REVIEWS+

Welcome Home, Mouse

by Elisa Kleven
32p. 978-1-58246-277-6.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 1—A sweet story of an eager-to-please but clumsy young elephant. Stanley wants to assist his mother in the kitchen but is more of a hindrance than a help, so she sends him to the store for tomatoes. On the way, he accidentally smashes a mouse's pumpkin home. The poor mouse has lost everything and Stanley pledges to fix his mistake. Employing his imagination, he picks up a variety of items including walnut shells, acorn caps, a lace doily, a bottle cap, and an assortment of items from the recycle bin on his porch. Beginning with the tomato box, he creatively uses his found objects to construct a cozy home for his grateful new friend. The fascinating illustrations made from watercolors, ink, pastels, and colored pencils feature two simply drawn plump gray elephants and a small tan mouse placed on intricately assembled collage backgrounds. The collages appear to include postage stamps, a braided rug, wallpaper, pieces of quilts and pottery as well as hand-cut leaves. Using one's imagination, repairing a mistake, and making a new friend are some of the themes contained in this charming story.—Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI
Stanley, an elephant child with a reputation for clumsiness, is dismayed when he accidentally ruins Mouse's house. Satisfyingly, the new house he builds from a cardboard box and other found objects brings Stanley recognition for his cleverness--and for his kindness, too. In the joyful detailed collages, readers get a close-up look at Mouse's new home, with its ingenious mini-accessories.
Welcome Home, Mouse is a joyful celebration of creativity, generosity, and friendship. Lovingly detailed artwork will draw children back to the book again and again. Elisa Kleven’s collage illustrations are a rich tapestry of color, texture, and pattern. The plot reads as a how-to for Kleven’s artistic process. Stanley collects small objects throughout the story, and pieces them together to make a beautiful new home for Mouse. Children, in turn, may be inspired to create their own collages or dioramas. Stanley’s clumsiness is embarrassing for him, but amusing to the reader. When the grocer sees Stanley coming, she “whisk[s] a crate of eggs out of the way.” When the baker sees him, he politely asks Stanley to wait outside: “Remember last time, when you toppled that wedding cake?” Kleven shows that good deeds matter a whole lot more than mistakes. Stanley’s clumsiness costs Mouse her home, but Stanley’s thoughtfulness gives her both a new home and a new friendship.

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?