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What Members Thought
In the style of Hugo Cabret, this book features large pencil drawings that complement the text. The drawings are really wonderful in their detail and, I think, the most enjoyable part of the book. I also liked the little mouse Celeste herself. Though she never really came alive on the page, what we saw of her was lovable, and her journey to find a home and a friend is compelling.
Ok, now I'm done being nice. I have to say, right off the bat I was not a fan of the second half of the title. It's a ...more
Ok, now I'm done being nice. I have to say, right off the bat I was not a fan of the second half of the title. It's a ...more
Mar 18, 2010
Donalyn
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
children-s-fantasy,
ncbla-committee-2011-books
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A heavily illustrated chapter book (think Hugo Cabret) with a basketweaving mouse protagonist who seems to exists to teach us about James Audubon. Based on an actual period of time James Audubon and his assistant Joseph Mason stayed on a plantation near New Orleans in 1821. Celeste the mouse has some rather human, modern sensibilities like it is wrong to shoot birds just to paint them or to massacre scores of carrier pigeons as they pass over.
The illustrations are beautiful. I loved the little b ...more
The illustrations are beautiful. I loved the little b ...more
The book follows Celeste the mouse as she searches for home and friends in a southern Plantation house. While sometimes the ruminations on the meaning of friendship and home become a tad heavy handed, overall the story is enjoyable.
However the fact that this takes place on a plantation in Louisiana in 1820 but neither mentions slavery nor has any black characters can contribute to a falsely idyllic understanding of the American South.
However the fact that this takes place on a plantation in Louisiana in 1820 but neither mentions slavery nor has any black characters can contribute to a falsely idyllic understanding of the American South.
This one got a wide response from members. Some didn't care for it giving it a 4.5, others liked it giving it a 9 out of 10. (Some younger readers found it a bit too graphic.) Talked about perspective, compared it to Young Fredle.
I had Audobon's book for people to look at while everyone gathered. One young reader is quite an artist and did her own illustration of a toucan. I had a jar of quotes that we selected from and had people identify the speaker, who they were speaking to and what was happ ...more
I had Audobon's book for people to look at while everyone gathered. One young reader is quite an artist and did her own illustration of a toucan. I had a jar of quotes that we selected from and had people identify the speaker, who they were speaking to and what was happ ...more
This was an interesting way to present children with a bit of detail about Audubon (bird artist) & the way he created his art. Cole created a mouse heroine, Celeste, who lived in a Louisiana plantation home that Audubon & his assistant, Joseph, stayed in for a few months in the 1820s. Celeste has adventures, narrowly escaping death from the household cat, a rat, and others. Joseph takes care of her and provides a way for the reader to see how he worked w/ Audubon.
To me this felt a bit contrived ...more
To me this felt a bit contrived ...more
I wanted to love this book. The beautiful charcoal sketches (reminiscent of Hugo Cabret) are what
drew me to the story in the first place. It is told in the first person by a mouse. His human friend is a boy apprenticing with John J. Audobon. All this is fine and promising, however the sweetness is darkened by the
fact that Audobon kills his models before he paints them. The combination of this reality in stark contrast with the sympathetic anthropomorphic characters seems a pretty tough pill to ...more
drew me to the story in the first place. It is told in the first person by a mouse. His human friend is a boy apprenticing with John J. Audobon. All this is fine and promising, however the sweetness is darkened by the
fact that Audobon kills his models before he paints them. The combination of this reality in stark contrast with the sympathetic anthropomorphic characters seems a pretty tough pill to ...more
Celeste is an adorable, quiet mouse who lives in a farmhouse weaving baskets and trying to mind her own business. Her otherwise happy and peaceful life is interrupted by a menacing pair of rats and a hungry house cat. When James Audubon and his assistant come to reside in the home Celeste learns the value of friendship. Pencil illustrations depict the emotions of the characters and enrich the story. This story had a classic feel to it and would make a wonderful read aloud. (Suggest for grades 3-
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I enjoyed this book, it was slow, but homey, and Sallie LOVED it, so I caught some excitement from her. Lots of pictures . .. a beautiful sketch on nearly every page. The author is a children's book illustrator, recently crossed over to writing chapter books for children. Sallie and I enjoyed looking at the James Audobon book and seeing the pictures of the birds that were described in the book. Her favorite character is an osprey named Lafayette. She is now obsessed with ospreys! The other night
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Not a graphic novel, but illustrated in a style very reminiscent of Brian Selznick's Invention of Hugo Cabret, this is a charming story of a mouse named Celeste and her search for a home while living on a plantation in 1820s Louisiana where John James Audubon worked for a few months.
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Similar to Hugo Cabret in that it's a chapter book with lots of beautiful black and white illustrations. Will be popular with kids who like Tale of Despereaux or Cricket in Times Square.
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I liked the beautiful illustrations and the the narrative clips right along. A mixture of realistic fiction with the fantasy. A good nature story with friendship and survival themes.
This chapter book is a welcome addition to the works of Henry Cole, who usually illustrates picture books. Generously illustrated in pencil drawings, it is the story of a creative mouse who encounters the great historical figure Audubon and his assistant at a plantation in the South in 1821. In the process, she and the reader learn a great deal about creativity, art, and home. Grades 3-5
sweet story with beautiful black + white illustrations. perfect for beginning chapter book readers.
May 04, 2010
Rachel
marked it as to-read
Jun 22, 2010
Maggi Rohde
marked it as to-read
RL 730
Jun 10, 2011
Laura5
marked it as to-read
