Gerald Needs a Friend by Robin Boyden

Gerald has his home and his garden and everything he needs.  He makes jams and other things from his produce so he will good things to eat in the winter.  One day he decides to go to town...

Frances Lincoln Children's Books and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you).  It has been published and you can get a copy now.

Gerald has a routine at home that works well for him.  He goes to bed at seven.  But when he gets to town there are two mice there selling whatever you might need.  He doesn't like the crowd but when it thins out, one of the mice comes over and invites him to try on costumes.  He does and he has fun.

Soon it is later than he thought and he has to run home.  That night he can't sleep.  He thinks about the fun he had and comes up with an idea.

Can you guess what his idea is?