The Great Cheese Squeeze: A Gruntly and Iggy Adventure

I have not seen a children's book with as detailed and exciting computer illustrations as this. The guys who make Veggie Tales present Mr. Gruntly Fromage, a mouse, and the Reverend Ignatious O. Bumblesmog a frog who looks something like a snake with long wool knit socks. In this adventure, Iggy and Gruntly work on their cheese sculptor and stinky socks. This highly original, delightful tale mixes the gentle friendship of "Frog and Toad Together" with the silliness of Dr. Suess, with a dash of Shel Silverstein tossed in. I fully recommend "The Great Cheese Squeeze" Bryan Ballinger and Keith Lango. Anthony Trendl editor, HungarianBookstore.com

The story is rich with details. I loved the lighthouse on the prairie. My two boys were constantly quizzing me on the sillyness. The animation is breath taking. I fell in love with Gruntly and anyone who knows me, knows I dislike mice greatly! So, when is the next one?

The illustrations in this book are exceptional. There are so many 3-D details from the life-like expressions on the characters' faces (Iggy's face as he's trying to reinflate hot dogs with a bicycle pump is priceless!)to the crumbs of cheese on Gruntly's workshop floor to the labels on the jars of Iggy's buggy bits. The story line is entertaining and has a good message about the importance of working together to achieve goals, yet it isn't preachy nor does it talk down to kids. And there is just the right amount of grossness to really appeal to kids (stinky toes, bug parts, dirty socks). It's the kind of book you can read over and over and not get tired of, because you find something new each time. I bought one for my neice and my co-worker's son.

Written and illustrated as a collaboration between Bryan Ballinger and Keith Lango, The Great Cheese Squeeze: A Gruntly & Iggy Adventure is a remarkable and very highly recommended children's picture book about Gruntly, a prairie mouse with a passion for sculpting "cheese toes", and Iggy, his froggy friend. This gentle tale about the power of cooperation is wonderfully brought to life with color illustrations that appear like photographs of incredible, three-dimensional sculpted and crafted scenes of the wacky characters and their world. The Great Cheese Squeeze is a treat for the eyes, as well as an engaging and original story for young readers.

I just read this book, after buying it for my friend's kid. HILARIOUS!! With quotes like "I flattened those furters on purpose!", you really can't go wrong.The story is cute and humorous with enough wit to keep children and adults BOTH entertained, which makes it a lot more fun. And the drawings are really rich, with lots of details. I guess they're computer-rendered or something, sorta like Toy Story, which makes them seem very realistic.I definitely think most young kids would like this book, especially because it hilights stinky feet!I hope they put out a few more titles with these characters. Iggy and Gruntly get MY vote!