Babymouse #3: Beach Babe

by Matthew Holm, Jennifer L. Holm, Matthew Holm

Book Overview

Meet Babymouse--the spunky mouse beloved by young readers for more than a decade! It's summer time and Babymouse is going to the beach to surf and relax. But will sharks ruin her vacation? This groundbreaking young graphic novel series, full of humor and fun, is a bestseller that's sold more than three million copies!

"Move over, Superman, here comes Babymouse!"--The Chicago Sun-Times

Grab your sunglasses! School's...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375832319
• ISBN13: 9780375832314
• Release Date: May 2006
• Publisher: Random House Graphic
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.6" x 7.0"
• Age Range: 7 to 10 years
• Grade Range: Grades 2 to 5

Customer Reviews

I love Babymouse!!!

I am an educator and I teach kids with learning issues of all ages. I recently discovered Babymouse and have offered it to many of my students, boys and girls, and they all read one and ask for more. Babymouse is charming and lovable. She struggles with real world problems such as the mean girl, the scary teacher and issues of loyalty and friendship. Kids who don't read well have access to a rich story line with Babymouse due to the graphics, which are delightful. The clever and non-patronizing humor also draws even the most reluctant reader in, causing them to read and then re-read their favorite parts. I enthusiastically recommend Babymouse.

A good book for the girl aged 8-10

This simple cartoon book will appeal to the child of around 10. Babymouse manages to survive her last day of school before summer vacation and then she goes with her family to the beach. It is a lengthy trip, full of many "Are we there yets? When they get there, she ignores her younger brother, she surfs until she has a major wipe-out, she gets a severe burn, is chased by a shark while snorkeling, rides some great rides at the carnival and gets repeatedly annoyed by her brother. When her brother then runs away because she won't play with him, Babymouse is terrified, running outside in her nightgown looking for him. When reunited, they enjoy the rest of their vacation, doing everything together and having more fun than they thought possible. I have a teenage daughter and read to her when she was young and purchased books for her as she got older. In my opinion, she would have loved this book had she read it when she was the appropriate age.

The Irrepressible Spirit of Babymouse Shines Through

Babymouse: Beach Babe sat on my coffee table the day after it arrived, looking very pink, and calling out, in a high-pitched, squeaky sort of voice "read me." Eventually, just before bedtime, I gave in. And I have to say, after missing the first two books in the series, that I am now in love with Babymouse. For those of you unfamiliar with the series, the Babymouse books are graphic novels, with engaging pink and black pictures, designed for the 8 to 12 set. They feature an indomitable heroine, with a rich fantasy life, and loving, if largely invisible, parents. This installment begins with Babymouse dreaming of being a surfing champion, only to wake to discover that (oh great joy!) it's the last day of school. After making it through the day, Babymouse learns (oh greater joy!) that her family will be vacationing at the beach. What follows is a mixture of real-life beachside trials and tribulations (sand-castles, surfing, sunburn, and boardwalks) and fantastical adventures (mermaids and genies in magic bottles). But the real story is Babymouse's relationship with her much younger brother, Squeak. Anyone who has ever had a younger sibling, or been a younger sibling, will be able to relate to the images of Squeak, ready with his kite, eager for his adored older sister to play with him. And, sadly, we can also relate to Squeak's desolation when Babymouse is too busy, running off on her adventures. There's a scene in which Squeak's heart literally breaks, upon rejection from Babymouse. Clearly, the brother-and-sister creators of this book have some real-life experience in matters of older and younger siblings. You'll have to read the book yourself to see how it turns out. Babymouse: Beach Babe is a quick and easy read, and will definitely appeal to reluctant grade school readers. Two things make the book stand out for me. The first is the irrepressible spirit of Babymouse, as expressed through her actions, through the wonderful drawings, and through her discussions with the invisible narrator. She carries echoes of Anne Shirley in her dramatic failures, and of Pippi Longstocking in her bravado. The other thing that I love about this book is the regular seasoning of small, humorous details. The scene where Babymouse cleans out her locker, finding, among other things, troublesome gnomes, aliens, and the dish that ran away with the spoon, made me laugh out loud. Babymouse: Beach Babe is the kind of book that you want to read with someone else nearby, so that you can hold it up and say "look at this!" at intervals. I think that my elementary school nieces will adore it. As for me, Babymouse: Beach Babe made me wish that I had been a little nicer to my younger siblings. It also made me nostalgic for childhood summer vacations, where life's biggest problem is "who am I going to play with?" It's an excellent read for the start of the summer. This book review was originally published on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on May 7, 2006.