Babymouse Heartbreaker

Authors:Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm

Published: In 2006 by Random House

ISBN: 978-0375837982

Synopsis: 

      This graphic novel is the 5th book in a series following the spunky protagonist Babymouse; a young mouse who can never keep her whiskers straight and often seems to have rotten luck.  In this particular episode, Babymouse faces the well known headache of finding a date to the school Valentines Day Dance. Through a series of romantic daydreams and potential strategies readers follow Babymouse as she attempts to deal with her unfortunate predicament.  The attitudes and thought process of Babymouse make her a perfect protagonist for young, preadolescent readers because they are able to easily follow the logical flow of the storyboard as well as relate to Babymouse's clear and realistic emotional state.  Furthermore, the humorous tone of the story provides readers with the opportunity to address possible social anxieties they may have in a lighthearted and non-threatening way.  Babymouse is a loveable character who has you rooting for her the whole way!

My Reaction: 

     Prior to reading Babymouse Heartbreaker, I had never encountered a children's book written in this innovative style.  I have read a number of manga books and I feel that the use of sequential art is a very effective storytelling method for young readers because it is largely based on storyboard illustrations.  It allows an author to tell more emotionally intricate stories that students can grasp without having to possess a complex vocabulary.  Furthermore, graphic novels provide an opportunity for students to develop their inference skills; readers need to be able to integrate the information presented in dialogue, simple narration and the illustrations to understand the progression of the story.  In this particular graphic novel, I was taken by the limited use of color.  Only three colors are included: black, white and pink.  The color pink was used sparingly by the authors, either to add emphasis or to differentiate between Babymouse's reality and her dream world.  Using color this way, helps stress the change in setting so readers recognize what parts of the story are "real" and what parts are in Babymouse's "dream world." The only criticism I have of this book is in regards to the target audience.  The choice to use a female protagonist and the color pink suggests that this series is primarily more attractive to young girls, and in turn may discourage boys from reading the story.

My Rating (1-5 stars):

 

Still Curious: Visit Babymouse's website to learn more about her other adventures, and other creations by the authors of Babymouse.  Play games, make posters and even try your hand at writing your own Babymouse story in the Glamor, Excitement and Adventure tab! Go ahead and take a look: http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/babymouse/homepage.htm