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Mäuseabenteuer #1

Lindbergh: The Tale of a Flying Mouse

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One small step for a mouse; one giant leap for aviation.

These are dark times . . . for a small mouse. A new invention—the mechanical mousetrap—has caused all the mice but one to flee to America, the land of the free. But with cats guarding the steamships, trans-Atlantic crossings are no longer safe. In the bleakest of places . . . the one remaining mouse has a brilliant idea. He must learn to fly!

Debut illustrator Torben Kuhlmann’s inventive tale and stunning illustrations will capture the imagination of readers—young and old—with the death-defying feats of this courageous young mouse

96 pages, Hardcover

First published January 20, 2014

12 people are currently reading
1140 people want to read

About the author

Torben Kuhlmann

24 books195 followers
Torben Kuhlmann (1982) is a German communications designer, illustrator and picture book author. He studied Illustration and Communication Design at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences . In 2014 he published his first book, Lindbergh - The adventurous story of a flying mouse, the product of his graduation thesis at the college.

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5 stars
1,173 (58%)
4 stars
611 (30%)
3 stars
197 (9%)
2 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 360 reviews
Profile Image for Kelli.
927 reviews448 followers
January 2, 2018
Another nostalgic story by Torben Kuhlmann, this time about a creative mouse who will stop at nothing to get to America. His perseverance pays off in this charming story of ingenuity and grit, of cats and owls. As with his other book, Armstrong: The Adventurous Journey of a Mouse to the Moon, this is very long, beautifully illustrated, and there is a brief but impressive history of aviation at the end. The illustrations defy description...they are absolutely spectacular. 5 stars

*In our library this is shelved as a picture book for older readers. Though fantastic, it is very long and geared toward older readers (upper elementary) with a lengthy attention span.
Profile Image for Dennis.
663 reviews328 followers
July 14, 2025
Ein Wagnis für eine kleine Maus – ein großer Schritt für die Fliegerei


Eine Tages muss eine kleine neugierige Hamburger Maus feststellen, dass alle ihre Freunde verschwunden sind.

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Sie glaubt, dass diese nach Amerika ausgewandert sind und beschließt ihnen zu folgen. Doch der Zugang zu einem der Schiffe bleibt ihr verwehrt.

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Als sie auf ihrem Weg zurück nach Hause einige Fledermäuse sieht kommt ihr eine Idee.

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Und so beginnt die abenteuerliche Reise der kleinen Maus mit der großen Fantasie.

Eine wunderschön gezeichnete Geschichte die kindgerecht ihre Botschaft über Beharrlichkeit und Erfindungsreichtum vermittelt. Als Bonus gibt es im Anhang noch ein paar Informationen zu den Luftfahrtpionieren Otto Lilienthal, Wilbur und Orville Wright und natürlich Charles Lindbergh.

Für den erwachsenen Leser sind die recht einfach gehaltene Geschichte und auch der Anhang vielleicht etwas zu kurz geraten. Aber für die eigentliche Zielgruppe ist dies ein wunderbares und liebevoll gestaltetes Buch mit einer schönen Botschaft.

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Profile Image for Trish.
2,386 reviews3,744 followers
December 27, 2018
This is the first of - so far - three books written and illustrated by a German author about little mice and their inventions and adventures.

In this first book, we follow a little mouse that notices all the other mice being gone after humans invented the horrible mouse trap. It surmises that they've all gone to America, like so many humans, and wants to go be with them. However, the way to them is barred either by humans or their furry pets so the little mouse is coming up with clever ideas on how to fly across the Atlantic ocean.

The story, while simple, is full of the spirit of old-time inventors and even provides child-appropriate information on a number of flight pioneers. The focus, however, clearly lies on the frankly gorgeous and cuter-than-life illustrations:






The attention to detail, the cuteness of the mice and the colour palette - it all takes one on a journey to go soaring high above the clouds and to freedom. A little treasure book for young and old readers.
Profile Image for Metodi Markov.
1,726 reviews434 followers
May 27, 2025
Красиви илюстрации, но самата история нещо не е съвсем по мой вкус.

Качеството на книжното тяло е по-ниско от това, за което претендира.
Profile Image for Hilary .
2,294 reviews491 followers
April 29, 2018
Nice enough illustrations, my daughter and I didn't really enjoy the text, we found it a bit long winded and didn't find the subject matter interesting. I think my son, when younger, would have enjoyed this, the inventions, plans, cogs, danger and chase would have appealed to his interests. We both agreed this would have appealed to us more as a book without text.
511 reviews209 followers
August 3, 2016
This is a cute story about a clever mouse trying to get to America to escape from the newly introduced mouse traps terrorizing every home in Germany and meet up with this buddy mice who up and disappear one day while the clever is out.

I think the art is brilliant, all the paint colors and there is something of Shaun Tan about them- not as marvelous, but definitely inspired. And the art itself could have told the story without any hitches; it was very telling and self descriptive. In fact, the words took away a lot from the story; they were entirely redundant and gave the story a clinical feel.

Aaaand, I don't like the title: the story is about the mouse, not Lindbergh. Put emphasis on the clever mouse we know not, rather than naming it after a guy you only reference at the end.

Thank you, Smith Publicity!
Profile Image for nAeEMak نعیمک.
430 reviews3 followers
Read
February 21, 2025
لیندبرگ برای من یادآور روزهای اولی است که هوپا را می‌شناختم یا شاید حتی به وجود آمده بود. کتاب را برای چاپ اولش بیست هزار تومان خریدم و وقتی به سایت‌ها سر زدم دیدم هنوز هم با چنین کیفیتی ارزان است و متاسفانه از کتاب‌هایی است که خیلی سراغش نرفتند. لیندبرگ دوتا ویژگی مهم دارد:
اول از همه تصویرسازی. در دورۀ ما تصویرسازی‌ها به سمت هنری شدن و ساده‌شدن رفته. نمی‌دانم به این دلیل که فکر می‌کنند بچه‌ها تصاویر پیچیده را درک نمی‌کنند یا زیباتر است اما لیندبرگ کتابی تصویری است با تمام جزییاتی که در زندگی واقعی می‌بینیم. و تماشای این همه جزییات زیبا است چون تمام صفحات کتاب تصویر دارد. و اگر بخواهیم کتاب را بخوانیم باید دقیق‌تر بگویم که کتاب را ببینیم و واقعاً وقت بگذاریم.
اما در کنار تصاویر قصه واقعاً شبیه یک ماجرای واقعی است. هیجان دارد و موشی که قدم به قدم جلو می‌رود نه اینکه رویایی در سرش باشد و در همان اول کار موفق شود. انگار ما هم قدم به قدم او را دنبال می‌کنیم و هم‌نشینی این شکل از قصه‌گویی و تصاویر آن را شبیه یک فیلم‌سینمایی قدیمی می‌کند. می‌گویم قدیمی چون برای من دهه‌ای که تصاویر از آن الهام گرفته شده بسیار شیک و زیبا است و برای همین هم بیشتر کتاب را دوست دارمو همه‌چیز ترکیبی از مکانیک و علم است و هنوز دنیای دیجیتال همه‌چیز را شبیه هم نکرده بود.
کتاب بر اساس یک واقعۀ واقعی است و یک‌هو می‌فهمی که «اِ، چقدر جالب همه چیز واقعی بود.» و دقیقاً همان کاری را می‌کند که خیلی از کتاب‌ها یک زمانی می‌کردند: الهام‌بخش بودن.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Simona.
432 reviews798 followers
March 6, 2017
Rating: 5+/5 || Recenzia pe Secretele Cărților || Cumpără cartea

carte lindbergh povestea unui soricel zburator torben kuhlmann

Şoricelul curajos
Îmi plac la nebunie poveştile cu şoricei aşa că am fost extrem de nerăbdătoare să mă apuc de Lindbergh. Apărută la Editura Corint Junior, această carte ilustrată a intrat imediat în topul preferatelor mele.

Am descoperit povestea unui șoricel care, odată cu apariția capcanelor pentru șoareci, devine speriat. Văzând că semenii săi dispar de la o zi la alta, el se întreabă unde reușesc ei să se refugieze.

În una dintre zile, descoperind niște lilieci, observă că aceștia se aseamănă foarte mult cu un şoricel zburător. În acel momen îi vine o idee extremă, aşa că se apucă să îşi construiască o invenție care îl va ajuta să zboare şi să ajungă în America, locul de refugiu al tuturor şoriceilor.

carte lindbergh povestea unui soricel zburator torben kuhlmann

Fereşte-te de inamici
Prin puținul text prezent şi prin intermediul numeroaselor imagini realizate de Torben Kuhlman, am reușit să pătrund într-un univers în care şoriceii sunt neînfricați şi inteligenți. Am fost alături de protagonist de la început şi până la final. I-am surprins fricile atunci când era vânat de bufnițe sau pisici, şi am fost uimită să văd cât de iscusit este micuțul rozător, el reuşind să își atingă scopul.

Mi-a plăcut la nebunie această carte şi m-am îndrăgostit de minunatele ilustrații în tonuri maronii-steampunkish. Este una dintre acele cărți care îşi spun povestea mai mult prin intermediul imaginilor, cuvintele fiind de prisos.

Vă recomand cu mare drag Lindbergh. Sunt sigură că, la fel ca şi mine, veți îndrăgi această poveste. Șoricei zburători, bufnițe, pisici, spițe și tot felul de rotițe zimțate aduc o notă de steampunk acestei cărți minunate. ^_^

carte lindbergh povestea unui soricel zburator torben kuhlmann

Citate:

"El se aventură prin labirintul de țevi de canalizare, adulmecă aerul umed și auzi un scârțâit slab.
Dintr-o dată, simți niște aripi fluturându-i în față! Creaturi fantomatice zburau prin întuneric. Arătau ca niște șoareci, cu ochi mici și urechi enorme. Dar zburau cu puternice aripi negre.
Șoricelul a studiat cu atenție ciudatele rude zburătoare, apoi a luat-o la fugă spre casă." (p.24)

"De fiecare dată când șoricelul testa motorul, elicea stârnea o furtună care îi împrăștia schițele. Micuțul inventator era mai încrezător ca oricând. Să zboare cu adevărat spre America părea să devină posibil!" (p.38)

"Bufnițele nu erau cu mult în spate. O gheară energică a zgâriat coada avionului minuscul. Micuțul aviator a tras în lateral de manșă, iar mașinăria zburătoare a făcut un viraj iute la stânga, mult prea brusc pentru bufnițe.
Avionul s-a înălțat și s-a avântat printre nori. Turnul cu clopot, care păruse atât de mare, era acum doar un ac cu gămălie străbătând ceața." (p.69)


carte lindbergh povestea unui soricel zburator torben kuhlmann
Profile Image for Cristina Di Matteo.
1,426 reviews39 followers
February 24, 2022
A oggi alla sua quarta ristampa, Lindbergh – l’avventurosa storia del topo che sorvolò l’oceano è davvero un successo. Ha vinto il premio Soligatto nel 2016, il secondo posto alla Cassa dei Cento 2016 ed è arrivato finalista al premio Orbil del 2015. È capace di coinvolgere fin da subito qualsiasi lettore, grazie alle sue illustrazioni magnetiche. https://ilmondodichri.com/lindbergh/
Profile Image for Dave Schaafsma.
Author 6 books32.1k followers
November 17, 2016
German illustrator Kuhlmann's first book, done as his thesis, and impressive on all fronts. The publisher's description says it was inspired by Lindberg's solo flight to Paris, which is true, though the story assumes a reversal, that a young Lindberg might have been inspired by this mouse's courageous story:

It's a bad time in Europe for mice, they're building better and better mousetraps, one needs to flee to America, but how? In a sewer he encounters bats--something like flying mice!!--and hey, gets an idea--I'll invent something to fly across the ocean, yeah! The whole process is fun and calls forth moments of Lindberg's story along the way. Ultimately, it's Kuhlman's love letter to air flight, and those early heroes of invention, the dreamers, the brave adventurers. In a (very) short history he includes at the end we learn that German pioneer of aviation Otto Lilienthal invented the hang glider, which as a proud German he has to slip in there as a fact next to stuff about the Wright Bros.

But the real hero of this tale might be Kuhlmann's pretty amazing illustrations, which reveal he loves to draw planes, machines, that he casts in a nostalgic, sepia tone throughout. I think this book may be less a children's book than one for all ages, for all fans of those times, that history, of dreamers and endearing children's stories.
Profile Image for RoseB612.
441 reviews68 followers
December 27, 2017
Po vizuální stránce naprosto dokonalá kniha - už jen kvůli těm kresbám stojí za to si ji pořídit. Není to tudíž příliš knížka na předčítání, protože textu je tam pomálu a ten samotný příběh knížce spíš ubližuje. Tohle je potřeba prohlížet, vymýšlet si k tomu vlastní příběhy, hledat v kresbách zasuté detaily a pokud máte doma technického hračičku (a je jedno, kolik mu je let), tak to dejte do ruky jemu, bude nadšený. Ale na své si přijdou i příznivci zvířátek (myši, kočky, sovy atd.) - takže je to vlastně celorodinná kniha.

Být ten příběh je trošku lepší, tak je to na plný počet, takhle bohužel jen čtyři hvězdičky, ale ty ilustrace jsou opravdu nádherné. Na druhou stranu je to textově krátké a písmo není úplně malé, takže možná vhodné první, nebo spíš druhé čtení.

Kontext: Vánoční dárek pro Víťu - Armstrong - Dobrodružná cesta myšáka na Měsíc dostala Justýnka.

První věta: "Před mnoha lety žil v jednom obrovském městě jeden zvědavý myšák."

Poslední věta: "Byl to malý Charles Lindbergh."
Profile Image for Totoro.
388 reviews42 followers
September 28, 2017
بعنوان کسی که به کتاب هایی که رنگ و بویی از استیم ,ماشین های بخار , اختراعات عجیب و قهرمانان کوچک است واقعا یک ساعت فوق العاده رو گذروندم .
چقدر زیبا و خارق العاده بود
Profile Image for Mandy, Erste ihres Namens, Mutter der Kaninchen.
605 reviews86 followers
January 26, 2020
Wundervolles Debüt! Torben Kuhlmann schloss mit diesem Buch sein Illustrationsstudium ab. Ich finde es beeindruckend, wie er während seines Studium sich einen derart einzigartigen Zeichenstil aneignen konnte. Darüber hinaus ist er auch der Autor der Geschichte und die glänzt ebenfalls an Ideenreichtum. Man merkt auf jeder Seite, dass er sich für die Geschichte der Luftfahrt wirklich interessiert. Die Einflüsse von Science-Fiction und Geschichte sind wirklich sehr gelungen! Ein perfektes Sonntagsbuch ☺️
Profile Image for Avely.
107 reviews7 followers
March 12, 2022
Armas lugu ühest väga seiklushimulisest hiirest.
Sisule andsid head toestust ilusad pildid ja väga suur pluss, et ka piltide teksti oli tehtud pisikestele lugejatele arusaadavaks.
Mulle endale üldse väga meeldis raamatu kujundus ja see tõmbas ka lapse vanaema seda sirvima.

Ootame sama sarja teisi raamatuid! :)
Profile Image for Sandra Koka (pielasit_sirdi).
791 reviews176 followers
January 19, 2024
Nu tiiiik superīgas ilustrācijas. Šis ir autora debija darbs, kā arī diplomdarbs universitātē.

Superīgi!! Stāsts, izdoma un uzsvars uz ilustrācijām. Bauda acīm.

4+
Profile Image for Adriána Hasková.
23 reviews2 followers
May 15, 2024
Najkrajšie ilustrácie aké som kedy videla, doplňujúce veľmi pekný a odvážny príbeh 😍
Profile Image for Elfo-oscuro.
811 reviews36 followers
June 9, 2021
Excelente aventura para leer a los peques, ilustraciones muy bonitas de una epoca de avances tecnologicos
Profile Image for Laury Glory.
213 reviews4 followers
May 27, 2021
Abenteuerlich mit traumhaften Illustrationen und einer ganz besonderen Atmosphäre, die ich so nur in Kuhlmanns Büchern erlebt habe.
Die kleine mutige Maus auf ihrem Weg zu begleiten, mit ihr zu wachsen und ihre Ideen zu verwirklichen, war ein richtiger Genuss, ich möchte wirklich alles von diesem Autoren entdecken und natürlich immer und immer wieder in seine originellen Geschichten eintauchen.
Da ich die kleinen Nagetiere sowieso schon liebe, sind die Mausgeschichten mit ihrer herrlichen Aufmachung und der Liebe zum Detail für mich eine Wohltat für die Seele.
❤️
Profile Image for blueisthenewpink.
538 reviews45 followers
May 10, 2020
A szerző másik csodaszép* gyerekkönyvét már olvastuk, és azt hittem, ezt is, csak pár oldal után esett le, hogy még nem. Ez az első, a híres diplomamunka, és itt még a szöveg is rendben van, nem úgy, mint a következőben. Azt nem tudom, hogy a holokauszt-párhuzamot csak én láttam-e bele . Mindenesetre csak az illusztrációért is megérné, gyönyörű. A repüléstörténeti ismeretterjesztés is ott van.

*na, hát mindennek van határa, ezt egybe fogom írni, és kész. Micsoda hülyeség.
Profile Image for Suzanne.
2,246 reviews44 followers
February 2, 2014
As someone who loves to fly and wants to get her pilot's license, I am always interested in books about flying. The idea behind this marvelous picture book is like a blend of The Tale of Despereaux and The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Lindbergh is a curious mouse who loves to spend his time reading books (something else we have in common). One day he looks up from his reading and discovers that mechanical mousetraps have been invented and all of the other mice have journeyed to America to escape the danger (and that reminds me of Feivel in "An American Tail"). Lindbergh sees bats flying across the sky and is inspired to create his own wings. The incredible illustrations show his progress from a sort of glider, to a steam-driven contraption, to his final model. Readers can also see his test flights and how he perseveres after each one to correct the design flaws and make improvements for the next attempt.

Anyone who enjoys stories with heroic little animals like Despereaux or the Library Mouse will instantly add Lindbergh to their favorites. Although it's a fictional story, it would be a great read-aloud for a class studying inventors or the history of aviation. It could also be used to study life-skills like problem-solving and perseverance. Whatever your reason for reading it, you will probably love it.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
Profile Image for Христо Блажев.
2,596 reviews1,775 followers
April 10, 2015
Мишлето, което прелетя Океана: http://knigolandia.info/book-review/l...

Колко чудесна е тая голяма красива книга! Историята на малкото мишле, което се оказва заобиколено от капани и никакви приятели – една красива метаформа на последната голяма човешка миграция: тази към Новия свят. Изумителните илюстрации на Торбен Кулман не са само онагледяващи текста, те го допълват, развиват, носят сами по себе си основната част от действието, точно както беше в едно друго бижу – “Изобретението на Хюго” на Брайън Селзник. Текстът е наистина твърде малко, за да бъде оценяван сам по себе си, то си е в типичен приказно-приключенски стил, но основната тежест ляга на изключителните илюстрации, които в този формат просто греят, греят. Няма какво да ви говоря – или пазите детето в себе си, или не, ако отговорът е положителен, ще оцените “Линдберг. Приключенията на мишлето летец”.

Enthusiast​
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/l...
Profile Image for Inge Maes.
121 reviews7 followers
February 6, 2025
Torben Kuhlman, geboren in 1982, studeerde in Duitsland 'Illustratie en communicatiedesign'. Als afstudeerproject schreef hij dit boek. Het werd een groot succes.
Het is het eerste verhaal in een reeks van vier boeken waarbij een muis de hoofdrol krijgt. De muis kruipt hierbij in het lichaam van een bekende historische figuur: Lindbergh, Armstrong, Edison en Einstein. Op die manier vertelt de auteur op kindermaat een stukje geschiedenis.

Het boek start als een werkelijk sprookje met het welbekende 'lang geleden', zoals een sprookje hoort te beginnen.
De illustraties zijn talrijk en zijn een prachtige ondersteuning van het verhaal. Net zoals in andere sprookjes komen meerdere emoties aan bod: verdriet, angst, nieuwsgierigheid, een kleine dosis spanning, moed, vreugde en vriendschap.

Ik ben helemaal ingenomen door het verhaal. Het is zo origineel bedacht, prachtig verteld en heel mooi vorm gegeven. Wat zou het mooi zijn als dit soort sprookjes de nieuwe standaard worden.
Profile Image for Petya Kokudeva.
133 reviews188 followers
May 2, 2015
Рисунките са прекрасни. Спрямо тях самата историята и езикът ми бледнеят и ми се сториха схематични, сякаш създадени, за да подкрепят рисунките.
Profile Image for Izida.
124 reviews50 followers
July 13, 2015
Изключително красива и интересна книжка, прекрасен начин децата (че и възрастните) да научат историята за първия презокеански полет (и не само за него).
Profile Image for Abigail.
7,958 reviews262 followers
July 9, 2019
Noticing that all of the other mice have disappeared from his city - driven away by the invention of a new kind of mouse trap - the intrepid little murine hero of this delightful German picture-book decides to emigrate to America. Slowly, through trial and error, he creates a flying machine that will take him across the Atlantic, evading cats and owls, and making aviation history...

Originally published in Germany as Lindbergh: Die abenteuerliche Geschichte einer fliegenden Maus (literally: "Lindbergh: The Adventurous Story of a Flying Mouse"), this charming tale was author/illustrator Torben Kuhlmann's first book to be published. I've been meaning to get to it, and to some of its creator's other books as well, for some time now, and am glad that I finally did. I found the story engaging enough, and thought that the little mouse made an appealing hero, but it was the artwork that really made this one special. Absolutely charming! I loved the detail in some of Kuhlmann's paintings - the intricate mechanisms that the little mouse tinkers with - but I also loved the larger animal depictions, whether of cat or owl. This truly had a magical feeling to it, making me eager to pick up more by Kuhlmann. Recommended to young readers who enjoy animal fiction - anyone looking for novel-length stories about aviator mice want to give the Hermux Tantamoq books a try! - and to anyone who appreciates gorgeous illustration.
Profile Image for Betsy.
Author 11 books3,270 followers
January 27, 2014
The mouse, as hero, is an easy children’s book hero. With its diet so nearly identical to that of humans, its cute and cuddly face (sorry rats), and the sense that the great big wide world is dead set against them, we relate. We are, admittedly less than delighted when they run across our floors in front of us, but on the page we’re with them from page one onward. And I may be in the minority here, but I think they’re even cuter when they look as realistic as possible. It’s hard to improve on nature, after all. Now imagine a tiny mouse, realistic from tip to tail, outfitted in teeny tiny goggles and you’ve got yourself a bona fide hit on your hands. Lindbergh: The Tale of a Flying Mouse has remarkably little to do with Charles Lindbergh and everything to do with airborne Rodentia. Shockingly beautiful without jading the reader in the process, German author/illustrator Torben Kuhlmann goes in for something 100% original and comes out a star. If this little critter isn’t on your radar yet then you're looking in the wrong direction.

There was a time when the mice of Germany flourished. The human world was perfect to their needs. Then one day, an inquisitive little mouse (who liked reading the occasional human book on occasion) found that all his fellow rodents had disappeared. Mousetraps had increased tenfold, so he reasoned that perhaps his fellow mice had traveled across the sea to America. Determined to find them he found instead that at the docks there were cats absolutely everywhere. A quick escape revealed the presence of bats to him. Or, as he liked to think of them, mice with wings. Inspired by their appearance the mouse set about discovering the secrets of flight itself. Early experiments met with failure but he was determined to hit on the right solution. It was only when he got close to success that he attracted the attention of the owl population. Now to escape to the sky the mouse must outwit a pack of various animal foes, as well as the nature of gravity itself.

Comparisons to Shaun Tan’s The Arrival are understandable considering the subject matter, the time period (fedora hats, etc.) and the fact that the entire enterprise appears to have been steeped in sepia. That said, Lindbergh doesn’t quite become the universal metaphor one would hope for. I was showing it to a friend of mine and as she paged through it, cooing continually over the art, she mentioned that if it is hindered by anything it is the words. “This could have been a stronger piece without any words at all.” I don’t absolutely agree, but I certainly think that with some additional art and tweaks she’d be correct. This is not to say that the translation isn’t perfectly good. It’s just hard not to compare it to the images. Kuhlmann’s art is so incredibly strong that one feels a slight letdown every time the text returns. Take away the words as it currently stands and some of the story doesn’t quite make sense. Add the words and it holds together, but it’s no longer quite as universal. For example, Kuhlmann feels it necessary to have the mouse leave Germany because all the other mice have disappeared thanks to the proliferation of mousetraps and he thinks they’ve emigrated (any adult reading this is probably pretty sure they know the true fate of his brethren). The Arrival was clever enough to keep the reasons why people leave their home countries vast and varied. Had Lindbergh been wordless, the image of the mouse surrounded by mousetraps (a striking image if ever there was one) would have been reason enough.

In terms of the art itself, part of what makes this so interesting is how Kuhlmann refuses point blank to fully physically anthropomorphize his mouse. Sure, it may read about Leonardo da Vinci and construct elaborate machines that mimic the very history of flight itself, but essentially what we’re dealing here is a very realistic looking rodent without so much as a name of his own. In terms of the art, think Beatrix Potter meets Shaun Tan. Best of all, the book stays fairly true to its original roots. Newspaper articles seen about the mouse have wisely not been translated from the original German. Kuhlmann also excels at the inherent drama in the turn of a page. My favorite comes halfway through the book when the mouse has inadvertently appeared in the newspaper. The text reads, “Everyone wondered what the little daredevil would do next. All eyes were now on the lookout for the winged rodent. Eyes of all kinds ...” Turn the page and you are struck head on by this flock of amber-eyed horned owls all facing a newspaper, reading the copy. Even for someone who has never feared an owl’s gaze, the effect is chilling.

Expect to encounter a few folks wondering whom precisely the book is for. Coming in at a striking 96 pages, it certainly reads longer than your average picture book (average length = 32 pages). Yet in terms of the story there’s nothing particularly advanced about the book. With the sole exception of a newspaper photography displaying a mouse dead in a trap, the closest our hero comes to true horror is a series of close shaves with cats and owls respectively. This is, therefore, remarkable bedtime reading fare. It might actually be the perfect length for a single bedtime story for kids ages four and up. The cover is admittedly a tad misleading, showing the mouse sitting on the nose of the Spirit of St. Louis. After all, according to the book it is Lindbergh who is inspired by the mouse, not the other way around. Still, I can’t help but think that the book would tie in beautifully with curricular units on flight.

The sheer beauty of this book is likely to overwhelm the senses. Its greatest asset is its ability to enthrall on contact. That said, it’s actually a very simple very story. Mouse wants to fly. Mouse learns to fly. Mouse flies. It never takes full advantage of the potential metaphor just within reach, but that’s hardly a crime. Breathtaking and simple all at once, it’s neither fish nor fowl: It’s flying mouse. Not much like anything you’ve ever encountered at all. Certainly it was worth its trip across the ocean to reach us.

For ages 4-7.
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July 5, 2018
Mich hatte das Bilderbuch schon vollkommen eingefangen als ich feststellte, dass die kleine Maus in Hamburg lebt. Meine Heimatstadt in einer solchen liebevoll gestalteten Geschichte zu sehen, erfreute mich besonders. Hierbei handelt es sich um Kuhlmanns Abschlussarbeit von 2012 und sie ist genauso voller Ideenreichtum wie Armstrong.

Fazit: Volltreffer. Wenn man Bilderbücher mag, sollte man definitiv zu einem Kuhlmann greifen.
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