A Trip to the Bottom of the World with Mouse (Trips with Mouse)

by Frank Viva (Author) Frank Viva (Illustrator)

Reading Level: K − 1st Grade

2012 Cybils Award Winner.

There's so much to see at the bottom of the world! Young readers won't stop grinning as they're swept away by this strange and magical story. Frank Viva, the best-selling author of Along a Long Road, created this "outstanding" book (School Library Journal) after visiting Antarctica.

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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.

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

This charming voyage tale is based on Viva's (Along a Long Road) real-life Antarctic trip, which explains the otherwise unbelievable image of swimming in warm water at the bottom of the world. The distinctive color palette of slate blue-gray, black, cream, and burnt orange provides an otherworldly but extremely attractive vision. The simple story, full of imagination, is punctuated by Mouse's lists of things that can't be done on a boat in choppy waters (including draw!) or what to wear in the cold. Readers' creativity will be spurred by the recurring list structure, allowing them to envision their own additions. Although drawn in minimal style (evoking Viva's career as a cover artist, creating single, eye-catching images), with a flat, cut-paper feel to the art, beautiful vistas are conjured, especially of the small boat under an open starry sky. The penguins--four different types--are standouts. Like many children, Mouse spends much of his time wanting to go home, until he leaves, then he wants to go back. Readers will, too, again and again. Ages 4-up. (Sept.)

Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Starred Review

PreS-Gr 2--From the endpapers, Mouse asks the timeless question of many young travelers, "Are we there yet?" Inspired by Viva's experiences traveling to Antarctica aboard a Russian research ship, the oblong picture book offers basic facts about the region (it is cold and penguins live there, for instance), while Mouse tries to figure out when it will finally be time to go home. Viva's illustrations employ only primary colors, white, black, and gray, but in the best way. Every bit of space is used to tell the story, which is perfectly suited for storytimes, reading aloud, or even reader's theater. The text is simple enough for fairly new readers to tackle, and interesting. Picture clues are used to help with some of the vocabulary words. This book begs to be shared again and again. Pair it with one of Mo Willems's "Elephant & Piggie" books (Hyperion) and bring on the giggles. Outstanding.--Amy Commers, South St. Paul Public Library, MN

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes


Bold colors mixed with minimalist landscapes of glaciers, and ice bergs, against starry skylines, and shimmering expanses of sea make this book a pleasure to look at. And Mouse's worrisome antics keep things lively and fun.
—Apartment Therapy
Frank Viva
Frank Viva is an award-winning artist and designer who lives in Toronto, Ontario, with his family. Many decades ago he spent summers in Point Aconi, Nova Scotia, and while the story in this book is entirely fictional, Frank's memories of the place inspired it. Viva's other books include The New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book selection Along a Long Road, the Parents' Choice Award winner A Long Way Away, and TOON's Cybils award-winning A Trip to the Bottom of the World. His art has appeared in many places, including regularly on the cover of the New Yorker.
Classification
-
ISBN-13
9781943145232
Lexile Measure
240
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Toon Books
Publication date
April 03, 2018
Series
Trips with Mouse
BISAC categories
JUV008000 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | General
JUV002180 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Mice, Hamsters, Guinea Pigs, etc.
JUV030120 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | Polar Regions
Library of Congress categories
Mice
Animals
United States
Graphic novels
Comic books, strips, etc
Antarctica
Cybils
Winner 2012 - 2012

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