Brave as a Mouse

April 1, 2021
A goldfish in danger is the subject of action-packed, mouse-hatched rescue plans. In a very quiet house, a fish (known only as "the fish") accepts an invitation from Mouse to play. The fish splashes about as Mouse uses a straw to blow bubbles. The fun is interrupted by a trio of black cats, ready to make the fish their feast. The white and brown mouse, who turns out to be the resourceful ringleader of a small group of mice, gets an idea. "It was a wild idea. It was a bold idea. It was a brave idea. But was it a good idea?" The idea involves leading the cats into a pantry well-stocked with kibble, then collecting the fish in a teacup in order to transport it to a nearby river for release. For a story with so much action, it all feels remarkably restrained, with a minimum of small-font text and no embellishments like wild sound-effect wording or exaggerated action. Aside from the rescue itself (mice delicately balancing a fish in a teacup), the story is told with a beautifully rendered realism, every illustration using subtle shadows and muted pastels to give the tale a strong sense of place, even when the action goes outdoors. For some readers, it may be a little too muted, but it's hard to quibble with such gorgeous visuals. Plus, the ending wraps up definitively and wordlessly without overstaying its welcome (or adding any cautions about the inadvisability or illegality of releasing goldfish into nearby waterways). It's all very efficient. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.) A contained action story, told more through realistic visuals than unnecessary text and adornments. (Picture book. 3-7)

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April 15, 2021
Preschool-Grade 2 *Starred Review* Mouse and Goldfish are great friends, frolicking happily until three cats appear. What to do? Mouse has a bold, brave (but not necessarily good) idea: he leads the felines on a frantic chase through the house, ending inside the pantry. Is it the end for Mouse? Luckily, no, as the cats discover big bags of their favorite food. While the felines are distracted, Mouse and some pantry mice concoct a scheme to permanently save Goldfish by carrying him in a teacup to a nearby river. Italian illustrator Carozzi's U.S. picture-book debut is stunning, filled with simple text, stirring suspense, and frameworthy art. Rendered in graphite pencil on paper, the illustrations exhibit a classic, realistic style and make effective use of shadows and reflections, light and dark, and unusual perspectives. Depicted in a palette of grays and earth tones with blue accents, the characters are lifelike in both appearance and action. Carozzi's most effective technique, however, is his ability to pause the action at climactic points, forcing readers to wait (sometimes beyond a single page turn) before being reassured that all is well. The repetition of text ("It was a wild idea. It was a bold idea. It was a brave idea . . . Was it a good idea?") also adds to the drama, making this an ideal read-aloud, even for squirmy toddlers.

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