Mouse and His Dog

October 1, 2024
An intrepid mouse tries to help his canine friends find forever homes. This second visit to the Dogtown animal shelter brings back some familiar furry faces while introducing a new narrative perspective--that of one of the mice residing in the building's rafters. Mouse enjoys lounging in the basement with the "unadoptable" pups, among them Buster, a "bounceback," who has been adopted several times but then been returned following a litany of tragicomic mishaps. There's also Smokey, the robot dog, who (due to an error at the factory) randomly emits a tremendous, misery-inducing smoke alarm sound. Saanvi and Owen, kids from Dogtown's Reading Buddies program, also find their way to the basement, where they spend time with these exiled animals. Growing mutual affection between the dogs and children leads Mouse to devise an ambitious plan to help the dogs get to the apartment building where Saanvi and Owen live, in pursuit of a happy ending for all involved. The authors thoughtfully portray the growing relationships, and moments of breakneck action culminate in a conclusion that pulls together a dizzying array of moving pieces. Mouse at times feels more like a literary device than an integral member of the Dogtown universe, an element further emphasized by the frequent references to mouse-focused children's classics. Final art not seen. A relatable, entertaining second entry in a charming series.(Fiction. 8-12)

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