Saturday, September 6, 2008

BABYMOUSE: Volumes 1-2

Vol. 1


Vol. 2




By Chris Wilson

Editor-in-Geek



AUTHOR: Jennifer L. Holm
ILLUSTRATOR: Matthew Holm
PUBLISHER: Random House Children’s Books
GENRE: Animal Fantasy

FORMAT: Soft cover digest
VOLUME: 1-2
PAGES: 96 pages each
COLOR: Spot color (pink)
ISBN-10 (1): 0-375-83229-7
ISBN-13 (2): 0-375-83230-0


STORY SYNOPSIS
Poor Babymouse, she just can’t catch a break. She is not the most popular little girl mouse in school, but she tries so hard to make friends with the cool kids. She ends up stuffed in lockers. It just doesn’t work out for her. She can’t even comb the kinks out of her whiskers. When she finds out that Felicia Furrypaws is having a sleepover, all she can think about is showing Felicia how cool she is so she will get an invite. Is the party worth it?

In volume 2, Babymouse fights to survive everyday, especially in math. When she gets to gym and finds out that the next day is the dreaded dodge ball day, her life goes downhill. Babymouse is scared, but she has to play and face her fears.


STORY REVIEW
Delightful, sensitive and enchanting, Babymouse is girl power to the pink degree, something written by a lady, for young ladies. Babymouse is the typical girl, the normal girl, the regular girl who struggles with all the drama of adolescence, and it is drama.


ART REVIEW
BABYMOUSE is charming in its simple line art renderings, enhanced by appropriately placed, pink, spot color.


AGE RECOMMENDATION
My Rating: Ages 7 and older
Publisher’s Rating: Ages 7-10
Booklist: Grades 4-6


IN THE CLASSROOM
Girls know drama because they live drama and this book is all about the life – the drama – of girls growing up. They will relate and enjoy and ask for more. Any lessons on choice, responsibility and friendship will be ripe for the BABYMOUSE series.


OTHER INFORMATION
2006 Gryphon Award
2006 ALA Notable Children’s Book
2006 New York Book Show Award


CHRIS' RECOMMENDATION:
Highly Recommended
This book is aimed squarely at girls, who need more books that deal with their special lives and their perspectives. BABYMOUSE is a hero in that regard.

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