  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 10/01/2016 Gr 2–4—Henry Whiskers lives in Queen Mary's historical dollhouse at Windsor Castle. In fact, 25 generations of Whiskers have resided at the dollhouse. But now that renovations are being made, the Whiskers must evacuate their home. Henry, along with his best friend, who happens to be his cousin Jeremy, goes on an adventure to rescue his sister Isabel from the rats who live in Rat Alley. It is dangerous, and Henry must summon great courage. Along the way he makes unexpected friends and learns there is more to the world than meets the eye. Henry is a lovable character who is loyal and brave. The text flows well, making this selection ideal for either independent readers or for classroom read-alouds. Black-and-white spot illustrations open each short chapter. VERDICT Fast-paced and sure to appeal to young fans of animal adventure.—H. Islam, Brooklyn Public Library - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Bulletin for the Center... - 01/01/2017 The Whiskers family of mice has a pretty sweet deal: for the last twenty-five generations, they’ve lived in the famous dollhouse of England’s Queen Mary (originally constructed in the 1920s) in all its grandeur. Of course, they can’t actually be there during the day as tourists to Windsor Castle view the miniature exhibit, so they spend much of their time with the mice that live in the castle proper. Henry Whiskers and his pal Jeremy are party prepping for the Whiskers’ Annual Mouse Masquerade (which coincides with Her Majesty’s birthday celebrations) when Henry’s little sister, Isabel, is accidentally taken away to the basement along with dollhouse furniture needing repair. Now Henry must leave the safety of home and confront a ravenous cat and some pretty mean rats to rescue Isabel and get her back in time for the party. A snappy pace, a sweet rodent protagonist, and a thrilling but not so scary adventure make this reminiscent of The Mouse and the Motorcycle. The details of the house’s miniature pieces will be a hit with the dollhouse crowd, and the transformation of bookish, shy Henry to lauded hero will be pure wish fulfillment for other kids, regardless of their opinions on rodents, queens, or dolls. Final art not seen. KQG - Copyright 2017 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Booklist - 12/01/2016 Little does the Queen of England know that all 149 members of the Whiskers family live in Windsor Castle. Henry Whisker’s family is responsible for the elaborate dollhouse with its working cars, plumbing, electricity, and readable books. Plucky Henry and his ever-hungry cousin Jeremy must clean the dollhouse for the Annual Mouse Masquerade, held during the Queen’s birthday celebration. When the dollhouse is suddenly closed and Henry’s littlest sister, Isabel, goes missing, Henry and Jeremy must brave a gang of nasty rats, oblivious humans, and a vicious cat to rescue Isabel and save the day. The first in a series, miniature-world aficionados will gravitate toward the compelling setting and fascinating details of this old-fashioned adventure. While it’s slow to start, once the action begins, it’s nonstop. Though the time period is vague, the cartoonish black-and-white spot illustrations show mice in suits and vintage cars. Note: the old-fashioned tone extends to the gender roles, which are traditionally defined. Fans of classic mouse adventures will find much to love in this new series. - Copyright 2016 Booklist. Loading...
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