Shoe Town (Green Light Readers: Level 2)

Little mama mouse dreams of a hot bath and a long nap. Her babies have grown up and moved away from their snug shoe-home. Mama imagines settling into a quiet life, until Tortoise, Hare, and other storybook strangers turn up in search of a home. Soon Mama has a busy life--and lots of new friends--in glorious Shoe Town.

Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel's toe-tapping rhymed text in tandem with Janet Stevens's soleful illustrations gives the notion of one mama's "empty nest" a hilarious kick.