Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
What's it like to possess a truly impressive talent? Sisters Mentzel and Menzel explore this question through the unevenly told story of Dee, a young brown mouse who's a precocious belter: "With my tail in my hand,/ My whiskers out proud," she sings, holding the end of her tail like a mic, "I sing it big/ I sing it/ La, La, La, La,/ LOUD." When Dee shares her voice in public for the first time at show-and-tell, her performance and its reception are so "resounding" that she's transformed into a giant-size version of herself. It's fun at first--Sinquett's digital cartoons, which lean into pinks and purples, initially go for gentle comedy as Dee wrangles her now-enormous body in a kid-size world--but the mouse ends up feeling lonely and isolated from everyday life. Oddly, no one else grows physically upon sharing, and one student's show-and-tell is portrayed as boring to others, giving a prima donna vibe to Dee's transformation. Even so, familial love and wisdom help her embrace the gift that sets her apart; as her little sister asks, "Do you think a star can choose not to shine?" Ages 3--5. Authors' agent: Jennifer Hoel, ICM Partners. Illustrator's agent: Christy Ewers, CAT Agency. (Sept.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 4--Menzel and sister Mentzel collaborate on an autobiographical picture book starring Dee and younger sibling Cara Lee. They happen to be mice, but this is an all-animal-on-board inclusive book in Sinquett's charming illustrations, so Dee's teacher, Miss Pink, seems a bit piglike, and Principal Hummingbird is, in fact, a hummingbird. The assignment is to bring something that symbolizes what she likes to do to class, and what Dee loves is to sing. She is confident. She is loud. And as a result, she expands and becomes a giant for the day, and feels so awkward and out of sorts that she thinks perhaps she'll never sing again. Cara Lee provides comfort that night and Dee is the star of the show the following evening. Readers do not know how she got the solo slot so quickly, but, like Broadway's quick, condensed plotting, best not to ask questions. Children will love the mouse sisters and the funny classroom scenes; although Cara Lee certainly takes a backseat in the story, the bonds of family feel authentic. VERDICT Come for the celebrity, stay for the tunes; children will relate to this tale of following your dreams even if it means getting loud.--Kimberly Olson Fakih
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A little mouse experiences BIG changes thanks to a spectacular talent. Dee's a singer to her core. She croons absolutely everywhere, so when her teacher Miss Pink suggests that her students bring in something that symbolizes what they enjoy doing, Dee brings in a song. As she sings it, however, her joy causes her to physically grow huge! At first this makes her feel special, but as the day goes on she feels lonely and out of place. Shrinking back to her normal size, she worries that this means she can never sing again. But thanks to the encouragement of her mother and little sister, she realizes that being special is nothing to be ashamed of. However, though her classmates have skills of their own, only Dee changes, indicating that some talents are more transformative than others. After all, while everyone is enthralled by Dee, Ren the turtle's talent for drawing a replica of a space station is something he "made everyone watch." The true standout in this show comes from Sinquett's dynamic art, capable of encompassing the emotional highs and lows of elementary school kids. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A muddled message shoots for the moon but never quite gets all the way off the ground. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
