  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 04/01/2014 Gr 2–6—In this gorgeous sepia-toned adventure, a heroic little German mouse must escape the terrifying and fatal clutches of the mousetraps in his homeland. He decides to make his way to America. The notion of a sea voyage is quickly abandoned when he narrowly escapes the sharp claws of a hungry cat guarding the pier. Soon after, he is inspired by his flying cousins—bats—and decides to invent an apparatus to fly across the sea to the land of freedom. After several failed attempts and a close call with a formidable owl, the mouse succeeds—piloting a tiny aircraft, goggles atop his diminutive head, map in hand. His daring flight becomes famous in his new country and inspires a young boy named Charles Lindbergh. Kuhlmann's stirring illustrations are the true star here—capturing the darkness and danger of the creature's native land as well as the light and breadth of his transatlantic journey. Minute details in the intrepid rodent's facial expressions and body language will immediately draw in readers who gravitate to animal stories, while the careful attention to machinery and architecture will encourage repeated viewings. So strong is the visual narrative that the text is almost superfluous; this book can be enjoyed wordlessly. Back matter that includes a short history of aviation rounds out this rich offering. —Kiera Parrott, School Library Journal - Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 06/01/2014 A curious, inventive mouse is horrified by Europe’s latest contraption—the mousetrap. The streets of his city are soon dangerous and empty of his fellow rodents, victims of either the traps or the now-hungry predators. Determined to flee to safety in America, the little mouse starts planning his escape, but it’s not until he sees a bat—a flying rodent, after all—that his ideas start to take shape. Following a trajectory mirroring the actual history of aviation, the little mouse makes several blunders before building himself a tiny, single-seater plane, which he promptly flies across the Atlantic—solo, no less—only to arrive in America a mini celebrity. Kuhlmann’s detailed and realistic watercolor-and-pencil illustrations seamlessly blend sweeping architectural backgrounds, technical drawings of each contraption, and dramatic predators looming large over the tiny aviator, all rendered in compelling layouts and a natural-toned palette. Though the plentiful pictures might suggest a young readership, the small print and more advanced vocabulary make this best suited to an extended read-aloud. - Copyright 2014 Booklist. Loading...
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