Review Detail

Mousse, a stripey, long-nosed creature with a home by the beach, happily prepares for a visit from his little niece, Pistachio. He has lots of fun planned, but he can't help but feel curmudgeonly when Pistachio dismisses his ideas and spends all of her time playing in the waves. However, an upcoming rummage sale (which Mousse also grumps about) sends them to the attic, where old treasures and memories await, and maybe Pistachio will be convinced that there are more wonderful things than the beach afterall.

It's a charming, quirky, pastoral tale. Not having read the two previous Mousse books, I enjoyed this one as a standalone, and I left curious to know more about this little world. Mousse and Pistachio's interactions illustrate how sometimes people come across as grumpy and set in their ways, like Mousse, especially when faced with a child's carefree and perhaps selfish enthusiasm. Yet inside Mousse is a great big lovable heart that delights in sharing his world with friends and family, even if he grumbles a bit and claims not to see the point in rummage sales, and argues with potential buyers the entire time. I see people who I know in Mousse, as well as a little bit of myself.

This is a great summertime pick for readers who are looking for both words and pictures, and to chuckle at the love and patience shared among family.