School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2 When chased from the meat market after his escape from the pet store, Mouse dashes across the street into the dim, lofty chambers of a cathedral. He is in search of a real home. At first he is frightened by the carved faces of the statues, hostile resident mice, and crashing hymnbooks, but slowly Mouse learns his new terrain, enjoying the jeweled light from the stained glass windows and his new friend, the stone carver. It is the stone carver who provides a special home at last and declares his friend to be a real Cathedral Mouse. Softly colored pencil sketches capture the architectural detail and the wonderful light and atmosphere of the cathedral. Mouse is a vulnerable, inquisitive character who will surely appeal to children and will be popular in story hours. Nancy Curtin, Port Washington Public Library, N.Y. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
This warm, enchanting story concerns a homeless rodent who finds a dwelling in an unexpected place; ``Chorao's drawings,'' commented PW , ``are splendid--full of wonder and life. The. . .stained glass windows glow like the love Mouse finds in his new home.'' Ages 4-7. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Booklist Review
Ages 4-6. Mouse runs away from a pet shop to find a home of his own, but when he arrives at a cathedral it is not quite the sanctuary he hoped it would be. Despite its beauty, danger lurks everywhere-- a dropped book, a pack of unfriendly rats, a human hand, all mean trouble. Still, someone is watching out for Mouse as evinced by the periodic gifts of cheese and bread he receives. Finally, his benefactor makes himself known; he's one of the stone carvers working on the cathedral. It is through the man's concern that Mouse finally gets his own home-- a special hole carved into a pillar featuring a stone replica of Mouse on top. The story has both excitement and serenity as Mouse cavorts around the cathedral and basks in its beauty. Chorao, working in soft-hued color pencils, brings depth and texture to her pictures with graded shadings and a fine sense of perspective. The majesty of the cathedral is fully evidenced, Mouse is a plucky hero, and the black stone carver adds an extra dimension. A charmer. IC.
