BABYMOUSE: ROCK STAR

1.    BIBLIOGRAPHY

Holm, Jennifer L., and Matthew Holm. 2006. Babymouse: Rock Star. New York: Random House. ISBN 0375832327

2. PLOT SUMMARY
In Babymouse: Rock Star, our hero Babymouse is a total rock star, having concerts, signing autographs, and wowing audiences!   Unfortunately for her, all of these wonderful things are just a part of her vivid imagination.  In her real life, she is last chair in the flute section of her band at school. Auditions for the next band concert are coming up soon, but she is sure to make horrible screeching sounds with her lovely, shiny flute, just as she always does. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Babymouse is a fun, imaginative character, and the appeal of her character to kids is apparent.  She is not perfect, she does not always get her way, and even though she is just a mouse, she understands how hard life in public school can be!  In this volume of the series, she is ridiculed by band bully who reaffirms her fears that she will never be any good at playing her musical instrument.  Children will feel validated in their struggles to succeed in their favorite extracurricular activity, and they will likely relate to her feelings of insecurity. 

The plot has an intriguing rhythm between Babymouse’s fantasy and her reality, and it keeps the book engaging.  Written as a comic book, the story is told both through the written words and the pictures, all pink, black and white.  I loved the frequent changes in the book’s setting via Babymouse’s keen imagination, and especially the references to the Wizard of Oz.  Just when Babymouse is feeling like the day will be just as boring as all the rest, she imagines herself far away from the confines of school.  She enters her locker, gets whisked away by a tornado, and ends up in her own version of Oz, crushing the Wicked Witch as she lands.  Who wouldn’t be more motivated to go to first period when a giraffe scarecrow is chanting, “Follow the green linoleum hallway!”

With themes of friendship, perseverance, and self-confidence, Babymouse: Rock Star is not just a silly comic book.  This series will capture the interest of even the most reluctant readers and will give them a connection with beloved characters with wonderful stories.  My nine year old daughter has loved this series for the last few years, and she was very eager to let me borrow one of her favorites!  She began reading these books when she was just starting to read for enjoyment.  Now, thanks in part to her love of Babymouse, she is an avid reader of large novels and non-fiction, too.  I am so thankful for these books that helped her launch her love for reading.  I am confident this series will do the same for countless other children, and I look forward to promoting it in my library.   

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Starred Review, The Horn Book:
"Nobody puts Babymouse in the corner!"

Booklist:
"Cute, smart, sassy Babymouse is fun and funny, and this book, like its predecessors, will draw reluctant readers as well as Babymouse fans."

The Bulletin:
"An almost absurdly likeable heroine."

5. CONNECTIONS

Introduce kids to the Squish series by Jennifer L. Holms.