A Trip to the Bottom of the World with Mouse

“Are we there yet?” This familiar refrain, usually heard from the backseat of a car, is the first text that appears (on the front endpapers) in this easy-to-read picture book, very loosely based on the author’s trip to Antarctica. Mouse, with a human friend, reluctantly embarks on a sea voyage to a frigid clime. In the midst of adventure (“Look at the big sky!...Look! What is that? It’s a whale!”), the small creature -- seasick, cold, and wet -- repeatedly asks: “Can we go home now?” New readers will grab onto that pattern like a life preserver and enjoy the humor in Mouse’s wild ride. Viva’s thoughtful comic-panel design includes quarter-page frames for quick patter and full pages for the man to patiently explain, “Not yet, Mouse.” The short, funny questions and answers will help new readers build confidence with each page turn. Color and design, rather than detailed pictures, set the scene, with strong shapes and a limited palette, including icy blue, subdued red, and off-white. By the final endpapers, readers will be gratified to discover that Mouse has come full circle: “Can we go back there soon?” Children will want to go back soon, too. robin l. smith