The Ship in the Window

by Travis Jonker, Matthew Cordell (illustrator)

Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell and librarian Travis Jonker have crafted a timeless tale of a little mouse and a big adventure.

Mabel the mouse wants nothing more than to be a fearless sea captain traveling the world in search of adventure. Every night she watches a man carefully construct a model ship, as his son watches by her side. Mabel and the boy know the model ship is anything but a toy, but they both long to see if it can really float. So Mabel hatches a plan to make her seafaring dreams come true.

Illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell and children's librarian and reviewer Travis Jonker, The Ship in the Window celebrates the rewards of following your dreams and never losing the spirit of adventure.

Genres: Picture Books, Adventure, Animals, Childrens, Fantasy, Fiction, Art

40 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2024

Reviews

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matthew Cordell is one of my favorite illustrators (and it is not because I have meet the guy) because he can just take you into this world. I felt on the boat with Mabel. I wanted to go on this boat.

[Benji Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Travis Jonker and Matthew Cordell make a great team. This one is terrific.

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exquisite illustrations tell the tale of Mabel the mouse, a boy, and his father and their dreams for the model ship.

[Ethan Frederickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really sweet, we liked it.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is told from a mouse's point of view. Mabel is a mouse who lives in a house with a man and a boy. The man has built a beautiful model ship that is on display in the front window. Mabel watched the man build the ship all by himself and the boy was not allowed to help. The boy and the mouse both dream of sailing on the ship. Mabel decides to take action and it leads to a very satisfying conclusion. This is a dreamy kind of story and the illustrations work well to show the ship's allure and the longing felt by the boy and the mouse. A lovely book to share and ponder!

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mabel is a mouse with grand dreams of becoming a brave sea captain and traveling the world. As she watches a man labor over building a model ship, she can't help but wonder if it will sail. The man cherishes the boat and displays it in the window like a trophy, so she knows it isn't just some toy. However, when a storm rolls in, she decides she will do whatever it takes to become a captain.

THE SHIP IN THE WINDOW is an enchanting story about a mouse who will do anything to follow her dreams. With the vivid details in the illustrations, they engage a child's imagination while encouraging them to stand by their dreams. Mabel's antics also bring the father and son closer together as it rekindles their sense of adventure too.


Final Verdict: I would recommend this to children aged four and up who enjoy stories about ships, animals, adventure and following your dreams.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mabel is a mouse. She lives in a small house near the sea with a man and his son. And an amazing ship the man has built. Mabel loves the ship and dreams about taking it out on the water. Would it sail like a big ship? Only one way to find out!

An interesting note - the man building the ship is very protective of his creation. It makes sense - it is a detailed recreation of a ship, it's delicate, he has spent a lot of time working on it, etc. But - he won't let his son touch it. Until he sees how much joy the ship brings Mabel. And then he understands that it is something that should be shared instead of monopolizing the production of it just for himself. He learns to trust other people with his prized possession. I don't think it is a metaphor for everyone sharing everything - but it is interesting to watch the character development in the book.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that mistakes are made after all of the anticipation but in the end, love and passion win out.

In this delightful picture book illustrated by the awesome Cordell featuring a mouse, a mouse who imagines what it would be like to take the model ship of the man who lives in the house by the sea out to sea. And one day the mouse decides to do just that, having a nighttime adventure and as the mouse pulls the ship back to shore and the man and his young son see it and are happy-- ooops!

I love the illustrations and it compliments the fantasy of the mouse as the captain of a model ship.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Discovered at my library is a new book by Travis Jonker and illustrated by Matthew Cordell. From the beginning, I could see this was a magical tale. Where else can one find a mouse who, along with a young boy, who lives with a man in a little cabin by a little lake? That man, I assume is the father, has spent a lot of time building a wonderful model ship, and both the boy and the mouse, named Mabel, wonder if it will float, like a real ship. The opportunity arrives, and that's the rest of this wonderful story, with Cordell's signature black and white lines and a bit of the color blue, like the cover! It will be a special read-aloud about dreams and finding courage!

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tale of Mabel the mouse secretly observing a boy watching his father meticulously constructing a model of a schooner, leaves the tiny mouse in awe. One night Mabel sneaks out in a storm hoping to navigate this tiny schooner. This adventurous nautical tale is full of surprises, and will keep its young viewers glued to the magnificent detailed ink and watercolor illustrations. The patience of the father carefully building his exquisite schooner, and the little boy and tiny mouse observing the intricate process, leaves the two hungry for adventure. What an intriguing tale, that will leave a young audience thrilled! I loved the surprises and introduction to creating models of ships by hand.

[Ms. B · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's something special about Travis Jonker's latest story about Mabel, a mouse who longs for adventure, a young boy and a man who builds a model ship. Who will sail the ship? What will happen when the ship is sailed? If you liked Matthew Cordell's illustrations in last year's (2023) Evergreen, you'll love this too. It's my current favorite for the 2025 Caldecott Award.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young mouse and a young boy watch as the boy's father carefully crafts a model ship that he displays proudly but forbids anyone to touch. Both the boy and the mouse wonder if the ship could really sail. One night the mouse, Mabel, manages to get the boat out to the sea for a journey. All goes well until Mabel is distracted and hits the rocks, damaging the ship.

But all is well as the man learns that such things are meant for sharing. This is a sweet story and Matthew Cordell's gorgeous illustration nearly steal the book. Lovely!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is reminiscent of the old Golden Books "Scruffy the Tugboat" and "The Sailor Dog" among others. A mouse dreams of sailing a model ship--and then actually does so.
Cordell's illustrations are wonderful and greatly enhance the text.
Tie-in:
MIRM: highlighting the local-ish author and the inspiration for this story which is right in our own town.
Art: show the illustrator's amazing technique.
Information literacy: Caldecott Medal--compare with Wolf in the Snow (medal winner) and other books illustrated by Cordell.

[Laura Giessler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a well-crafted story, and I loved Matthew Cordell's muted line drawings. The illustrations create such a gentle tone, and they took me into Mable (the mouse)'s world/POV. In this short book, we get characterization (father = very particular, won't let the boy help or touch his prized model ship; and the boy and Mable full of dreams and longings), a solid plot with a lot of adventure, a climax, and a relatively satisfying resolution, with themes of forgiveness, beginning again, and prompts to consider what is truly important.

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A man builds a beautiful model ship that is his pride and joy. Mabel the resident mouse knows this because the man refused to let his son help and he keeps it in pride of place in front of the window. Mabel really wants to see if the ship will sail, and one day gets the chance. But will the outing end in disaster or a happily ever after?

I like the outcome of the sailing adventure for all parties. This is a quick, short little story, but those who dream of sailing a ship in a bottle or love animal adventures should enjoy it.

[Karen Kline · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming tale about trying new things, helping others and recovering from mistakes. A mouse lives with a man and a boy unbeknownst to the humans. The man builds a toy ship and the boy and the mouse wonder if it's seaworthy.

Line drawings with muted, watery tones set the mood with captivating detail.

A quick read with excellent pacing and well-timed page turns that will be a hit at storytime.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book by both Travis Jonker and Matthew Cordell is a bit of a dream come true for me. I adored the few wordless pages before the title page that offered a cute surprise of who other than the man and his child was enjoying this beautiful model ship. This story is of dreams, hopes, and curiosity and plays out perfectly. I believe this book is for all ages as it is simply precious.

I will certainly add this one to both of my elementary school collections!

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

A selfish man builds a model ship, which should be called Regret. He spends more time constructing his precious boat than he does enjoying life with his neglected boy until a mouse teaches both humans how to live a life without regrets. Blue-tinged illustrations evoke the sorrow of the man’s solipsism, the loneliness of his son, the mouse’s fear of pursuing her dream, and the ocean of possibilities awaiting those who dare to take the risks that life offers.

[Tina Hoggatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable, and adorably illustrated by Matthew Cordell - extra points for the nifty hand lettering in the titling. A mouse, a man, and a boy live together in a small cabin on a lake. The man's prized possession is a model boat he made and is very protective of. He won't even let the boy help. But the mouse keeps wondering if it would sail like a real boat, and what it would be like to be the captain and feel free...

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! What an adorable book about so much more than a model ship! Letting others help, going on an adventure, and beginning again. It is so sweet and lovely, and I could read it over and over again. I love the timelessness of the illustrations as well. It could take place today or 50 years ago. Brilliant work from this duo!

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been excited to read the latest book by Travis Jonker! I’ve followed him for years through Scope Notes and The Yarn. This book is a gem! Matthew Cordell’s beautiful illustrations are the perfect accompaniment to the story of the beautiful ship, the man who created it, his son, and the ship’s captain. Highly recommend! I look forward to sharing this with preschool classes later this year.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute
Possibly Caldecott worthy but doesn't note the materials used for the art. There is however a bottle of ink drawn on the back cover.

Mouse borrows a man's prize possession-a handcrafted sailboat-and takes it out for a night of joyriding only to crash it on the rocks in the morning of discovery.

[Shari (Shira) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children always are annoyed when adults have fantastic toys and won't share. In this story, not only is the child annoyed, the pet mouse is annoyed too! Then one day, the fantastic toy falls into the hands of one of its admirers. I loved the ending. The "fantastic toy" is "old school." Some children might need some background knowledge building.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ship in the Window tells the adorable story of a mouse who dreams of captaining the model ship in the window of a man and his son, the home that she lives in. It's cute and full of imagination and adventure and teamwork and unexpected friendship. The art is really dreamy and lovely to look at. I feel like my niece would love this one. Recommended!

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A father builds a beautiful model ship and displays it in the window. The model ship is important to him, but he won't let his son (or Mabel the mouse) touch it. Mabel wonders if the ship can actually sail. So does the son. One day, Mabel sees her chance and takes the boat for a sail...what will happen?

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matthew Cordell's illustrations are stunning and are the real storyteller in this delightful picture book. A father, son, and mouse all discover the power of love, imagination, and wonder through a wooden model boat. A definite Caldecott contender for this year!

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun picture book about a ship-not too many of those around. Mabel, a man and a boy all love the carefully crafted small ship. But Mabel can’t help but wonder would it really float in the ocean? What will happen if she tries it?

Beautiful illustrations.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got the book because of the pencil (ink?) illustrations [by Matthew Cordell]...and they did not disappoint...I find the mouse and the boy look quite similar.

Simple story...but I still wonder how the little mouse got the boat off a table, through the yard, and onto the water!!

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know we are supposed to be all "awww" at the forgiveness, but Mabel is a thief and a shipwrecker! And how the hell did she set up that pulley? And did the humans know she lived there? How did she get her hat and scarf?

Sometimes my crotchety old man comes out and I can't just enjoy the story.

[Caity · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really sweet story. I loved the artwork and how well it helped show how important the boat was to all the characters. This would be such a great book to read together, it has a very cozy feel to it.