Sumo Mouse

by David Wisniewski

"Grrr!" growl the cats. "Eeek!" squeak the mice. So it goes in the battle between cat and mouse. But when feline crime hits Tokyo, an unlikely hero strikes back. He's not lean and mean. He's round and profound. He's Sumo Mouse! And he's ready to wrestle all wrongdoers. But can this champion of justice squash the sinister schemes of Dr. Claw? Or will evil pin Sumo Mouse to the mat? Caldecott-winning illustrator David Wisniewski has wrestled brightly colored papers into fun, comic book-inspired collages for this action-packed mouse tale.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Japan, Superheroes, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

David R. Wisniewski was an American writer and illustrator best known for children's books.

He attended the University of Maryland, College Park but quit after one semester to join the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, graduating in 1973. He worked for several years as a clown before moving to Maryland and joining the Prince George's Country Puppet Theatre where he met his wife Donna Harris. In 1980, they started the Clarion Puppet Theatre (later known as the Clarion Shadow Theatre) which toured in schools, theaters and at the Smithsonian. After his children were born, he become a full-time author/ illustrator, using layers of cut paper to illustrate children's books. His book Golem, won the 1997 Caldecott Medal.

In his acceptance speech, he said of himself: "I am a self-taught artist and writer who depends on instincts developed through years of circus and puppet performance to guide a story's structure and look."

Reviews

[Hannah Rosenthal · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of our most beloved children books

[The Brothers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Asher (5yo) and Dex (3yo) both really liked this book. A gang of Japanese mafia cats are trying to round up mice to make their squeaky toys with, but they keep getting foiled by a masked Sumo mouse. Intrigue develops as they develop a plan to do in the Sumo mouse and keep up their evil plan.

Very interesting and somewhat different than the usual run-of-the-mill illustrations.

[Brandi (Brandi Janee's Bookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just read this with my little brother. I thought it was funny and pretty cute.

[Abby Hargreaves · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sumo Mouse is too busy at best, with words that get lost on distracting pages. Busy isn't inherently bad, but the color combinations and bold design here takes away from the overall story and writing. Interesting, Wisniewski is credited both for writing and illustrating the book. It appears this is a narrative that relies on the illustrations to carry the plot rather than the prose, which is surprisingly lengthy and dense. This definitely wouldn't be a candidate for story time. There many layers just make for too much going on and not enough time to get through it all.

[Johnny · Rating 2 out of 5]

The language is overly simple as is the story. It does introduce some vocabulary related to sumo wrestling, but really does not teach about the sport or Japanese culture in a meaningful way. It definitely smacks a bit of cultural appropriation.

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, let me say that I got thoroughly sick and tired of this book after reading it six times a day to my two nieces, aged 3.5 and almost-6!

I understand why they love the book, though. It's written in a comic book style with bold, bright artwork, an exciting plot, and lots of LOUD sound words to scream with me! Plus, there's a song on the inside covers. (Alas, you have to make up the tune yourself.)

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The kids seemed to think this book was ok, but I don't think they thought it was anything to write home about. Sumo Mouse definitely appealed to my nephew more than to my niece, and given his age (four), I was surprised that he picked up so quickly on some of the more subtle aspects of the story.

[Naomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't believe that I just gave this author 4 stars for another book. What was his strengths in his last book, he lost in this one. Done in the style of a graphic novel, this book had none of the creativity of Tough Cookie.

[Seashell · Rating 1 out of 5]

After I read this book to Q, she said, "what was that book about?" I said, "I have no idea".

[Colleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

What???

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll admit I haven't properly read the whole story, and I don't know if I ever intend too, my rating is purely for the lovely cut-paper artwork.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the graphics and like one of the other reviewers, ended up wondering what the book was really about! Oddly enough, it still was fun.

[Jetta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jake loved it. I would say 3.5 stars from me, luckily easy to read over and over as Jake hasn't tired of it yet.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute book about a masked vigilante sumo wrestler - so sort of a superhero book.

But nothing fantastic.

[Ilib4kids · Rating 5 out of 5]

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