A Trip to the Bottom of the World with Mouse

by Frank Viva

Are we there yet?

There’s so much to see at the bottom of the world! Join a young explorer and his best friend, Mouse, on a sea journey to Antarctica, where they make new friends with penguins and a whale — and have all kinds of fun. Young readers won’t stop grinning as they’re swept away by the strange and magical world created by Frank Viva, the bestselling author of Along a Long Road, and they’ll want to start the book again as soon as they reach the end!

Genres: Picture Books, Graphic Novels, Childrens, Animals, Adventure, Travel, Comics

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 11, 2012

About the author

Frank Viva is an illustrator and designer who lives in Toronto, Canada. He is a cover artist for The New Yorker and sits on two college advisory boards. He is passionate about cooking, eating, and his daily bike ride to the office.

His first picture book, Along a Long Road, received wide critical acclaim and was chosen by the New York Times as one of the Ten Best Illustrated Books of 2011. A Trip to The Bottom of the World with Mouse is based on Frank’s experiences aboard a Russian research vessel during a trip to the Antarctic Peninsula.

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming and stylish easy reader with cartoonishly gorgeous illustrations of an Antarctic voyage. My son who is struggling to learn to read reached for this one of his own accord. I really hope we can learn to read it aloud together (I'm guessing he'll want to take the part of the mouse, whose plaintive refrain, "Can we go home now?" runs through the book). I can tell this is one that has potential to stand up to many, many, consecutive bedtimes.

[Emilia P · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to review this for the MCPL Children's Department blog. Cuz it's a comic book! And it's super-stylized! And it's all about looking at the pictures! Of starfish! Of buttons! Of whales!
I enjoyed this tremendously, though I must say I was confused by the warm water lake in the Antarctic. But I looked it up, it's real. How bout that huh. I must also say, I find myself reading an awful lot of books about anthropomorphic mice in the Children's Department. What's up with that!

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who knew this would be SO MUCH FUN to share in a library preschool story time?

I read the mouse's conversation bubbles in a little mouse voice.
I invited the children to shake their finger while saying "Not yet, Mouse" for the boy's conversation bubbles.

We all THOROUGHLY ENJOYED this book!

[Maija · Rating 4 out of 5]

I shan't lie, I was totally drawn to the colors. What wonderful graphic art!

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank Viva's illustrations made this book one that I wanted to read again.

Simple, tonal and muted, they drew me in and kept me there. When I learned that Frank had taken a similar trip on a research vessel, I dove back in and read it again.

Younger readers will pour over each page looking at the tiny details of this heartwarming story.

Everything about the book speaks of good design too. I especially like the look and feel of the paper and the jacket free cover. Oh, and the story is fun too! I'm immediately adding all of Frank Viva's books to my to be purchased list!

[Sarah Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has repetitive words to help emphasize the main idea of the text. They journey in Antartica and meet many animals, that we could discuss and couple with science lessons. It offers the concepts of patience, or change in perspective, as they switch from want to leave to wanting to never leave. This book could be fun to engage open-mindedness of new things and learning to love new places.

[Darlene Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

About a third of the book is about preparing and sailing to Antarctica. Mouse is a good explorer, but he's always asking the "when can we go home?" question. Illustrations show the vastness of the area, penguins, and whales. Mouse and his guide take a swim in the "thermal waters of a submerged volcano."

[Mary Hanna Wilson | Celebrate a Book · Rating 3 out of 5]

Join Mouse and his explorer friend as they journey to Antarctica where they will meet a few animal friends and take a warm water swim. This is a simple story with enough repetitive language for the earliest readers, yet plenty of new words are introduced as well. The illustrations are engaging without being overwhelming for young readers.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Viva tells the story of a researcher on a boat in the Antarctic with his friend the mouse. Together the explore the different animals and areas of the Antarctic circle. This is a short story that would be great for kids to identify different animals.

[Mary Potter-Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute introduction to Comics for kids. My little one loves to read it over and over. The color contrast is very nice and the simple wording, with some added humor, is a nice touch. It's a unique book that we both enjoy.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A boy and his mouse are on a journey to the bottom of the world to swim, take adventures, and see things.

[Melissa Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would be good for younger readers b/c of high contrast colors, and repetition in words and narrative structure. Also it is funny and cute!

[Heather M L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jackson loved his book and the mouse. He liked that the mouse kept asking to go home.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable. Ideal for beginning readers? Funny and fun. Good use of panels and syncing text with illustrations .

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good repetitive book. It is good for early readers.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great graphic novel style picture book for 1st grade readers.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Library find! I adored the illustrations in this cute picture book about traveling to the bottom of the world. The very long journey for mouse. Cute humor, easy to read.

[Cass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction graphic novel for new readers. Mouse's personality is run to read. Recommend as a gift for new readers.

[Deidra Chamberlain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanted to love this one, I love adventure stories, but the mouse was a hair too persistent.

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the illustrations, repetitive lists/questions Mouse has, and the color pallet. It is simple, short, and sweet.

[Amy M · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Rebecca Caufman]

An impatient mouse wants to go home as he sets floats on the sea with a human when they FINALLY do head home he asks if they can go back soon.

[CJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, great for early readers.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars for this graphic novel of an adventure to Antarctica with a whiney mouse

[Maeve · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

On a boat in the sea by Antarctica, observing nature and planning to go ashore.

[Jeimy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the illustrations.

[Robin Leach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am the mouse in the story.

[Colette · Rating 4 out of 5]

My wish is to travel the world like my youngest brother. He has traveled to more than 60% of the world, even to Antarctic! South America is the only continent he has not lived or traveled to with his job or for fun. Frank Viva expresses one trip to the bottom of the world, including being seasick, without the graphic nature of that experience. The mouse is a hook for the kids! Well done!

[Tania]

a book to read on future class visits to our library