Review Detail

A DAY WITH MOUSSE by Claire Lebourg is a charming picture book that instantly captivated me. With its adorable illustrations and sweet, wholesome content, it is the perfect book for young children. 

Mousse leads a life of solitude in his little home by the sea. He enjoys his morning coffee and nice walks on the shore, but one day his routine life is upended by the arrival of an unsolicited visitor named Barnacle. Despite himself, Mousse grows fond of his new acquaintance, and when Barnacle comes down with a bad head cold, Mousse resolves to take him in and take care of him until he recovers. 

This is a sweet, heartfelt story of friendship. I adored Mousse and related to his love of reading, swimming, and morning coffee. He is a unique little creature, and the reader never learns exactly what he is. His personality is hilarious, and though he is grumpy when he discovers his unwanted guest at first, he soon softens and becomes a caring and attentive friend and host. Parents will find that the wholesomeness and themes of the book are perfect for young readers to enjoy while instilling them with good values along the way.

The book is split into three sections,  giving it a chapter book format. The difficulty level of the words is relatively easy for older readers who are reading independently, and perfectly suitable to be read aloud to younger kids. Some of the sentences could be difficult for early readers to understand, but the complex illustrations paired with the words should convey what is happening. 

A DAY WITH MOUSSE is a sweet tale of friendship and caring that will charm young readers. I am excited to see what Mousse gets up to in book two of this lovely series.