Lightning Bug Light Show

The Adventures of Sophie Mouse #21

by Poppy Green, Jennifer A. Bell (Illustrator)

Sophie goes to a light show and helps a lightning bug performer in this twenty-first sweet book in The Adventures of Sophie Mouse!

The traveling Lightning Bug Troupe is visiting Silverlake Forest, and Sophie can’t wait to attend their light show for the first time. She even befriends a lightning bug named Rory. But Rory has a problem that’s stopping him from performing with his troupe. Can Sophie help him take the stage?

Genres: Chapter Books, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction

128 pages, Hardcover

Published June 25, 2024

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Read Aloud · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of our favorite Sophie Mouse books! We have read all of them. I especially loved the whimsical additions in this one-mushroom houses and snail-led wagons. My 4 year old loves this series. I hope there will be more!

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sophie Mouse lives in an oak tree. She has an owl teacher named Mrs. Wise. This is cottagecore for the elementary-school set and I can’t wait to cozy up with more.

My nine-year-old niece independently chose this at the library where I work. She is not a huge reader but she devoured it.

[Natalie A · Rating 5 out of 5]

E said “I wish I could skidoo into this book!! I loved it!!” 🥹💛

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A group of lightning bug performers has come to town. Sophie and her friends meet one of the lightning bugs named Rory. Sophie is super excited to see their performance. Because it is late at night her little brother can’t come. Owen’s mom also doesn’t think he can stay up that late, but he convinces her to come anyway. The show doesn’t go as expected, Sophie doesn’t see Rory anywhere in the performance, and then Owen disappears. Where could her friends be?

This little adventure reminds readers that maybe your parents know you better than yourself and that it is ok to be uniquely you (even if you look a little different from your peers). I like the idea of a lightning bug show in this world vs a fireworks or drone show. It’s a cute event for the neighborhood.

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: None
Ethnic diversity: Animals with no obvious ethnic overlay
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: A lost child. A child who feels self-conscious for looking different.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The lightning bugs are in town which means so is there show. Sophie is so excited to go with her dad and invites her friends Hattie and Owen to go too. Owen's mom says that it's way too late for him to go but Owen eventually convinces his mom to take him. Sophie also gets to make a new friend, Rory, one of the lightning bugs in the travelling troupe. On the night of the show, Owen suddenly disappears. Where did he go?

This was a sweet story touching upon how sometimes our parents do know best (Owen) and how it's ok to be different from others (Rory).

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I would have started keeping track of these sooner, but we’ve read several Sophie Mouse books aloud now and they are so whimsical and fun. Perfect beginner chapter books, lots of pictures, and just the right length to keep two 4 year olds interested all the way through.

[Kassie R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my daughters and I read this together. A great chapter books for beginners! A cute story with adorable illustrations.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another sweet Sophie Mouse book. I love that my 6 year old can read these and we take turns snuggling up and reading to each other.

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have absolutely loved reading this series, and I hope there will be more. Such fun reads, perfect for bedtime, and teach good lessons too.

[Mary T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favorite in the series but still great! I highly recommend this series as either a read aloud or for early readers.

[Eugenio · Rating 5 out of 5]

First kid book of the year!

She loved it, found many fun parts, and loves this series!!

[Kayla Noffze · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 4.2 year old has loved these Sophie Mouse books! This was a cute one.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Appropriate for: all ages!

My 8 year old daughter and I love Sophie Mouse!