Adventuremice: Otter Chaos

My seven-year-old daughter and I love this book in every way! The story is highly engaging and fun, with a lovely message about being kind and helping others, as well as being brave and bold. On the first two pages, this book presents seven wonderfully illustrated quirky mice and we get to know their names and personalities. The story then begins and we meet Pedro, a young mouse desperate for an adventure. He soon gets up to mischief with the AdventureMice crew, initially causing more havoc than help! However, his kind nature prevails and ensures that a hungry otter is no longer a threat to the Mouse Islands.

We spent a long time discussing the expressive, immersive pictures which bring a lively characterisation to each mouse. The words are the prefect level for my daughter to read out loud to me, and we took it in turns to read page-by-page. Hearty-warming and fun, this book was an absolute delight to read together. At the end of the book, the reader is treated to a wonderfully illustrated map, detailing the fabulous world of these miniature mice heros and their mouse community, as well as a truly fabulous step-by-step guide to learn how to draw Pedro. We had a great time re-creating him. We fell in love with the AdventureMice and both myself and my daughter are very much looking forward to reading the next instalment of this charming series of books.

128 pages / Reviewed by Jemma Jeffrey, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 5+

Any adult will tell you that the best way to get a child to do something is to tell them not to do it. This is exactly what happens to Pedro! Looking for an adventure, he sets off on a journey to find the mysterious Mouse Islands. Swept out to sea with his suitcase he tells himself he must be brave. Rescued in the nick of time, he is taken to the very islands that he was searching for. With a boat, a submarine, a seaplane and even a helicopter, there is no end to the daring rescues which can be made to protect the islands.

Adventuremice: Otter Chaos is a beautifully produced book in full colour. It is aimed at the young chapter book reader who is gaining confidence in their fluency. Such a high quality story line and use of language laced with humour is guaranteed to leave them wanting to read more. The beautifully coloured illustrations throughout the story allow the reader to be seamlessly transported into Pedro's world to experience his rollercoaster of emotions. It is these fabulous illustrations that will draw children in as you read the story aloud as well as keeping those reluctant readers hooked. 

If you are looking for a read-aloud story for KS1 or lower KS2 pupils, then you will struggle to find one more engaging than this. It is on my 'must read' list for all pupils including reluctant readers. An absolute joy to read.

128 pages / Reviewed by Amanda Shipton, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 5+