Of the growing number of picture books that attempt to instill art appreciation in a young audience, this title stands out for its charm, usefulness, and age appropriateness. Three mice find a postcard with a painting of a bejeweled lady on the front (a reproduction of Portrait of a Woman, by Robert Peake). As they look, they begin to see patterns, colors, lines, and shapes. Their observations lead them to create their own art out of simple shapes made with paper, scissors, and markers. A project at the end provides step-by-step instructions for making a self-portrait postcard. Wallace's collage illustrations of the engaging mice are a fine contrast to the painting reproduction. A glossary of key words, highlighted in red in the text, is included. Deceptively simple, this eye-opening, fresh look at art education offers good opportunities for classroom exercises. Julie Cummins Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved