Merrilees Brown's story about a mouse named Spaghetti who uses his imagination to create things with objects that others find useless could be a new classic. This beautiful picture book is simple, lighthearted, and fun. I would absolutely purchase a copy of this book for my classroom or my daughter's home library.

Thank you to Tundra Book Group and NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy. The opinions expressed are my own.

From the moment I opened Spaghetti: A Mouse and His Treasure, I instantly fell in love with the illustrations. Every page is filled with rich, warm colors and expressive details that bring Spaghetti, the charming little mouse, to life. I would do anything for Spaghetti—he’s just that lovable!

What truly made this book special was its beautiful message about seeing value in things that most overlook. Spaghetti’s ability to find beauty where others see none is an inspiring reminder to appreciate the little things in life. Even when his family didn’t understand his treasure, he didn’t let their indifference upset him. Instead, he found a way to transform his discovery into something they would cherish, which added a heartwarming layer to the story.

The descriptive language throughout the book was another highlight, making each moment feel vivid and immersive. And just when I thought the book couldn’t get any better, the real-life picture of Spaghetti at the end was the perfect finishing touch! It made the story feel even more magical, as if Spaghetti was truly out there, collecting treasures.

Spaghetti was an interesting take on a mouse that has too much "treasure" while his parents believe it is just junk. The story line itself is engaging, but I felt the ending didn't make the most sense to my son or I. Although others enjoyed the illustrations, my 4 year old thought some pages were "creepy" and dark, not the cute and lighthearted approach I believe was the goal. I think this will be best suited for elementary aged children, not a younger demographic.

A very cute story about a mouse and his wonderful collection. Also, how he transforms his treasures into something more valuable for his friends and family.

What an incredibly cute story!
The illustrations are so gentle and sweet, depicting a charming underground world of tiny mice—so adorable that I can't even think of them as household pests! Spaghetti, the smartest little inventor mouse, doesn't just gather things; he thoughtfully creates and embodies a big idea that benefits his entire family.
Delightful and heartwarming!

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Spaghetti by Merrilees Brown is a third person-POV picture book about a mouse named spaghetti. When Spaghetti’s family runs out of room because of all his treasures, he finds a way so everyone can be happy.

The art is so cute. The colors are very soft and the style is even softer. I loved the minimalist approach to backgrounds on some pages because it really let us focus on the mice characters.

The story is all about finding a compromise and sharing what you love with the people you love. It doesn’t take a lot of words to tell the story, so I think this is best for beginning readers or nursery schools.

I would recommend this to beginning readers and families starting to read picture books to their children

Spaghetti is an adorable mouse that loves collecting treasure, especially spaghetti. When his family complains about the collecting and excess stuff everywhere he doesn’t get discouraged. Spaghetti, a resourceful mouse, tries to solve everyone's problem with his creativity. His affection for his treasure and family is apparent, making this book a must read. Such a positive fun message for kids and adults alike.
This book would be perfect for a lesson on recycling, it’s got my wheels turning for fun ideas. I can’t wait to read it with my students. I highly recommend this book the story and the illustrations are wonderful.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tundra Book Group and Merrilees Brown for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Spaghetti is an adorable picture book full of imagination. I loved the antics of the mouse and it was beautifully illustrated!