Lindbergh: The Tale of a Flying Mouse (Mouse Adventures)

In a project that seamlessly blends elements of a picture book, comic, and novel, gifted newcomer Kuhlmann imagines that the world's first transatlantic flight was made not by Charles Lindbergh, but by an intrepid German mouse flying in the opposite direction, starting from Hamburg. Driven to desperation by the deaths of many of his compatriots in newly invented mousetraps, the mouse decides to head for America: "A huge statue greeted all who arrive there, whether human or mouse." Squads of guardian cats rule out ship journeys, and the mouse begins experimenting with flying machines. Kuhlmann makes every detail of the mouse's endeavor look and sound delightfully plausible, from his da Vinci-like working sketches to his plan to hoist his plane to the top of a tower by attaching it to the gears of the tower's clock. The fragility of his machine and the owls that watch him like sentinels at every step give the story constant tension: the owls' golden eyes are painted with eerie menace. It's all terrific entertainment, and the fame Kuhlmann imagines for the mouse when he finally succeeds ("The Transatlantic Rodent Hero" trumpets a billboard) inspires a future famous aviator--or so Kuhlmann claims. An exceptionally fine debut. Ages 4-up. (May)

Gr 2-6--In this gorgeous sepia-toned adventure, a heroic little German mouse must escape the terrifying and fatal clutches of the mousetraps in his homeland. He decides to make his way to America. The notion of a sea voyage is quickly abandoned when he narrowly escapes the sharp claws of a hungry cat guarding the pier. Soon after, he is inspired by his flying cousins--bats--and decides to invent an apparatus to fly across the sea to the land of freedom. After several failed attempts and a close call with a formidable owl, the mouse succeeds--piloting a tiny aircraft, goggles atop his diminutive head, map in hand. His daring flight becomes famous in his new country and inspires a young boy named Charles Lindbergh. Kuhlmann's stirring illustrations are the true star here--capturing the darkness and danger of the creature's native land as well as the light and breadth of his transatlantic journey. Minute details in the intrepid rodent's facial expressions and body language will immediately draw in readers who gravitate to animal stories, while the careful attention to machinery and architecture will encourage repeated viewings. So strong is the visual narrative that the text is almost superfluous; this book can be enjoyed wordlessly. Back matter that includes a short history of aviation rounds out this rich offering. --Kiera Parrott, School Library Journal