Word of Mouse

October 3, 2016
Born and raised in a lab, Isaiah the mouse has blue fur, is well-spoken, and can read and write. When he and his 96 siblings escape from the lab, Isaiah is the only one who eludes capture. After being taken in by a mischief of mice who live in the cellar of the Brophy family home, Isaiah becomes a valuable member of the family, outwitting the family cat and rescuing a mouse caught in a trap, among other exploits. As Isaiah comes to recognize his own skills, courage, and self-worth, he emboldens others, like Mikayla, a mouse with her own unacknowledged talent. Isaiah’s friendship with a human girl named Hailey (it’s implied that she has albinism) further drives home the novel’s themes of celebrating individuality and belief in oneself. Sutphin’s detailed line drawings pair perfectly with this sweet tale from the authors behind the Treasure Hunters books and other titles. Reminiscent of Garth Williams’s work in Stuart Little, the artwork helps set up Isaiah as a modern-day counterpart to that intrepid mouse. Ages 8–12. Illustrator’s agent: Ed Maxwell, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates.

Narrator Nate Begle does authors Patterson and Grabenstein proud. He infuses their hero, an escaped blue lab rat named Isaiah, with an exuberant, inquisitive, and persistent personality--surely what the authors had in mind. Isaiah explores the human world as he searches for his family, all the while offering insight into humankind and animals. While listeners initially may find Begle's mouse a bit squeaky and artificial, as Isaiah's quest to find his 96 siblings progresses, Begle's register lowers, making him a more convincing mouse. Isaiah's love of words and ability to talk, type, and orate are sure to win over listeners. Equally charming is Hailey, a human Isaiah befriends. Supporting characters have distinctive voices as well--especially the brown non-lab mouse, Mikayla, and the bumbling caretaker of the lab, Mr. Brophy. A.R. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine