tune, and they all stepped in time.

  Their first task was to set up the food tables. Sophie decided where she wanted them. Mr. and Mrs. Mouse moved them into place. Then Sophie changed her mind. So they rearranged them. Sophie shrugged.

  “Maybe they were fine where they were to begin with,” she said. “Sorry.”

  Mrs. Mouse gave Winston the tablecloths. He started spreading them on tables. Mrs. Mouse moved to the kitchen to work on the food. And Mr. Mouse started hanging wall hooks for the art. Sophie bounced between them.

  “Winston,” Sophie said, “I think these tablecloths are upside down.”

  “Oops,” said Winston. “I’ll fix them!”

  Sophie then helped her mom whip up batter for six dozen red currant cookies. They sliced tomatoes and bread for sandwiches. It took a long time to slice the tomatoes extra thin. It took even more time to cut the crusts off all the bread. But in the end, the sandwiches looked very fancy.

  Sophie went back out to help her dad. There was no hammer in the bakery toolbox, so he was using the heel of his shoe to tap the hooks in. Sophie and Winston laughed at the sight.

  “Dad, could you put a hook right here?” Sophie asked. She pointed to an especially well-lit spot. Secretly, she thought it would be perfect for her masterpiece. People would be sure to notice it there.

  Finally, Sophie made labels for the art. On each one, she wrote an artist’s name. She used fancy lettering and double-checked her spelling. She left space so artists could write in the title of their piece.

  In the end, everything took longer than Sophie expected. When they started for home, it was past her bedtime. The family retraced their steps up the path. Their pace was certainly slower than on the way there! Mr. Mouse didn’t have the energy to whistle.

  And when they got home, Sophie didn’t have the energy to paint.

  Chapter 8

  The Big Day

  The next morning, Sophie cut a piece from a roll of brown paper. She laid the paper on her bed. Then Sophie took down the painting of Forget-Me-Not Lake that she’d done on Sunday. She wrapped it for the art show.

  Sophie sighed. She’d had her heart set on painting something special for the show. But she did love this painting. She knew she should feel proud to show it off.

  Winston had decided on his art too. It was a sketch he’d once drawn for a four-story tree house. Slides, ladders, and spiral stairs connected the levels. The tree house hadn’t been built—yet. Winston still dreamed that someday it would be.

  “Good choice!” Sophie exclaimed. It was the perfect piece to represent Winston’s love of building.

  They both gave their pieces to Lily Mouse. She tucked them under her arm, but before she headed off to work, Sophie stopped her. She wanted to make extra certain that her mom understood where to hang hers.

  Sophie and Winston went the other way, toward Silverlake Elementary.

  The classroom was abuzz with excitement. James ran up to Sophie. He said he couldn’t wait for four o’clock! Hattie and Owen told Sophie they’d come early to help. It seemed like almost everyone was coming—and bringing their family.

  Only Ellie seemed unsure. “I have a flute lesson after school today,” she said. She looked so upset. “When it’s done, I’m going to race over to the art show. But I’m not sure I’ll get there in time.”

  Sophie knew Ellie was an excellent flute player. She had been to one of Ellie’s flute recitals.

  Suddenly, Sophie had an idea.

  “Ellie,” Sophie said, “this might sound strange. But could you have your lesson at the art show?”

  Ellie looked very confused.

  Sophie explained: “Then we could have music at the show. And we’d have you there!”

  “Aha!” Ellie said, smiling. “I’ll ask my teacher!”

  Everything was ready at the bakery. Sophie, Winston, Hattie, and Owen had arrived extra early. They’d hung their own art pieces on the wall.

  Hattie’s was a small quilt that she had made a year ago with her mom’s help.

  Owen’s was an abstract splatter painting.

  Lily Mouse had put out the red currant cookies and tomato sandwiches. Sophie had mixed up some raspberry lemonade in a large punch bowl.

  A few minutes before four, the bell on the bakery door jingled. In came Lydie, followed by Willy and his mom. Soon after, Mr. Handy and Mrs. Weaver arrived.

  “Welcome, artists!” Sophie greeted them.

  More artists trickled in by ones and twos. Sophie passed out the art labels. The artists added their titles. Then they each found an open hook and hung their art and labels on the wall.

  Mrs. Follet’s piece was a photograph of Butterfly Brook.

  Mrs. Wise brought a pen-and-ink drawing of her treetop home.

  Many pieces were paintings. But they were all so different. There were watercolor paintings and oil paintings. There were landscapes and portraits.

  Mr. Handy’s piece was a model boat made of balsa wood. Willy’s was a pinch pot, a small clay bowl made by hand. Sophie set up a small table for those items, since they couldn’t be hung.

  Sophie marveled at the variety of the art. Silverlake Forest was a very creative community!

  “Let the art show begin!” Sophie declared.

  Chapter 9

  Art Takes Many Forms

  Sophie Mouse looked around the bakery. She sighed with happiness—and relief. Everything was turning out just as she’d hoped.

  A steady stream of animals was arriving for the art show. They moved slowly along the wall of art. They stopped to admire each piece.

  The artists were all smiles as they received many compliments.

&
nbsp; Everyone seemed to be enjoying the delicious food.

  And in one corner, Ellie and her flute teacher played a duet. It was the perfect background music.

  It’s musical art! thought Sophie.

  Then Sophie noticed a group of animals looking at something on the art wall. She watched as the crowd slowly grew bigger and bigger.

  The bigger it got, the more curious Sophie became.

  They’re standing near my piece, she noticed. Sophie blushed a little bit. Is it really that good? She was flattered to think they were so impressed by her talent.

  Sophie worked her way across the room. She squeezed her way to the front of the crowd. Yes! There was her painting of Forget-Me-Not Lake.

  But it wasn’t the one everyone was looking at.

  They were all focused on the painting right next to it. It was a portrait of a rabbit—a very familiar-looking rabbit. The label read:

  ARTIST: JAMES RABBIT

  TITLE: MY BROTHER, BEN

  “It looks just like him. Doesn’t it?” someone was saying.

  “A perfect likeness,” someone else said. “Wow.”

  Sophie had to admit, it did look like Ben. A lot. And portraits were tricky. James was obviously a very talented artist.

  Sophie felt a feeling welling up inside her—a feeling she didn’t want to have. She wished that a crowd was gathering in front of her painting. She wished they were talking about her talent.

  Sophie was jealous.

  She had said all along that this art show was for everyone. For all of Silverlake Forest. But deep down, Sophie had secretly hoped her piece would stand out.

  This is not a competition, she scolded herself. So why do I feel like I lost?

  Just then Sophie spotted Mrs. Wise heading her way. She took a deep breath and forced a smile.

  “I wanted to thank you, Sophie,” said Mrs. Wise. “I’ve had such a wonderful time at your art show. And congratulations! You have two works of art on display.”

  Sophie looked at her quizzically. “Two?” she said. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, your painting is gorgeous.” said Mrs. Wise. “Really, it’s spectacular!”

  Sophie smiled—a real smile now. Mrs. Wise went on.

  “But look around. Look how much of the community is here, together: young, old, beginners, experts, artists, and the people who love them. It’s beautiful. I think this event is a real work of art.”

  Her words warmed Sophie’s heart. She looked around the bakery again. And she saw that it was true.

  Chapter 10

  Art Class

  It was another calm and peaceful Sunday morning at Forget-Me-Not Lake. The morning sky was different this time—more pink and orange. But once again, the water reflected it like a mirror.

  Sophie studied the trees across the lake. She noted the shades of color in the sky, the water, and the marsh grass. She could see more than a dozen different colors. But she didn’t mix her paints just yet.

  Before long, she heard footsteps behind her. Sophie turned.

  “Good morning, James!” she called.

  “Hi!” James replied. He was lugging an easel and a blank canvas. Right behind him was Winston carrying James’s art case.

  “It’s nice of you to help us out, Winston,” Sophie said.

  Winston beamed and put the case down. “Where should I sit?” he asked.

  James surveyed the area. He pointed to a sunlit rock by the water. “How about right there?” James said. Then he set up his easel and canvas next to Sophie’s. He pulled out a paintbrush and a palette. “Ready?” he asked Sophie.

  Sophie nodded. “Thanks for offering to show me how to paint portraits,” she said.

  “Thanks for showing me this great spot!” James said. “It looks just like your amazing painting. I still don’t get how you mix such bright colors. But I’m excited to learn.”

  Sophie had a feeling they would both learn a lot today.

  Then the two artists turned to their subject.

  “So how long do I have to sit here?” Winston asked from his perch.

  “Um . . .” Sophie looked at James.

  “Not long,” James said. “A couple of hours?”

  “Hours?” Winston cried.

  “Don’t worry,” Sophie said. “We’ll definitely take a break for lunch. Hold still now!”

  The End

  About the Author and Illustrator

  Poppy Green can talk to animals! Unfortunately, they never talk back to her. So she started writing in order to imagine what they might say and do when humans aren’t watching. Poppy lives on the edge of the woods in Connecticut, where her backyard is often a playground for all kinds of wildlife: birds, rabbits, squirrels, voles, skunks, deer, and the occasional wild turkey.

  Jennifer A. Bell is an illustrator whose work can be found on greeting cards, in magazines, and in more than a dozen children’s books. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her husband, son, and cranky cat.

  Visit us at simonandschuster.com/kids

  Authors.SimonandSchuster.com/Poppy-Green

  Authors.SimonandSchuster.com/Jennifer-A-Bell

  Little Simon

  Simon & Schuster, New York

  AdventuresOfSophieMouse.com

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  LITTLE SIMON

  An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division • 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020 • www.SimonandSchuster.com • First Little Simon hardcover edition June 2018 • Copyright © 2018 by Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. LITTLE SIMON is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc., and associated colophon is a trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc. For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Simon & Schuster Special Sales at 1-866-506-1949 or business@simonandschuster.com. The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com. Series designed by Laura Roode. Book designed by Hannah Frece.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Green, Poppy, author. Title: Silverlake Art Show / by Poppy Green ; illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell. Description: First Little Simon paperback edition. | New York : Little Simon, 2018. | Series: The adventures of Sophie Mouse ; 13 | Summary: With the help of Hattie Frog and Owen Snake, Sophie Mouse puts together the first Silverlake Art Show but when the big night comes, she finds she is not the star of the show. Identifiers: LCCN 2017042600 | ISBN 9781534417243 (paperback) | ISBN 9781534417250 (hc) | ISBN 9781534417267 (eBook)

  Subjects: | CYAC: Art—Exhibitions—Fiction. | Artists—Fiction. | Service learning—Fiction. | Mice—Fiction. | Animals—Fiction. | BISAC: JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Mice, Hamsters, Guinea Pigs, etc. | JUVENILE FICTION / Nature & the Natural World / General (see also headings under Animals). JUVENILE FICTION / Readers / Chapter Books. Classification: LCC PZ7.G82616 Sil 2018 | DDC [Fic]—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017042600