Mousewing - Hardcover

Kindergarten-Grade 2 Youngmouse desperately wants to fly like Flittermouse the bat, but his parents greatly discourage such thoughts. One day Youngmouse climbs to the top of the house to try flying, but discovers that he has attracted Owl, who is about to pounce on the younger mice who have followed Youngmouse to the rooftop. Youngmouse tries a leap and glide, as if to fly, distracts Owl, and saves his mouse siblings. This mild fantasy gains some strength from the colorful, detailed illustrations which appear on every page, but not enough to fly. The use of the present tense is awkward and impersonal. The characters are just flat names with no personal identity. Children won't become involved in Youngmouse's excitement of flying, nor his fear of the Owl. Most will agree with Mothermouse, who basically brushes the whole event aside and says, ``No more wings.'' Nancy A. Gifford, Schenectady County Public Library, N.Y.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.