Holm, Jennifer L. and Matthew. 2005. Babymouse: Queen of the World. New York: Random House Children's Books. ISBN 9780375832291
Babymouse loves adventure, glamour, and excitement. She wants to be popular and queen of the world! However, her middle school life is the exact opposite. Felicia Furrypaws is the perfect and popular girl who everyone adores. In her quest to be recognized by the most popular girl in school, Babymouse realizes that her life is wonderful and exciting just the way it is and that Felicia is not as wonderful as she seems to be.
Critical Analysis
The setting is middle school, with all the worries of being popular, stylish, and accepted by others. The plot is simple in that Babymouse, the heroine, wants to be popular like Felicia Furrypaws and will do whatever it takes to be invited to her party. This simple story reveals the universal truths that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence and that anything that requires one to be untrue to oneself or loved ones is not worth it. What makes this story unique are the animal characters that speak and act like humans and the fact that this is a graphic novel geared towards girls. The animals have human problems that elementary or middle school children can easily identify with. Pictures tell most of the story with words used as dialogue, for sound effect, or to set a scene or mood. The illustrations portray the personalities of the characters well and move the story along nicely. The authors have a unique sense of style that portrays typical school characters in humorous ways: Babymouse the dreamer, Felicia in all her “perfectness,” and Wilson the Weasel, the perfect best friend. For example, Babymouse has an extremely vivid imagination and daydreams every chance that she gets. Each occurrence in her life is subject to some hilarious fantasy.
This novel appeals to elementary school kids. My seven-year-old is asking me to read it to her again as I write this review. Our favorite parts of the book are the daydreams of Babymouse: one moment she is Cinderella wanting to go to the slumber party, and the next moment she is being attacked by a giant squid “in Mouse-Vision!”
Awards Won & Review Excerpts
- Gryphon Award, 2006 - Honor Book
- Booklist Top 10 Graphic Novels for Youth, 2006
- Core Collection: Great Graphic Novels for Younger Readers, 2006 - American Library Association
- Notable Children's Books, 2006 - ALSC American Library Association
- Booklist: "The Holms spruce up some well-trod ground with breathless pacing and clever flights of Babymouse's imagination, and their manic, pink-toned illustrations of Babymouse and her cohorts vigorously reflect the internal life of any million-ideas-a-minute middle-school student."
- Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices: "Babymouse will be met with open arms by libraries everywhere that are anxious to meet high demand for graphic novels, and especially eager to find good choices for younger readers."
- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books: "Graphic novels for the early elementary set are rare, and this humorous and adventurous series will be snapped up."
- Try other books in the Babymouse series:
Babymouse: Beach Babe. ISBN 0375832319
Babymouse: Rock Star. ISBN 0375832327
- Other graphic novels that may appeal to elementary age female children:
Russell, P. Craig. Coraline. ISBN 9780060825430
Hale, Shannon, Dean and Nathan. Rapunzel's Revenge. ISBN 9781599900704
- Manga clubs for elementary age children are a rarity. Try starting one up where children can read, discuss, and share their favorites.
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