Lights, Camera, Middle School!

June 26, 2017
The star of the Holm siblings’ Babymouse books enters middle school in this illustrated novel, first in the Babymouse Tales from the Locker series. Babymouse is determined to stand out at school, but she isn’t sure how. “Goldilocks had it way easy,” she laments, trying to choose among multiple activities. “All she had to do was find the right bed!” Deciding that the Film Club might be her “chance to be Famous,” Babymouse signs up, and her grandiose vision of making an epic film lands her the roles of director and screenwriter. A comedy of fiascoes ensues: the cast and crew walk out when Babymouse gets too bossy, they regroup to illegally film scenes at a medieval fair, and they wind up with an inaudible five-hour movie. Babymouse’s bravado and wild romps of imagination (captured in boisterous comics sequences) keep the spotlight directly on her—not that she’d have it any other way. The Holms humorously tackle friendship, persistence, and cooperation; readers who have aged out of the original Babymouse books will happily join her in this new chapter. Ages 8–12. Agent: Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary Management.

May 1, 2017
With her trademark sassy panache, Babymouse embarks on a new adventure: middle school. Babymouse has traded in her A-line heart dress for stylish new leggings and is ready for middle school. Anxious to fit in and make friends, she worries over her clothes and her cafeteria social standing. When extracurricular activities are announced, she knows her choice is important. She decides to join the film club, and when her cinematic musings bring the club together, she is named director of their upcoming project, Au Revoir, My Locker. However, being the director is harder than Babymouse expects; when things go hilariously awry, will she be able to pull the group--and ultimately herself--back together? After 20 vivaciously pink and cheerful graphic novels, the Holms have revamped their winning franchise into a hybrid of text and prose, similar to such fan favorites as Cherise Mericle Harper's Fashion Kitty. This first in a series seamlessly blends many beloved elements from the graphic novels, including large comic panels with recognizable black-and-white illustrations, with their lively prose, making for a natural evolution for its maturing audience. Budding filmmakers will be delighted to find a glossary of film terms to help them understand the narrative's jargon. A smooth transition into a fresh format that should both resonate with existing fans and entice new ones. (Graphic fantasy. 7-12)

COPYRIGHT(2017) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

June 1, 2017

Gr 3-5-The Holms, the brother/sister team behind the graphic novel series "Squish" and "Babymouse," continue Babymouse's adventures, taking her into middle school. Much like Lincoln Peirce's "Big Nate" crossover chapter books, this new series will appeal to readers looking for slightly more challenging fare. Though this title contains more text than the original "Babymouse" books, there are numerous illustrations throughout, the font is large, and the difficulty of the language is comparable to that of previous books, making it ideal for fans crossing over into longer chapter book territory. Babymouse is just as energetic as ever, but now she's dealing with middle school drama and algebra. She doesn't want to fit in anymore-she wants to stand out! Babymouse finds the perfect opportunity in film club, where she is chosen to write and direct a movie inspired by her favorite epic dramas. She realizes that it's not as easy as she thought, with a diva leading actress and no budget. Ultimately, Babymouse learns that working as a team is more important than being a star. VERDICT A first purchase where the graphic novel series is popular. For fans of "Dork Diaries" and "Diary of a Wimpy Kid."-Jessica Ko, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2017
Grades 3-5 As she starts her middle-school career (and a brand new series), Babymouse has a yen to stand out. So she signs up for Film Club, and finds herself cast as director, writer, and impresario for an epic feature she grandly titles Au Revoir, My Locker. A steep learning curve ensues, as she not only gets a quick education in the ins and outs of scripting, casting, setting up scenes, and final editing, but she's also schooled in coping with demanding actors and, when her entire crew quits because she's so bossy, putting ego aside to mend fences. Interspersed with plenty of spot drawings and sequential panels in which older versions of Babymouse and her familiar supporting cast of friends and rivals mingle with new characters of diverse animal species, her hybrid narrative sweeps along to a grand premiere before the entire student bodywhich, to her disgust, erupts not in wild applause but hysterical laughter. You can practically hear legions of delighted fans chorus along as she delivers her signature response: Typical! (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2018
In this first entry of her middle-grade spinoff series, middle schooler Babymouse joins Film Club and undertakes the (wildly overambitious) epic Au Revoir, My Locker. Creative problem-solving and listening to friends help micromanaging director Babymouse develop into an eager and confident collaborator. The black-and-white illustrated novel format naturally features more text than the Babymouse graphic novels, but fans will find many of the series' hallmarks. Glos.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

September 1, 2017
Everyone's favorite messy-whiskered mouse has moved on from elementary school and pink-tinted graphic novels to middle school and a new spin-off series of middle-grade novels copiously illustrated in black and white. The format naturally features more text than the previous books, but fans will find many of the graphic novels' hallmarks, including comic-panel fantasy scenes. As before, Babymouse wrestles with friendships, math anxiety, cafeteria drama, and of course, "a love-hate relationship" with her locker. The intrepid middle schooler--taller and dressed in leggings with a heart-decorated tunic--declares that she wants to "stand out. I wanted to be the one everyone was talking about." To that end, she joins Film Club and, as screenwriter and director, undertakes the (wildly overambitious) epic Au Revoir, My Locker. Though club members seem unusually well versed in moviemaking fundamentals (thankfully, an appended glossary helps with jargon), our own type-A micromanaging director still has a lot of on-the-job learning to do. Creative problem-solving and listening to friends help Babymouse develop into an eager and confident collaborator. Readers who've grown up with Babymouse will welcome her new adventures. kitty flynn

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)