"Mr. Maxwell's Mouse," by Frank Asch, Illustrated by Devin Asch

Image Courtesy of: http://www.kidscanpress.com/Assets/Books/w_MrMaxwellsMouse_1618/Covers/1618_cv3.jpg

Bibliographic Citation

Title: Mr. Maxwell’s Mouse

Author: Frank Asch

Illustrator: Devin Asch

Year of Publication: 2004

Publisher City: Tonawanda

Publisher: Kids Can Press

ISBN: 155337486X

Author Website: http://www.frankasch.com/

Illustrator Website: No Illustrator Website

Media Used for Artwork: Computer Generated

Awards

·         California Library Association’s Young Reader Medal, 2007

·         School Library Journal Best Books of 2004

·         International Reading Association’s Children’s’ Choices, 2005

·         Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award, 2006

·         ForeWord Magazine’s, Book of the Year Award- Gold Medal, 2004

Annotation

Mr. Maxwell enters the Paw and Claw as he always does at 12:45 for lunch.  But today he is there to celebrate his promotion by eating a live mouse, easy enough, except that it isn’t.

Personal Reaction

                As described in the summary, this book is “a David and Goliath story with whiskers- and impeccable table manners.”  It is quite witty and full of dark humor, making readers’ wonder what would happen if your meal could talk back to you.  The type of humor used by Asch is meant for older readers who could appreciate it.  Young readers may be scared by the fact that Mr. Maxwell is about to kill his food that is talking back to him.  For example, when Mr. Maxwell first puts his knife and fork on the mouse some may be horrified while others will laugh as how calmly the mouse states, “If I might be so bold…”  Readers will be chuckling throughout the book as the mouse continually finds ways to delay the inevitable, or so Mr. Maxwell thinks. 

                The illustrations work very well with the text, visually showing quite well what is described.  For example, as the mouse talks with Mr. Maxwell while he has a knife and fork about to cut into him.  The illustrations also work with showing what isn’t told in the text.  For example, when the mouse switches Mr. Maxwell’s tail on the piece of rye toast it is not told to readers in the text but shown on the page.  The illustrations by Asch are very sophisticated, which works with the proper nature of Mr. Maxwell and the mouse.  There is also a cinematic quality to the illustrations making readers feel as if they could be actually watching what transpires between a cat and his meal.