- Picture Books
- Ages 3–7
- Animals
A Place Just for Me
Silver is the youngest mouse in a big, busy family and all he wants is a quiet spot to do his favourite thing: absolutely nothing. A tender, softly illustrated ode to the small joy of finding a space that is just your own.
- Best for3–7
- FormatPicture
- Length32 pp
- Read aloud~6 min
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The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Repetitive
Tone
- Gentle
- Warm
- Whimsical
- Cosy
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Silver is the smallest mouse in a large, loving, extremely noisy family. While his siblings play ball, dance and blast music, and his parents cook, tinker and read, Silver longs for one simple thing: a quiet corner where he can sit and do absolutely nothing at all. So he sets off through the forest, calling on his animal neighbours in the hope of borrowing a peaceful nook. But every burrow, den and hollow turns out to be just as full and just as busy as his own home. Translated from the Italian and glowing with Melinda Berti's warm, textured illustrations, this is a gentle, reassuring story about a child's real need for stillness and solitude, and the quiet happiness of finally finding a place that belongs to you.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
A gentle picture book best shared aloud with 3-7s, with independent readers around 5-7 enjoying it on their own. There is no scary content, and its quiet, reassuring tone makes it especially suited to sensitive or introverted children.
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 3–7
- Read aloud · 3–7
- Independent · 5–7
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Workable
Read-aloud quality
Strong
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Bedtime
- Reading together
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
4 / 5 · Bedtime-friendly
Sensitive-child
5 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Introverted children
- Quiet stories
- Animal lovers
- Bedtime
Avoid if
- Wants action
- Wants laugh out loud
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
Every child knows the feeling of a house that is just too loud, and Silver's hunt for somewhere peaceful is easy to root for. Peeking into each animal friend's cosy, chaotic home is a joy, and the happy ending, a little spot that is finally, perfectly his, feels wonderfully earned.
- Having a secret base
- Cosy safety
Why parents love it
It gently validates something children rarely get to name: the need for stillness and space of their own. The soft, textured art rewards slow looking, and the calm rhythm makes it a natural wind-down at bedtime, and a lovely prompt for talking about feelings.
- Beautiful illustrations
- Bedtime appropriate
- Conversation starter
About the creators
About the creators.
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