Little Mouse is heading off with his friend on a trip. On a big boat to where large icy floats abound.
It's a long way. The ocean is lumpy bumpy. It's cold. The sky is really big There are strange creatures.
All the way there, Mouse can't help asking - 'Can we go home now?'
No, they can't go home yet. They are on a voyage and little Mouse is just going to have to cope. And enjoy. And marvel. And push outside his comfort zone to see and witness and experience one of the most phenomenal places on earth.
And--so he does.
This book was inspired by Frank Viva's own trip to the Antarctic Peninsula aboard a Russian research vessel. Described by the author as a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, he saw whales and penguins and swam in the thermal waters of an underwater volcano. Not even endless sea sickness dampened his incredible experience.
The graphic-design style illustrations in this book are clean, beautifully-produced and an absolute joy to behold. I love the passion and cleverness of this tale, it's clever additional 'facts' so seamlessly woven into the storyline, and the warm, humorous ending that so typifies the way children (in this case, the mouse), think.
One of my favourite books this year, even though it's a 2012 release.
If you would like to write the perfect children's picture book, seek our Frank's work.
Title: A Trip to the Bottom of the World With Mouse
Author/Illustrator: Frank Viva
Publisher: Toon Books, $26.99 RRP
Publication Date: 25 September 2012
Format: Hard cover, small
ISBN: 9781935179191
For ages: 3 - 8
Type: Picture Book
