BABYMOUSE: PUPPY LOVE by Jennifer & Matthew Holm Book Review

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Holm, Jennifer L. & Matthew. 2007. BABYMOUSE PUPPY LOVE. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780375839900

2. PLOT SUMMARY

After her fifth fish dies, Babymouse begs her mom for another pet that she can actually play with. Unfortunately, even though she has good intentions, Babymouse does not have good pet care skills. She begins with a hamster, which escapes after the cage door was left open. Over the course of the next week, Babymouse manages to buy and lose all of her new pets, including a turtle, ferret, salamander, hermit crab, Venus flytrap, sea monkeys and even an entire ant farm. Unbeknownst to her, all of the pets are living the good life under her bed! Eventually, she finds a stray dog and convinces her mother to keep it until the owner is found. After many disasters such as eaten shoes, Babymouse does a wonderful job of training her new dog only to lose her back to the original owner.

3. CRITITAL ANALYSIS

Young girls everywhere will quickly fall in love with Babymouse’s character because of the innocent way she “messes up”. Just as many adolescent girls do, Babymouse usually makes many mistakes and does not accomplish her tasks the first time she attempts them. This mistake driven character helps readers develop a kinship with her. The detailed illustrations alone could tell the story. Children will love the various expressions and surprises found in the artwork, thus creating a larger appeal to this graphic novel. Even though this is a children’s book, Jennifer and Matthew Holm also did a wonderful job of adding just enough humor to appeal to the adults as well. The simple portrayal of Babymouse “listening” to her mother as the information goes in one ear and out the other will make every parent smile as they picture their own child doing this same thing.

   

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

CURLED UP WITH A GOOD KID’S BOOK review: “Readers connect to this character because she views each opportunity as an adventure, a chance to embrace what lies before her and worry about the consequences later on. As her reading audience runs alongside Babymouse to see what's around the next corner, they become infected with her excitement and anticipation.”

BABYMOUSE SERIES:

            *Winner of 2006 Gryphon Award

            *Winner of 2006 ALA Notable Children’s Book

            *Winner of 2006 New York Book Show Award

5. CONNECTIONS

*After reading this book, children can create their own comic strips in a simpler format. Students can choose a story and identify 5 main parts. After illustrating each of these main parts, children can add speech bubbles for the dialogue. The strips can be hung in sequential order for all to see.

*Students can have a booktalk over a time when they tried to persuade their parents to allow them to buy/do something.

*Other books in series by Jennifer & Matthew Holm:

#1 BABYMOUSE: QUEEN OF THE WORLD

#2 BABYMOUSE: OUR HERO

#3 BABYMOUSE: BEACH BABE

#4 BABYMOUSE: ROCK STAR

#5 BABYMOUSE: HEARTBREAKER

#6 BABYMOUSE: CAMP BABYMOUSE

#7 BABYMOUSE: SKATER GIRL

#9 BABYMOUSE: MONSTER MASH

#10 BABYMOUSE: THE MUSICAL

#11 BABYMOUSE: DRAGONSLAYER

#12 BABYMOUSE BURNS RUBBER

#13 BABYMOUSE: CUPCAKE TYCOON