Wednesday, October 10, 2012

A Trip to the Bottom of the World With Mouse (CYBILS Nominee)

Beginning readers are in for a treat with this latest Level One comic from TOON Books. Frank Viva, of 2011's Along a Long Road fame, presents the seafaring adventures of a young boy and his pet mouse as they travel to the bottom of the world, aka Antarctica.

From the first panel Mouse is not an enthusiastic passenger. He wants to go home and he pesters the boy repeatedly with his request. After riding roller coaster waves, viewing all kinds of penguins, being splashed by a whale, and swimming in warm thermal waters, the boy is finally ready to head for home. So naturally Mouse's last request is "Can we go back there soon?"

Visually, the book is a feast for the eyes with spread after spread of stylized graphics and a subdued yet striking palette.


An author's note relates that Frank Viva actually took a trip to the Antarctic Peninsula (sans Mouse I assume) which explains for the vivid details--like swimming in the waters of a submerged volcano. Since a trip to the bottom of the world isn't in the cards for most young readers, this book is the next best thing.

A Trip to the Bottom of the World with Mouse
by Frank Viva
Toon Books, 32 pages
Published: September 2012

5 comments:

  1. I really liked A Long, Long Road and my son really likes Toon books, so this is the perfect combination. Thanks for linking up to The Children's Bookshelf. I'm pinning this to TCB's Pinterest board, too.

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  3. Oh, this book sounds divine. I WANT to find myself a copy.

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