MOUSSE'S TREASURES

Earnest Mousse opens his seaside home to his niece.

True to form, our long-snouted, blue-and-white striped protagonist prepares assiduously for his niece’s visit by stocking up on food, cleaning (and recleaning), and even readying art supplies. Everything’s in order, but anxious Mousse is nevertheless rattled when the doorbell rings (“Already?!”). His vivacious sister chatters incessantly as she drops off Pistachio (a tiny version of Mousse but with yellow stripes rather than blue). Food and activities await, but Pistachio’s obsession with swimming undermines most of her uncle’s careful preparations. A compromise at bedtime sets the stage for an amiable, give-and-take relationship, which evolves almost effortlessly in the ensuing pages. This modeling of respectful behavior is affirmed by Mousse’s bond with his best friend, Barnacle the walrus, who arrives with his large family to take part in a yard sale initially proposed by Pistachio. While the first installments in this chapter-book series easily stand alone, this one likely won’t hold the attention of readers unfamiliar with Mousse; it retains the whimsical watercolors, world-building that relies on homey details, and a lyrical, sophisticated translation from French, but it contains virtually no drama. While the adult creatures experience a moment of panic toward the end, the overall languid, gently humorous tone belies expectation of anything but a sweet conclusion.

An endearing, lowkey outing, though too understated for any but the most ardent series fans.