I CAN'T HELP A BIG BEAR!

In Blu’s children’s book, a mouse goes on a journey and learns to help others despite being very small.

Brassy Mouse starts by introducing young readers to his family, his desire to help others, and all the troubles that come with being small. The protagonist is determined to prove his worth, so he sets out from home on an adventure in the woods. After traveling far enough away to begin to feel scared, Brassy Mouse takes a tumble and ends up on top of a bear’s head. It turns out that Big Bear’s foot is stuck in a trap, and he desperately asks the young rodent for help. Brassy Mouse replies, “I’m too small to help you!” but soon realizes that fetching water for the bear to drink is easy enough. The mouse then asks Mr. Eagle to fly off to get more assistance, urges Mrs. Beaver to remove the trap, and talks to Big Bear to keep him from falling asleep. Because this is a children’s book, readers can easily predict that the ending will be pleasant: Big Bear gets help from multiple animals, and Brassy Mouse is happy and proud of himself. Blu clearly seeks to embolden young children to help others, noting that “YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE BIG TO HELP SOMEONE IN NEED!” To that end, the book presents a series of educational first-aid strategies for kids faced with serious situations. Overall, however, it feels more like a pedagogical exercise than an engaging story. Gooliaff’s full-color illustrations aren’t especially endearing or stirring, and because there’s so much text, there isn’t much room for the images to add to the narrative. However, the detailed art will keep young eyes busy.

An unevenly executed kids’ book with a straightforward message of empowerment.