– Anyone Smell A Rat? Er, I Mean . . . –
Author/Illustrator: Pato Mena
Translated by: Celine Siret
Publisher: NubeOcho (September 17, 2019)
- Genre: Picture Book
- Pages: 48 pages
My Thoughts:
Since Moles live underground and can barely see, they have costume parties that are very different.
Due to their terrific sense of smell, they come smelling, and not dressing like a different animal. (This is all explained before the story begins.)
The first smelly guest comes with a slight costume, I guess that’s for the benefit of the reader, not the moles. But with a SNIFF, SNIFF, SNIFF Wonder Mole identifies the guest as a mole-friend disguised and scented as a jaguar.
Then comes moles dressed and scented as a frog, fox, and a crocodile. And what a surprise, one guest smells, and to the reader, looks very much like a weasel!
Could it be a clever weasel is attempting to crash a mole party and find a tasty meal?
Will he manage to get away with his plan? After all, smelling and looking like a weasel shouldn’t really be a problem since that’s what this party is all about. Being something other than a mole.
My Concerns
We read that they don’t wear costumes and every mole has a slight costume on in the illustrations. I understand the need to wear them. I just think the introduction could have been changed which might have made it less confusing.
While the ending was cute, I’m not sure it’s enough to make up for an otherwise ordinary story and illustrations.
What I Liked Most:
I like that when the hedgehog neighbor comes over to ask the group to be a little less loud, something unexpected and funny happens.
I also like the illustrations of the weasel, he is quite cute.
About The Author:
Pato Mena is a young author and illustrator from Chile residing in Barcelona. His books have been published in Chile, Spain, Korea, and China. On two occasions, he has been awarded creative grants by the government of Chile. The Perfect Siesta, published in the United States by NubeOcho both in English and in Spanish, is a huge success and has received the Junior Library Guild Selection.
