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Reviewed by Luwi Nyakansaila for Readers' Favorite
Hoodwinked: A Deer Mouse Tale of Courage is a children’s picture book written by Carolyn McBee with illustrations by Lily Boen. It follows the unexpected adventure of Clarence Rodentia, a deer mouse who wishes to return home. On Clarence’s 35th day (Independence Day), he ventures out alone for the first time and meets Constance, a confident little mouse, and they quickly become smitten. The pair marries that same day, establishes a nest they call Blue Heaven in a blue car on a farm, and plans to build their own colony. Unfortunately, Clarence discovers their home is not as secure as he thought, as he is driven away by Farmer Lee’s wife and dropped near the Black Tar River, where he has to find his way back home to Constance. Clarence faces his fears, learns about different mice, and encounters an untrustworthy character who almost costs him his life.
Hoodwinked: A Deer Mouse Tale of Courage is not just an adventure story about a mouse, but it is also packed with inspiring life lessons about family, love, facing trauma, and never giving up. Carolyn McBee weaves in real facts about how mice fit into the ecosystem, along with characters who jump off the page with their own quirks and personalities. The story travels through different cultures and languages, so there’s a real sense of celebrating everyone’s differences. Clarence steals the show. He dreams of having a family and happiness, but gets stuck in his own fears. Watching him face those fears, learn as he stumbles, and finally find his courage just sticks with you. The illustrations stand out, too—each page bursts with color. The textures and details in the art really highlight the magic in nature. I enjoyed reading this book. If you want a story that helps kids feel brave and strong and sparks a sense of adventure, this one’s a solid pick.
