In this superb companion tale to Cecil’s Lucy (2016), the worlds of a moviegoing girl, an audacious mouse, and a crafty cat mingle and clash in Bloomville…The artist’s duotone-spun, vintage artwork recalls the quaint splendors of yesteryear, peppered with minor visual gags and worldbuilding details. Primary human characters present white. A splendiferous wowzer.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
The book is organized into four “acts,” and repetition is employed to interweave story lines and characters. The plot is well paced and smartly presented, with no more than a few sentences on each page. A thoughtful balance of image and text allows for gentle humor to emerge as readers follow the intrepid mouse’s adventures.
—The Horn Book
The book follows Douglas throughout the city, highlighting a variety of subplots—the one with a boy finding a companion in one of Douglas’ feline pursuers is particularly satisfying—and youngsters familiar with the eponymous Lucy of the last book will be happy to spot her here. While the vocabulary will likely stretch some kids’ skills, the focused illustrations and episodic “acts” make this an easy pick for transitional readers.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Cecil’s tale is reminiscent of Kate DiCamillo, Beverly Cleary, or any other author exploring the inner lives of animals and how they interact with a human world that can be big and scary, as well as full of love and friendship.
—School Library Journal
All types of readers will be rooting for the little mouse to make it home safely. It would make a great read aloud and teachers could use it as a catalyst for many creative projects. Since the story ends with Douglas back in Iris’s pocket, students could create new and original adventures of their own design either through writing, podcasting, or making videos.
—School Library Connection
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