Supermouse and the Volcano of Doom

SUPERMOUSE AND THE VOLCANO OF DOOM is a charming, superhero-style read with plenty of cheese. Supermouse stays busy fighting crime and saving the day around Mouseopolis, but he soon realizes that there is just too much for him to do on his own. He requests help from other superheroes with the intent of forming a squad, but he's not sure how much their powers will actually help. However, with a fondue volcano of cheese about to explode, Supermouse learns that their powers and willingness to help are sure to save the day!

What I loved: This is such a fun, light-hearted, and cute superhero story that will work well for elementary school aged readers. There are a lot of jokes and comical moments that allow caregivers to share in the laughs as they read along with young ones. With the older age target, the book manages to include clever flaps to lift and peek-throughs that seem more elegant and age appropriate, such as double flaps, a newspaper to read, and more. This makes the story feel more interactive along the way and is such a fun style.

The story itself is great with plenty to enjoy, including what feels relatively low stakes in a volcano of cheese about to explode. The messaging around not underestimating others, accepting help, working together, and playing to your own strengths will resonate with this age group, who may also appreciate the superhero angle. The illustrations are detailed, lush, and colorful, making for a book that is truly fun to read and feels like an early comic book. The text is clear and easy to read throughout, making this a good one for caregivers to read aloud and/or confident independent readers (beyond early reading stages) to read alone.

Final verdict: SUPERMOUSE AND THE VOLCANO OF DOOM is a charming and silly picture book about an unlikely band of superheroes who save the day from fondue. Clever use of lift-the-flaps and peek-throughs elevate this colorful story for elementary school aged readers.