Mouse in the house

K-Gr 2--In this amusing story, a resourceful mouse is able to outwit two mice-catchers who are not very good at their jobs.The tale begins when the catchers, Mr. Bosh, who is light brown--skinned with a black broomstick moustache, and Mr. Bumble, white, show up at the wrong house, and things don't really get any better from there. Traps are set and various animals, including a tiger and an elephant, are brought in to try and catch the mouse, but to no avail. The incompetence of the catchers eventually leads to a much bigger catastrophe than having a mouse in the house. Ayto's colorful, expressive illustrations perfectly complement this fun tale. The art is cartoonish and childlike, with long, strong lines and vibrant colors. VERDICT This entertaining story is recommended for purchase, and is an ideal choice for an early elementary school read-aloud.--Melanie Kletter, School Library Journal

Hired to catch a mouse, Bosh & Bumble Mouse-Catchers take an improbable approach. Big Chief Mouse-Catcher Mr. Bosh and his appropriately named Assistant Mouse-Catcher, Mr. Bumble, arrive in their van to remove a mouse at the request of a homeowner. Bosh dispatches Bumble with a stack of cheese-loaded mousetraps, instructing him to "go in and set the traps…and SNAP! That will be that." Unfortunately, the mouse cleverly removes the cheese without triggering the traps. When Bumble returns, his squeaking shoes trip the traps, snapping him. Undaunted, Bosh orders Bumble to get a cat. Bumble produces a guard dog trained to protect homes from intruders, and it attacks Bumble instead of the mouse. Again, Bosh tells Bumble to get a cat. Bumble returns with a tiger, which predictably ignores the mouse and tackles Bumble. When Bosh's final order for Bumble to get a cat sees Bumble leading in an elephant, the results prove catastrophic. Repetition in text and plot play a significant role in this ridiculous farce, with Bosh foolishly sending the obviously inept Bumble on the same errand with increasingly ludicrous results, dooming the enterprise. The colorful, comic illustrations, rendered in bold lines and simple shapes and featuring Bosh, Bumble, and assorted mousers with hilarious facial expressions and postures, add greatly to the humor and aura of absurd incompetence. Bosh has olive skin, and Bumble presents White. A silly, rib-tickling comedy of errors. (Picture book. 4-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.