TOBEY THE BUSINESS MOUSE
by Elinor Shklaz ; illustrated by C.S. Fritz
A business-mouse encourages a human girl to pursue her dreams in this picture-book pep talk.
Rodent Tobey lives in a dollhouse owned by a nameless young girl, and the pair are best friends. Sometimes the mouse, wearing a tie and carrying a briefcase, goes away on business trips, but he’s always around when the girl needs him. One day, when she confesses how it makes her sad when other kids are mean to her, he encourages her by saying her future is bright, as she can be anything she wants. Tobey shows this by dressing the part for a number of careers, including an astronomer and Supreme Court judge, and he reminds her, “Don’t let anyone make you feel small / (Actually, you’re pretty tall!).” Debut author Shklaz varies the rhyme scheme several times, but the rhymes are solid, and the changing patterns consistently scan well. Some unusual words (Madame, conquering) may encourage newly independent readers to expand their vocabularies, and lap readers will be entertained by Fritz’s colorful cartoon illustrations. Tobey’s expressive features and the wide array of costumes will inspire giggles, and textured backgrounds add depth. Readers looking for another book about exploring careers or ignoring bullies may find this an uplifting addition to those crowded fields.
A pleasant tale for animal lovers looking for a heartening pick-me-up.