Critique du Publishers Weekly
The spirits of Frog and Toad are alive and well in this moving and funny first volume in an early reader trilogy by DiCamillo (Ferris), which chronicles the unlikely blossoming friendship between a cynical rat and a curious, naive owl. Orris the rat is perfectly content living safe and alone in his cozy barn nest where a treasured sardine can advertises, "Make the good and noble choice!!" But Orris's peace is shattered when a fluffy white owl with shiny yellow eyes gets caught in a barn-floor mousetrap and screeches for help. Conflicted about aiding his natural predator, Orris grudgingly ("For the love of Pete") heeds the sardine can's motto and embarks on a heart-pounding quest to free the ensnared owl, Timble. Orris is not only a doer of good deeds, he's a gifted storyteller to boot, and both protagonists learn to trust in the easy rhythm and happy feelings brought about by sharing tales with a friend. DiCamillo expertly wraps humor, kindness, the courage that purpose ignites, and a love of story into a concise, welcoming package. Quiet watercolor-and-pencil scenes by Mok (Cone Dog) are rendered in shadowy nighttime grays, blacks, and browns that crisply contrast Timble's bright plumage. Ages 5--8. (Apr.)
Critique de Horn Book
Orris the rat lives a quiet, reclusive life nestled in the wall of an abandoned barn. He papers his hideaway with stories from discarded books, tends to his treasures (a slipper, a marble, a sardine can emblazoned with a jaunty, crown-wearing fish), and carefully avoids danger. When a young owl finds himself snagged in a mousetrap outside of Orris's door, the rat is faced with a moral dilemma: help the predator, risking that his favor may be repaid with violence, or ignore the owl's clear suffering from the safety of his own nest. This test of character sits at the center of an intimate, fully illustrated early chapter book. As the story is a clear variation on Aesop's "The Lion and the Mouse," the moral option may seem obvious, but DiCamillo's artful use of spare and telling detail along with Mok's attention to visual perspective in her atmospheric art give weight to the rat's decision. Orris's face-off with his admired sardine can's offbeat branding insisting that consumers "make the good and noble choice!!" adds levity. While Orris works to release the trap, a nimbly narrated conversation sets a tentative friendship in motion between Timble, an awkward, good-intentioned lover of stories, and Orris, a grumpy, lonely collector of tales. This is a tender, carefully drawn opening to a promising character-driven series. Jessica Tackett MacDonaldMarch/April 2024 p.86 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Critique de Booklist
Within a wall of an abandoned barn, Orris the rat has made his home. Among his prized possessions is a sardine can decorated with an image of a sardine king and the words "Make the good and noble choice!" These sage words echo in Orris' mind when a young snowy owl (Timble) flies into the barn, gets his foot caught in a mousetrap, and cries out for help. Though fearful of the owl's talons, Orris cannot ignore the king's command. Recalling Aesop's fable "The Lion and the Mouse" as he pries open the mousetrap, Orris frees Timble, who flies off only to quickly return to hear the fable in full. Thus, DiCamillo sets the stage for an unlikely friendship and a new early chapter-book series grounded in kindness and a love of storytelling. Her short chapters are wonderfully illustrated by Mok, whose gouache, colored pencil, and graphite artwork lends endearing details and warmth to the story. Young readers will look forward to seeing what adventures are in store for this darling duo.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Will this be popular? Duh! Twice a Newbery medalist, DiCamillo knows how to tap into readers' hearts, no matter their age.
