Mr. Postmouse's Rounds

June 1, 2015
In a story that, like Richard Scarry’s work, offers an abundance of curiosity-piquing domestic details to consider, readers follow a small mouse postal carrier making his rounds. A gentle silliness pervades Dubuc’s (The Bus Ride) tidily drafted cartoons, but coy references to fairy tales, nursery rhymes, and animal biology are also apparent. A cutaway view of Mr. Bear’s home reveals a rooftop beehive and a calendar that appears to be counting down until hibernation time. And is that Goldilocks he’s enjoying porridge with? Mr. Snake’s skinny dwelling stretches across five pages, with heat lamps hanging throughout, hinting at his ectothermic nature. (Also, he evidently has swallowed an automobile.) Underground homes belonging to Mrs. Mole, an ant colony, and the Rabbits reveal burrows filled with digging implements, sweet treats, and bunk beds. There’s some understated humor in Dubuc’s captionlike text—“This one is a bit worrying,” she says of the package delivered to a chicken coop (a fox’s snout, feet, and tail poke out from the box)—but it’s the sweetly and smartly imagined details of her animal neighborhood that make the story so delightful. Ages 3–7.

Starred review from May 15, 2015
A dedicated postal worker, who happens to be a small mouse, makes the daily deliveries in a lively dispatch from Dubuc. Mr. Postmouse is a busy worker; he tirelessly pulls a wagon stacked high with packages for the animal residents who make up his daily route. That means climbing ladders to get to the Birds' several homes, scaling snowy peaks for the Mountain Goats, and hoping that scary Mr. Snake isn't receiving anything today. The double-page spreads that make up each leg of the journey are rendered in sneakily detailed cross-sections of the interiors of these homes. The Rabbit family's house, with carrots planted in the roof, leads to underground rooms that feature high-stacked bunk beds and, amusingly, a toilet in use. Mr. Snake's hothouse home stretches over multiple pages, while the Ants have a predictably busy belowground infrastructure. Young readers may miss a few jokes, allusions, and background stories along the way, but it's all the more reason to revisit Mr. Postmouse's mail duties again. The scenes playing out in the various tableaux are playful but never cutesy. Mr. Postmouse's fear of Mr. Snake and the stacked sheep inside Mr. Wolf's home allude to dangers in the animal world that Mr. Postmouse seems adept at avoiding. Like a mailbox overstuffed with gifts, Dubuc's animal scenes are a delight and well worth the wait. (Picture book. 3-7)

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September 1, 2015

PreS-Gr 2-Who will deliver Mrs. Turtle's new roller skates? Who could possibly be brave enough to swim past a shark and deliver a package to a clownfish? A family of stinky skunks needs their air freshener, but how will it ever reach them? Mr. Postmouse, of course! Follow Mr. Postmouse as he delivers the mail: all the way from the post office, through the forest village, past the dragon's den, to the tip-top of a mountain and back again. Filled with thoughtful, clever details and whimsical, folksy illustrations, Mr. Postmouse's Rounds will delight older and younger readers alike as they peer into imaginative cut-away views of the underground world of rabbits, turtles, dragons, bats, penguins, and other animal friends. Best of all, there's a surprise for Mr. Postmouse when he returns home at the end of the story. Imaginations will feast on the lively vignettes and playful personalities of these creatures and their special residences. While the text remains minimal and easy to follow, the main draw is the artwork, which will have independent readers poring over page after page of visual glee. Simple text and highly detailed illustrations are interwoven to create scenes that will spark discussions, fostering vocabulary development and narrative skills. VERDICT Delightful and charming characters at every turn make this an exceptional addition to any picture book collection.-Natalie Braham, Denver Public Library

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2015
Preschool-G Friendly and efficient Mr. Postmouse starts his Monday mail rounds, toting a letter sack and pulling a wagon of packages. But it's not the spare text that tells the real story. Fans of Richard Scarry will enjoy the adorable, detailed mixed-media illustrations that provide inside views of each creature's dwelling, reveal fun traits, and even set up visual jokes. For instance, Mr. Bear shares a bowl of porridge with Goldilocks while a calendar marks down the days of autumn. Mr. Snake's house, complete with heat lamps, stretches several pages. A secret room at the Birds' tree house holds a thieving crow's stash, while three pigs help sheep escape from Mr. Wolf's house. There are more unusual homes, including Mrs. Fly's roomy dung pile and Mrs. Turtle's mobile home. And it's not just animals who receive mail. Mr. Postmouse has time to stop for a barbecue lunch at Mr. Dragon's lair. As he finishes with a present for his son, young readers will want to start again, savoring every tiny detail.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)