A Trip To the Top of the Volcano with Mouse: TOON Level 1 (Trips with Mouse)

“This charming voyage tale is based on Viva’s (Along a Long Road) real-life Antarctic trip, which explains the otherwise unbelievable image of swimming in warm water at the bottom of the world. The distinctive color palette of slate blue–gray, black, cream, and burnt orange provides an otherworldly but extremely attractive vision. The simple story, full of imagination, is punctuated by Mouse’s lists of things that can’t be done on a boat in choppy waters (including draw!) or what to wear in the cold. Readers’ creativity will be spurred by the recurring list structure, allowing them to envision their own additions. Although drawn in minimal style (evoking Viva’s career as a cover artist, creating single, eye-catching images), with a flat, cut-paper feel to the art, beautiful vistas are conjured, especially of the small boat under an open starry sky. The penguins—four different types—are standouts. Like many children, Mouse spends much of his time wanting to go home, until he leaves, then he wants to go back. Readers will, too, again and again.”—Publishers Weekly

Join Mouse and a young explorer as they prepare to climb Mount Etna. Help them list what they’ll need: “walking sticks,” “mountain boots,” “sunglasses...” “Can I have pepperoni?” asks Mouse. From sea to snow, young readers will giggle with delight as they experience the magical world drawn by Frank Viva. Over and over again, the bestselling author of Young Frank, Architect will make them relive the unforgettable journey he took to the top of one of the world’s most active volcanoes.

PreS-Gr 2-Viva's companion to 2012's A Trip to the Bottom of the World with Mouse takes readers to the very top of the world: an active volcano. Mouse and his human companion travel by plane to Italy's Mount Etna. Hungry Mouse badgers his friend for pizza as he learns how cold it will be to hike up the volcano. At the bottom of Mount Etna, the two discuss the trees growing in the soil. "Olives! Grapes! Oranges! Almonds!" shrieks Mouse. Large, predictive text matches the illustrations well, and a clever cutaway of Mount Etna educates children about volcanoes. Mouse sweetly points out the volcano's similarities to pizza, which will elicit a giggle or two from readers. The palette is beautifully simple; relying on black, cream, red, orange, gray, blue, and brown, Viva depicts a stunning and believable world. VERDICT This latest outing with Mouse is an exemplary choice for emergent readers, graphic novel lovers, and curious kids eager to learn about volcanoes (and pizza).-Amy M. Laughlin, Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT