THE INCREDIBLE TALE OF THE MOUSE AND THE WHALE

An oceangoing mouse returns the favor after being rescued from stormy seas in Ferruzzi’s picture book.

Malcolm the city mouse is going to realize his dream of traveling to a tropical island. He has a grand time as a stowaway on an ocean liner until the waves get choppy and he tumbles overboard. All seems lost as Malcolm struggles to stay afloat, until a friendly whale recognizes his plight and invites him to safety inside his “cavernous mouth.” Once there, Malcolm discovers a plastic jug wedged inside the whale’s throat. (Luckily, Malcolm enlists the help of a passing dolphin and dislodges the jug.) The next challenge is getting Malcolm to his island paradise. This lively tale is told in smoothly rhyming text (Malcolm: “Please! The Whale’s life is in danger! / Would you Swim with this line / And help out a stranger?”) and complemented by Suchit’s impressive full-page illustrations: a deft mix of collage, photographic images, and cartoons. Malcolm’s adventures comprise the book’s first half, and then Ferruzzi introduces the second with a “let’s find a solution for ocean pollution” theme. The well-considered “Kids and Parents Activities Section” that follows is full of useful educational information about mammal life (predominantly mice and whales, of course). There’s also a vocabulary list, a link to a learning exercise about ocean pollution, links to educational websites, several health-conscious recipes, and more. The book also strikes just the right age-appropriate tone throughout.

Nicely illustrated and entertaining picture book with some thoughtful ecological messages.