MR. POSTMOUSE TAKES A TRIP by Marianne Dubuc

Welp, here we are, smack dab in the middle of summer. So I thought I’d feature a vacation book.

And, since you yourself may be on vacation, or planning a vacation, or dreaming of a vacation . . . I’m going to keep this short.

The book?

Mr. Postmouse Takes a Trip by Marianne Dubuc (Kids Can Press, 2017).

It’s a follow-up to Mr. Postmouse’s Rounds, which I also love. 

Truthfully, I’m a big fan of Marianne Dubuc’s work generally. I wrote about another one of her books in this post.

But back to Mr. Postmouse Takes a Trip. Here’s my takeaway: Contrary to the usual writerly advice, not all picture books have to have a plot.  This one, in fact, does not. But it does have a solid circular structure: It’s a journey that begins and ends at home, with lots of fantastical stops along the way.

So, without a plot, how does the story engage us? Let’s discuss:

  • We connect with the family: Mr. Postmouse, Mrs. Mouse, and their three charming mouselings—Milo, Lulu and Pip. Here they are setting off on their adventure (note the wagon full of packages—more on that in a bit).
  • While the vacation stops range from the familiar (camping, lying on a beach) to the exotic (trekking through deserts, building an igloo on an ice field), even the most outlandish scenes convey relatable experiences—like, say, a tea party (this one just happens to be with a sloth):
  • The Richard Scarry-esque illustrations draw us in, depicting all manner of imaginative buildings, vehicles and characters. It’s the sort of book you could read daily for years and still discover something new and intriguing in the illustrations. (Will I test that hypothesis? Probably not. But I think it’s a perfectly reasonable statement.)
  • It may not be plot-driven, but the story has plenty of drama. Where is the Mouse family going? How will they get there? Who will they meet next?
  • As with its predecessor, kids will love watching Mr. Postmouse’s loaded wagon shrink—package by package—as he makes deliveries along the way (compare the wagon below to the one in the illustrations above). This adds another layer of drama: Who’s going to get which package? What’s in it? And what’s in the very last package (and that suitcase)? Surprises await!

Have you read these books? What do you think? And if you haven’t, well . . . be sure to add them to your summer vacation reading list. Unless, of course, you’re weary from too many desert treks and tea parties with sloths.

Enjoy your summer, and see you next month!

Linda

Linda Ashman

Linda Ashman is the author of more than 45 picture books, as well as The Nuts and Bolts Guide to Writing Picture Books, a how-to guide for picture book writers. Her books have been included on the ‘best of the year’ lists of The New York Times, Kirkus Reviews, the American Library Association, the Children’s Book Council, and The New York Public Library, among others, and have been translated into many languages.

14 Comments:

  1. This book looks like fun, and it was fun to read your description of it! I’ve already put it on my summer reading list. Thanks, Linda.

  2. I always loved books wth “cutaways,” where I could see what’s going on inside. It reminded me of dollhouses. I think there are kids today with that same fascination. Thanks for sharing.

  3. This looks adorable! Love those illustrations!! Thanks, Linda.

  4. This does look like a book kids would pore over time and again. Thanks for sharing, Linda.

  5. Such amazing detailed illustrations! I must get my hands on this darling Mr. Postmouse.

  6. I have not read these books but they look delightful!!! Will make another run to the library!!!

  7. They ARE delightful. Bet you’ll enjoy them, Vijaya! 🙂

  8. I missed this one! Now I’ll have to see it. Love checking out fun little details in spreads like these! Thanks, Linda.

  9. I like how they visit so many different biomes and all the details for each. These illustrations feel like vacation with lots to see and think about. Cutaways are so fun!

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