A Day with Mousse
CCBC Review:
Mousse, who lives in a house by the sea, has blue-and-white stripes and a long nose, and likes peace, quiet, and routine. This includes listening to the radio each morning while enjoying a cup of coffee and waiting for the tide to roll into his living room. Once it recedes, tender-hearted Mousse makes sure any living creatures left behind are put safely back in the water before cleaning the treasures, like winkle shells, to photograph and sell online. It’s a nice, sedate life … until Mr. Barnacle arrives. Mousse finds the big, brown, walrus-like creature lounging in his floating armchair, enjoying a cup of coffee and a cookie. Mousse asks him nicely to leave. He doesn’t. The next day Mousse intends to make him leave, but Mr. Barnacle is sick with a cold, so Mousse cares for him instead. When Mr. Barnacle is finally well again and departs, Mousse realizes his house is now a little lonely. While the plot arc is predictable, the characters and setting make this a quirkily charming read. The soft, color illustrations are essential, providing visual reference points for Mousse and his world as well as laugh-out-loud moments, including the surprise at story’s end. ©2025 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by
Claire Lebourg
Translated by
Sophie Lewis.
Translated from French. Originally published in France.
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 4-8
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Formats:
Easy Reader
Novel
Subjects:
Difference/Individuality
Friendship
Routines
Translated Books
Publisher:
Transit
Publish Year: 2024
Pages: 79
ISBN: 9798893389067
CCBC Location: Fiction, Lebourg