Douglas

Gr 2-4--Douglas Fairbanks was a star of silent film, known for playing dashing rogues like Don Juan, Zorro, and Robin Hood. "Douglas Fairbanks" is also the name of a small female mouse in this adorable book. The tiny rodent is given that name by Iris Espinosa, a young girl who picks up the mouse at the Majestic Cinema and names it after her favorite screen actor. That chance meeting is the first of a series of adventures for Douglas, who goes on wild adventures like her namesake, except on a smaller scale: riding in coat pockets, fleeing hungry felines, and swinging from clotheslines. Told in four acts, each page has no more than two paragraphs. The text includes no dialogue, as if it too were a silent movie. The duotone artwork also recalls these black-and-white films of the past. Each act is introduced with a dramatic two-page panoramic spread of the city block where Douglas has her adventures. Above the jagged rooftops are clouds that look like kernels of freshly popped popcorn. The text is accompanied by more intimate circular illustrations, each one a peephole into the charming town of Bloomville. The story takes place over a few days but feels like the adventure of a lifetime. VERDICT Cecil's tale is reminiscent of Kate DiCamillo, Beverly Cleary, or any other author exploring the inner lives of animals and how they interact with a human world that can be big and scary, as well as full of love and friendship.--Chance Lee Joyner, Wilton Public and Gregg Free Library, NH

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

In this superb companion tale to Cecil's Lucy (2016), the worlds of a moviegoing girl, an audacious mouse, and a crafty cat mingle and clash in Bloomville...The artist's duotone-spun, vintage artwork recalls the quaint splendors of yesteryear, peppered with minor visual gags and worldbuilding details. Primary human characters present white. A splendiferous wowzer.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

The book is organized into four "acts," and repetition is employed to interweave story lines and characters. The plot is well paced and smartly presented, with no more than a few sentences on each page. A thoughtful balance of image and text allows for gentle humor to emerge as readers follow the intrepid mouse's adventures.
—The Horn Book

The book follows Douglas throughout the city, highlighting a variety of subplots—the one with a boy finding a companion in one of Douglas' feline pursuers is particularly satisfying—and youngsters familiar with the eponymous Lucy of the last book will be happy to spot her here. While the vocabulary will likely stretch some kids' skills, the focused illustrations and episodic "acts" make this an easy pick for transitional readers.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Cecil's tale is reminiscent of Kate DiCamillo, Beverly Cleary, or any other author exploring the inner lives of animals and how they interact with a human world that can be big and scary, as well as full of love and friendship.
—School Library Journal

All types of readers will be rooting for the little mouse to make it home safely. It would make a great read aloud and teachers could use it as a catalyst for many creative projects. Since the story ends with Douglas back in Iris's pocket, students could create new and original adventures of their own design either through writing, podcasting, or making videos.
—School Library Connection