Jennifer Mattson (Booklist, Aug. 1, 2004 (Vol. 100, No. 22))
Picture books boast a rich tradition of lovably neurotic characters, from Toad, in Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad series, to the anxious lemur in Helen Lester's Something Might Happen (2003). Joining their risk-averse ranks is a list-loving mouse named Wallace. Every morning Wallace writes down the day's tasks and then doggedly ticks each one off the list. The drawbacks of this system become obvious when lively, intriguing Albert moves next door: "Wallace would have liked to say, 'Hello, my name is Wallace,' but saying hello was not on his list." As Albert shares his laid-back philosophies ("Wherever I go, there I am") and demonstrates the joys of spontaneity, it's not long before Wallace begins to experiment with following his nose. The artwork, by the illustrator of the Baa and Boo books, is charmingly messy with crosshatchings and squiggly fillips, initially providing a humorous contrast to Wallace's rigidity and then reflecting his increasingly laissez-faire mood. Kids and parents alike will appreciate this gently satirical commentary on our increasingly overprogrammed lives. Category: Books for the Young--Fiction. 2004, HarperCollins, $15.99, $16.89. K-Gr. 2.

Claudia Mills, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)
Wallace is a shy mouse who loves making lists: lists of all the clothes in his closet, lists of pets he would like, and "to do" lists for his day. But when he meets a new neighbor mouse, Albert, he's unable to engage in a friendship with him, as "saying hello to Albert" is not on his list; nor is joining Albert on an expedition to go painting. As their acquaintance progresses, however, Wallace tries on the idea that life might include the occasional adventure or two: that is to say, "anything that isn't planned for . . . anything that isn't on a list." And when Wallace needs to warn Albert about a dangerous storm that might interfere with his planned plane ride to Glockamorra, Wallace has adventures aplenty (to write down on a new list of adventures), and the best list of all to compose: "My best friend--1. Albert." It's satisfying to see the two mice, so opposite in personality and temperament, grow into a friendship together. And Landström's adorable watercolor illustrations add to the fun. But the story ultimately seems too reminiscent of Arnold Lobel's classic treatment of list-making in Frog and Toad Together, where Toad cannot run after his lost list, because "running after my list is not one of the things that I wrote on my list of things to do!" 2004, HarperCollins, $15.99. Ages 4 to 7.

Karen Leggett (Children's Literature)
Wallace lives strictly according to his lists. Albert just lives. “When Albert called out, ‘I’m off to paint some ducks,’ Wallace wished painting was on his list.” Albert likes adventures. Just the thought of adventures makes Wallace so nervous he can’t sleep. Children will easily identify themselves--and probably their parents--with either Albert or Wallace, but along with lots of opportunities to laugh, young readers will also learn what’s really important about lists and life. When a thunderstorm threatens Albert’s plans to fly his plane, Wallace races to warn him at the airport, where his map gets soggy, he is bumped around on the luggage belt and chased by a cat. Wallace then makes a long list of his adventures, followed by the most important list of all: “My best friend: #1. Albert.” There are plenty of giggles along with the warmth and the unstated but powerful messages about friendship and spontaneity. Olof Landström’s brightly-colored illustrations share the fun and the compassion, and, of course, the lists. The story is read on an accompanying CD in a voice that has just the right measure of gentleness, as well as soft background music and tones to mark the page turns. It is worth adding Wallace’s Lists to your list, for classroom browsing, library story hour, or bedtime at home. 2004, Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins, $15.99. Ages 4 to 8.

CCBC (Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices, 2005)
Wallace, a mouse, could do almost anything. Anything, that is, as long as he had a list.” His lists define his comfort zone, and Wallace begins to realize how confining that zone is when he meets Albert, a new neighbor. Freespirite Albert is the antithesis of Wallace’s tightly controlled persona. When their paths cross, Wallace soon learns that taking risks can add zest to his life. Meanwhile, Albert also discovers that the path of adventure has its own bumps, and just when he’s feeling down, Wallace saves the day. Making friends is risky, but well worth the effort. Besides, it gives Wallace the chance to make a new list: “My Best Friend: 1. Albert.” Bow-tied and be-spectacled Wallace provides a visual counterpoint for Albert and his white undershirt in the visual interpretation of this rodent Odd Couple. Several of Wallace’s neatly printed lists offer an extra layer of fun, including such memorable categories as “Places with funny names” and “Accidents that happened to me.” CCBC categories: Picture Books for School-Aged Children. 2004, Katherine Tegen Books / HarperCollins, 32 pages, $15.99 and $16.89. Ages 5-8.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, June 1, 2004 (Vol. 72, No. 11))
A budding friendship begins, grows, and blossoms between two most unlikely characters: a shy mouse named Wallace and a confident, lively neighbor named Albert. Wallace has a penchant for lists and lives his life in lock-step with all that is delineated and predictable. In contrast, Albert is creative and spontaneous, seizing any opportunity to take off on an uncharted course, "smelling the roses," and enjoying painting, music, travel. Wallace does whatever is on his "to do" list, without deviation, whereas Albert welcomes the excitement of an adventure. An adventure according to Albert is anything that isn't planned. Yet thanks to Albert, Wallace does discover a new joy. A departure from his list leads Wallace to a departure of another sort: a frantic trip to the airport to warn his friend of stormy weather. The trip is aborted, but not without the realization that life can bring unanticipated pleasure and friendship. Cartoon characters move through the story with vitality and humor a young reader will relish, and a parent strapped with the routine and mundane will appreciate. 2004, HarperCollins, 40p, $15.99. Category: Picture book. Ages 4 to 7. © 2004 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Deborah Stevenson (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, June 2004 (Vol. 57, No. 10))
Wallace the mouse loves lists so much that he almost misses out on a friendship with Albert, his new neighbor ("Wallace would have liked to say, ‘Hello. My name is Wallace,' but saying hello was not on his list"). Fortunately, an amended list allows for acquaintance, and Wallace is so intrigued by Albert's spontaneous approach to life that he decides to join Albert on an outing in his airplane. Albert goes adventuring alone when an oversleeping Wallace misses their start time, but when Wallace hears that a dangerous storm is approaching, he's determined to go after Albert, even without lists, and warn his friend of the hazards. The plot lurches a bit when it shifts focus from Wallace's getting to know Albert to Wallace out chasing after Albert, and the reality of an airport-closing thunderstorm doesn't quite jibe with a world of rodential friendship. Worried little Wallace (perhaps a cousin of Henkes' Wemberly Worried, BCCB 9/00) is an endearing hero, however, and Bottner and Kruglik chronicle his blossoming with affectionate wit. Landström's line-and-watercolor illustrations evince the tidy organization of Wallace's lists, with sophisticated tones of gray and beige emphasizing the rodents' urban loft existence. Touches of silliness in the lists and in the adventures (kids will be sorely tempted by the notion of riding around on the luggage carousel) boost the amusement level, while Wallace's eternally furrowed brow is an everpresent reminder that these adventures are, for him, hard-won. In addition to offering reassurance to youngsters with Wallace-like wariness of the unknown, this might help the reckless Alberts of the world understand their more timid classmates. (Reviewed from galleys) Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2004, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2004, Tegen/HarperCollins, 32p, $16.89 and $15.99. Ages 5-8 yrs.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2004)
Wallace, a list-making mouse, isn't much of a free spirit until he meets his adventurous neighbor Albert and learns to cut loose a little. The comical art incorporates Wallace's lists ("1. Water plants. 2. Take a walk") and chronicles his predictable, lonely life as it expands to include spontaneity and friendship. Category: Picture Books. 2004, HarperCollins/Tegen, 32pp, $15.99, $16.89. Ages 4 to 9. Rating: 3: Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and/or illustration.