An engaging mouse adventure with a solid moral.
A scared mouse finds a creative way to deal with a dangerous cat in this picture book.
Bespectacled mouse Teaky Squeaker is so frightened that she doesn’t want to leave her house. She’s also allergic to cheese. While many of her fears are imaginary, the big, red feline Ketchup poses a real threat. Determined to catch the mouse, Ketchup tries everything—and Teaky realizes she must do something about the cat. Although it means going outdoors, Teaky leads Ketchup to a place where felines are happy, and discovers there is much more of the world to see. Back in her domain, she copes with a wrecked house from Ketchup’s attacks. But “as she built her home anew, Teaky saw how much she grew.” Pasternak relates Teaky’s story in simple, rhyming phrases, offering a few challenging vocabulary words (stalked, scheme) for emergent readers. Many readers will note that the world is filled with perils and Teaky’s fears are well founded, but her ability to overcome them through cunning and determination should inspire youngsters. Silvani’s soft-edged cartoon illustrations show mice and cats of several different colors and clever, mouse-inspired cars. Ketchup is suitably scary in the Big Bad Wolf role, and Teaky’s grand plan, featuring a map filled with cheese-inspired names and the feline haven “Meowtopia,” is well drawn to convey the action of her escapade. Mouse versions of real landmarks that appear on Teaky’s journey add a humorous touch to the enjoyable tale.
An engaging mouse adventure with a solid moral.Pub Date: April 15, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-73725-951-0
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: Sept. 8, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.
Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.
A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.
This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-08-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
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