  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 09/01/2017 K-Gr 2When a little mouse gets gobbled up by a hungry wolf, all seems lost until he makes an unexpected friend in the belly of the beast: a duck that may have been swallowed but has "no intention of being eaten." Indeed, life is not so bad inside the wolf. There's a comfortable bed, a grand dining room table, and a fully functional chef's kitchen. As the duck explains to the bewildered mouse, "You'd be surprised what you find inside a wolf." No longer do these small creatures worry about being devoured; they can sit back and relax in their confinement. They even conspire to get the wolf to down some good wine and cheese. Their wining and dining soon gives their host a terrible stomachache, attracting the attention of a hunter. Suddenly, all three lives are at risk and the new friends must act quickly to save themselves—and their safe and swanky new digs. Barnett's shrewd wit and subtle sense of irony come across expertly in short, snappy sentences, while the repeated refrain of "Oh woe!" and the pourquoi-tale ending lend the story a folkloric tone. Klassen's mixed-media art has a collagelike quality; the main characters and set pieces appear as cutouts placed against richly textured backgrounds of deep browns and black, with golden touches of pink and ocher, adding to the sense that readers are watching a dramatic play unfold. VERDICT Reminiscent of classic animal fables, with this winning team's signature humor and charm, this is a first purchase for any picture book collection.—Kiera Parrott, School Library Journal - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 09/15/2017 *Starred Review* Gobbled up by a passing wolf, a woodland mouse bemoans his fate—that is, until his wailing awakens the stomach’s resident duck, cozily tucked in a bed. The duck then invites the mouse to a candlelit breakfast of toast and jam, laid out on a tastefully set table. Kids will already be giggling over the stomach’s unexpected amenities (“You’d be surprised what you find inside of a wolf,” says the duck), as the mouse marvels at his new surroundings. The pair have an excellent day together, cooking and talking, and when the duck points out the advantageous lack of predators in the wolf’s belly, the mouse concedes that this life is pretty good. But when their impromptu dance party gives the wolf a painful stomachache, his moans attract a nearby hunter. Sensing trouble, the duck and mouse sally forth to protect their home in spectacularly hysterical fashion. Barnett and Klassen’s collaborations are always good for a laugh, and this one banks heavily on absurdity, to great effect. Klassen’s mixed-media artwork transforms the wolf’s interior into a delightfully domestic scene, and Barnett’s writing is peppered with amusing details. This original pourquoi tale will make a fantastic choice for storytimes, as kids will want to dance along with the duck and mouse—when they’re not rolling in the aisles, of course. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Beloved, acclaimed, and best-selling—anything by this duo is going to go fast. - Copyright 2017 Booklist. Loading...
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