Babymouse: Queen of the World (Module 6)

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Holm, Jennifer L. and Matthew Holm. 2005. Babymouse: Queen of the World. New York: Random House. ISBN: 9781415643990.



2. PLOT SUMMARY

Babymouse just wants to be popular (i.e. “Queen of the World”) and would do anything to get invited to Felica Furrypaw’s slumber party because Felicia is the most popular girl in school. Anything includes giving her book report to Felicia to turn in as her own and Babymouse ditching her best friend at the last minute. Babymouse finds out, though, that friends are better when they are made rather than bought and being queen is not about being popular but being loved.


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This brother and sister team have a great style of allowing Babymouse to jump into fantasy scenes whenever her imagination takes her away. We get to see Babymouse living in fairy tales (Cinderella), deep space, a Western, etc. These secondary fantasy worlds add a great layer to the first fantasy world in which all animals talk, walk on two legs, and go to school together. The school itself is relateable to readers as it parallels contemporary times with lockers, classrooms, desks, and book reports.

Each page is filled with personality from the words to the drawings. Little descriptions, such as that Babymouse is “stuck with curly whiskers,” make the text fun to read. The black-white-and-pink illustrations are adorable and really bring life to the characters.

Kids will really get this graphic novel on the classic theme of friendship. The Holm’s bring a fresh take to it and allow for us to see that real friends do things for you, not just take from you, which is more important than being popular any day.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)


• ALA Notable Book
• Booklist review: “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.”
• Horn Book starred review: “Babymouse is here to stay, and fans of Fashion Kitty and Captain Underpants will now add her to their collection of well-thumbed volumes to read over and over again.”
• Kirkus review: “Young readers will happily fall in line to follow Babymouse through both ordinary pratfalls (“Typical!” is her watchword) and extraordinary flights of fancy.”
• Publishers Weekly review: “This personable, self-conscious mouse, with her penchant for pink hearts, resembles Kevin Henkes's Lilly, with some extra years of grade-school experience.”
• School Library Journal review: “Babymouse, with her black-and-white-and-pink peppered palette, to anyone who thinks that comics are enjoyed primarily by boys.”



5. CONNECTIONS

• 
Babymouse has her own fun website filled with games, a sing-along song, printable pages, and a make your own adventure. It also features information about graphic novels. This website can definitely raise what is already sure to be an enthusiastic love for Babymouse.
  
• Suggested by the Babymouse website, Sidekicks is a graphic novel review website that will appeal to kids and adults. It can help kids find more of what they like and help parents, teachers, or librarians know what’s out there in the world of graphic novels.

• Other graphic novel series sure to charm Babymouse fans: (Multiple ISBNs)


Holm, Jennifer and Mike Holm. Squish: Super Amoeba.

Harper, Charise Mericle. Fashion Kitty Series.

Runton, Andy. Owly Series.

Sonoda, Konami. Chocomimi Series.