Babymouse Goes for the Gold

Babymouse #20

by Jennifer L. Holm, Matthew Holm (Illustrator)

Babymouse has big dreams . . . and wet whiskers. She has joined the swim team and is ready to dive in. Next stop, the Olympics! But competitive sports aren’t really her strong suit. Will hard work and determination earn her a gold medal?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fiction, Childrens, Humor, Middle Grade, Sports

96 pages, Paperback

First published April 12, 2016

About the author

Jennifer L. Holm is a USA TODAY and NEW YORK TIMES-bestselling children's author with nearly 10 million books in print. She is the recipient of three Newbery Honors for her novels OUR ONLY MAY AMELIA, PENNY FROM HEAVEN, and TURTLE IN PARADISE and a Scott O'Dell Award for her novel FULL OF BEANS.

Jennifer collaborates with her brother, Matthew Holm, on three bestselling graphic novel series -- the Eisner Award-winning Babymouse series, the SUNNY series, and the Squish series. SQUISH is now an animated tv series on YouTube!

For more information, visit her website at www.jenniferholm.com.

Reviews

[Stefanie Foard · Rating 4 out of 5]

"If reading and eating cupcakes were an organized sport, you'd be a champion, Babymouse." You and me both, Babymouse. ;)

[Jennifer Rummel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Babymouse winner! And it's perfect for this year's summer reading program theme

[Yas · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book series was my kryptonite! also the fact that the writers are husband and wife is adorable🥹

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a terrific addition to the Babymouse series as Babymouse dreams of Olympic glory and then settles for joining the school swim team. As is typical for her, Babymouse finds out that she's bitten off a little bit more than she can chew. After all, swimming is hard work, and her team, the Shrimps, faces some tough competition. But she also finds camaraderie among the other swim team members and has a chance to stretch herself in many ways. When she oversleeps, misses the bus for an important meet, and causes the team to forfeit its match, Babymouse feels terribly guilty. But the Shrimps are forgiving, and they take her back. There are many important life lessons embedded in this book's pages, nestled among the humor. The book is worth its weight in gold medals. Truly, I love Babymouse because of her imperfections.

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

There have been such entertaining daydreams since Walter Mitty. This is never going to be my favorite Babymouse story because I don't like sports in general, but the swim team and the effort and comradery of any sort of team is depicted well. And the literary bent of Babymouse's daydreams prevents the stories from seeming too lesson-y.

Library copy

[Michele Knott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to give this 5 stars! False starts, DQ, starting blocks, chlorine, cap snapping, butterfly.... Babymouse is speaking my language!

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This really captured swim team!

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Babymouse's mom tells her she needs to get involved in a school sport instead of laying around and eating cupcakes after school every day. Babymouse decides swimming can't be all that tough and manages to get on the team. The Shrimps are quick to welcome Babymouse to the team, even if she isn't the best of swimmers. But Babymouse doesn't think she's contributing that much, swimming is way more demanding than she thought, and after overhearing a conversation, she decides to quit. But what if she's more important than she thinks?

A good lesson about perseverance, dangers of eavesdropping, and different ways someone can contribute to a team. The teams they have to swim against are quite intimidating, and someone really needs to do something about the giant squid at the bottom of the swimming pool. Yikes! Hand this to your favorite swimmer or Babymouse lover.

No content issues.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. Babymouse’s mom tells her she needs to pick an after school sport because she needs some physical activity because all she does is read and eat cupcakes every day after school so Babymouse chooses the swim team. I loved how realistic this book is. I love the fantastical ideas that Babymouse has in the other books even if she can’t always live up to her dreams in time but this book is much more realistic. Babymouse doesn’t expect much but she learns to be happy with the way things are and makes some great friends along the way. Definitely a cute book that I would recommend to young readers and a great way to end the series.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baby Mouse is so popular with my daughter who is 9 years old, and I can see why. Baby Mouse has a great imagination and in this book, she learns that making friends and being a part of a team is really about the friendships that you make, not so much about the sport, per se. I had never read a graphic novel before. I see now why the genre is so popular with kids. It is quick-paced, engaging pictures and easy to read. The theme is easily displayed and would lead to interesting conversations with students about friends and sportsmanship.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

After being forced out of a life of couch-potatoness, Babymouse joins the swim team, selecting it because it shouldn't be to hard. Very quickly she learns that swimming is in fact a sport, and more importantly it is a team sport that requires being there for your teammates. Can the often self-centered Babymouse learn to be a part of a team? Or will she go back to spending her free time eating cupcakes and watching television?

[Lexi D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of young readers struggle focusing on a page with just words. Baby Mouse is a clean and fun way to get kids interested in reading! The stories are adorable and tons of fun. Great for all middle schoolers.

[Carly Lozdoski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carmen: I liked how she ate cupcakes & read books on the couch. I like the part when she goes through her locker and imagined that there’s a secret world.

Mac: I like when baby mouse knocks into the squid and when the ameba was there.

[ashes ➷ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Babymouse learns the cutest little lessons about teamwork and friendship even under pressure (especially if you're not the "most valuable player" or best at whatever-it-is on your team.) Glad I've been reading these...

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and sweet book about friendship, fun, and swimming.

[Huwaidah]

Iyhyh

[Zuri · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book title is Babymouse Goes for the Gold. The book doesn’t have anything to do with the title and I like how the author made the book be about something totally different.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute book and it is very good for kids. I think Babymouse is a very funny character and I relate to her because I also daydream a lot.

[Rouge Unicorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just really liked it. It was funny, and it was the first sport book from Babymouse.

[Loren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute kids book.

[Andrea Labonte · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one wasn’t as great as the first 19 books but I love babymouse!

[Ellon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was really fun. I loved the message about teamwork and friendship and enjoying the sport instead of caring only about winning.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally I have finished Babymouse! She's such a delight! And I would happily read more if the Holms' ever publish more.

[Allie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wait, eating cupcakes and reading on the couch isn't an Olympic sport?

[Brielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is good but short

[Paula Greenfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the last book in this series, but well worth the read. I love this series.

[G_lalonde]

Babymouse needs to join a sport. She decides on swimming.

[s0ul_34t3r · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and sweet book about friendship, fun, and swimming.

[Tianna Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nostalgic is all I have to say!

[holden caulfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was the first time a group of people had ever welcomed babymouse with open arms and full acceptance 😭😭😭😭