Book Reviews and Library Happenings by Charlotte

BABYMOUSE #11 DRAGONSLAYER

By: Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm

Image Credit: http://www.sfsite.com/grc/0909/bmlg.jpg

1. Bibliography:

Holm, Jennifer L., and Matthew Holm. Babymouse: Dragonslayer. New York: Random House Children's, 2009. Print. ISBN: 9780329727581

2. Plot Summary

BABYMOUSE is a fantasy fiction story about a mouse who makes a bad grade on her math assignment and the teacher asked her to participate in the Math Olympics. Despite her weakness in math, Babymouse decides to join the team so the teacher will forget about her failing math grade. Babymouse has little faith in herself along with the other members of the group. When the Math Olympics takes place, Babymouse lets the team down on the first round. Babymouse is chosen for the final round and realizes that she is good at word problems which leads the team to a victory.

3. Critical Analysis

This is a story that most children can relate to. Babymouse does not do well in math and many children struggle with math. Babymouse has to conquer her fear of math which could possibly be the "math dragon". The reader learns at the beginning of the book that Babymouse spends her time in math class daydreaming about saving the kingdom from a dragon (math). When her teacher suggest she attend the Math Olympics, Babymouse has little faith in herself.

The book has several references to THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE and THE LORD OF THE RINGS. The book contains many literacy allusions and will have children wanting to know more about the books referenced. The plot of the story takes place at school with some reference to distant lands of other fictional stories.

The graphic novel by Holm's is a wonderful second grade readers and above. The text and pictures correlate and help young readers to transition from picture books to novels. The illustrations are mostly black and white with pink in various pictures and places. Students have to actually read the pictures as well as the text to understand the story line including the wordless pictures.

4. Review Excepts:

~KIRKUS REVIEWS: "Emergent readers will cheer 'Babymouse!'"

~HORN BOOK MAGAZINE: "Nobody puts BABYMOUSE in the corner!"

~BOOKLIST: "Illustrated in the signature black, white, and pink, this new adventure will please old fans and attract new ones, and might inspire some girls to excel in math."

5. Connections:

~Create a Math Olympics game for students based on their grade level and have them compete in groups.

~Have students research about THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE BY C.S. Lewis and prepare to read the novel.

Other books in the BABYMOUSE Series

#1 BABYMOUSE: QUEEN OF THE WORLD!

#2 BABYMOUSE: OUR HERO

#3 BABYMOUSE: BEACH BABE

#4 BABYMOUSE: ROCK STAR

#5 BABYMOUSE: HEARTBREAKER

#6 CAMP BABYMOUSE

#7 BABYMOUSE: SKATER GIRL

#8 BABYMOUSE: PUPPY LOVE