Little Mouse Helps Out

Little Mouse Helps Out by Riikka Jäntti (Scribe) HB RRP $17.99

IBSN 9781925321876

Reviewed by Kate Simpson

Little Mouse Help Out is another delightfully illustrated picture book for toddlers and pre-schoolers by Riikka Jäntti, following on from 2016’s Little Mouse. The story follows Mummy Mouse and Little Mouse as they prepare the house for a play date with Little Mouse’s friend Pip. As young children and their parents will understand, helping out doesn’t always go smoothly: there is spilled juice and an argument over a mop, among other minor mishaps. When Pip does at last arrive, a fun afternoon’s play is disrupted by a dispute over a favourite toy.

This is a story of the everyday troubles of pre-schooler life, which both children and their parents will relate to. But the real charm of this book lies in the delightful expressiveness of Jäntti’s illustrations, with each cheeky grin or sulky pout bringing Little Mouse to life for young and old.

The gentle story and slightly muted tones of the illustrations make this a good choice for a quiet moment – perhaps at bedtime or to forestall a meltdown. The story is longer than many picture books that target the toddler and preschool crowd, so it is best suited to children with a long attention span or indeed for slightly older children (up to age 6) who will still relate to the little mishaps that pepper Little Mouse’s day.