false 4 2 false false Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Mon May 19 15:11:38 -0700 2008 Mon May 19 15:16:47 -0700 2008 Think of it as a "Lord of the Rings" for mice, but instead of battling balrogs, these warrior mice struggle against snakes and crabs, and instead of Sauron and his minions, they combat treachery from within their fragile community.
"Mouse Guard" draws its magic from a rich lore lovingly construction by author and illustrator David Petersen. The sumptuous artwork glows with a warm color palette, as if the illustrations would drip from the pages, and the contrast of shadow and light make the images jump from the page.
The main protagonists -- the mice who safeguard the villages within the border -- aren't rendered cutesy or cartoony. Who would have thought so much expression could be portrayed with beady, little eyes and nearly featureless, fur-covered faces? Yet Petersen succeeds in conveying emotion.
The story reads all too brief, only because the world it inhabits seems as if it would have stories that could fill volumes. It's the perfect book for parents to share with their children and for fantasy fans of any age.]]>