The Boat

The Boat is a short picture story, written & illustrated by Monique Felix. *There is NO text!* That's right! It's a picture book, but don't assume it's only for the preschool set. When words are missing, imagination has more freedom to develop. The drawings and problem solving aspects of the tale might inspire someone of any age. I discovered Monique Felix about 20 years ago when I was reading to my two young daughters. They adored the clever little mouse and we would take turns "reading" the pages. I never got tired of reading those books - it was always a fresh story, and now one of my fondest memories. The girls have graduated college, are working adults, but still they ask about these books which brought us all such good times. (Mom won't give them up!) The author's drawings are quite detailed as weather or seasons change. The mouse's expression of emotion varies on each page, as Monique Felix brings the little mouse to life. These are more or less "naturalistic" drawings. Cute, but not cutesy, cloying, or cartoon-like. They have a timelessness of style. Caveat Emptor -YMV Just as a side note: I am reviewing an edition from a different publisher. My edition of "The Boat" was actually called "The further adventures of the little mouse trapped in a book" c. 1983 and what is sold here as "Wind", I have as "The story of a little mouse trapped in a book." c. 1980 Both were "A Star & Elephant Book from The Green Tiger Press"

This is a very lovely little book. It has no words, only beautifully-painted pictures. The little mouse scampers over a blank book and carefully chews away at the page, revealing the ocean underneath. He proceeds to make a little paper boat with the page and sails away to adventures on the high seas.