I love detective stories and began reading Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers novels are an early age. It is therefore not surprising that I was thrilled when today's picture book arrived in the mail. The cover alone got me hooked because there was a picture of a typewriter on it (love these machines), a mouse (love mouse-centric stories) and the mouse is a detective. What could be better!
Hermelin the detective mouse
Hermelin the detective mouse
Mini Grey
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Random House UK, 2014, 987-0-857-55023-1
Hermelin is a mouse who can read, and he lives in the
attic of a house on Offley Street. Like many attics, this attic is full of
stuff that people don’t want any more. There are stacks of boxes and books, and
there is also a typewriter, which Hermelin has learned how to use.
One morning Hermelin
walks past the Offley Street notice board and he sees that is covered with notices.
Seven of the eight notices were written by people who have lost something.
Imogen Splotts has lost her tedd bear, Captain Potts has lost his cat, and
Emily, who lives in Hermelin’s house at No.33, has lost her notebook. Other
residents have lost a bag, reading glasses, a goldfish, and a diamond bracelet.
Hermelin, who is
a compassionate mouse, feels sorry for all these people who have lost something
that is dear to them. They need help and he decides that he is the perfect
person for the job.
Hermelin begins
by looking for Mrs. Mattison’s lost handbag. Being a mouse who is very
observant and who remembers what he sees, he soon finds the handbag in her
fridge behind the lettuce. He then finds Dr. Parker’s glasses. Hermelin saw Dr.
Parker wearing those same glasses just that morning and at the time she was
reading a book, Medical Monthly. It
turns out that the glasses are inside the book.
Every time he
finds one of the missing objects Hermelin leaves the owner of the missing
object a type-written note telling him or her where it is. Soon, Hermelin is a neighborhood
hero and the people he has helped invite him to a party. They never imagine
that their secretive little helper is a rodent.
After spending
just a few seconds with Hermelin, readers will find that they have developed a
sudden fondness for typing mice. He is such a funny, intelligent fellow that
one cannot help oneself. His story is engrossing and beautifully illustrated,
and readers will be delighted when they see how Hermelin gets a wonderful
surprise.
No comments:
Post a Comment