The Mouse that Squeaked product reviews

The latest offering from our very own Murray Ball, this is the first book I have seen from him since the sad demise of the Footrot Flats comic.

Barry is a sad little mouse... the rodent equivalent of a teen-aged pimpled wimp. He's a little slow in the head, full of bravado and bluff... and utterly terrified of the neighbourhood bully, Razour the Rat. Oh, not to mention a little dense when it comes to understanding his feelings towards his friend Tom.

Drawn in the instantly familiar style and carefully coloured by the man himself in what appears to be skilled conte and watercolour, the story is a real cute tale, showing how even the most inept wannabe can triumph over the most villainous bully, given an incentive and a hefty dose of luck... not to mention sturdy toes and a radio antenna wire.

Overall, this is a lovely book, with around 60 pages of amazing drawings familiar to any Kiwi. A classic in the making, I would have liked to have seen this is hardcover format, just so it lasts the yards with the wee ones. My youngest has shown great pleasure when I read this to him, despite his desire to tear the pictures out. I think he's a little confused why everyone is trying to beat up the rat, because he *adores* his pet rats. A great addition to any family bookshelf.