The Mouse Who Carried a House on His Back

As the title suggests, this fable is about Vincent, a mouse, who carries a house on his back. After Vincent sets his house down, an array of animal travelers come by, weary from the road. Vincent invites the animals into his house; at first, the animals express concern that his house is too small for them, but they quickly discover that Vincent’s house is much larger inside than it appears outside. The last to arrive is a bear whom the other animals do not want to let in. Vincent’s hospitality knows no bounds, and the bear is allowed in where he turns out to be “not-so-scary”.

The story is fine, and the moral, about hospitality and generosity, fairly obvious. The simple words of the narrative and their presentation in a standard black font are great for early readers. The formal text fits the tone of the story, and the repetition, as often found in fables, is predictable, yet comforting.

Arsenault’s illustrations, appropriately twee, are rendered in gouache, ink, and cut paper, and the results are colourful and textured. The animals, pictured in preppy clothes, and the interior of Vincent’s house, with its mismatched furniture and cozy warmth, have a Wes Anderson vibe. House-shaped cut-outs add a fun tactile element. On one page, the shape is a blank outline of Vincent’s house, but, when you turn the page, the same cut-out shows the animal traveler inside. The house, both the inside and outside, gets larger and more elaborate with each animal who arrives. However, there is some disharmony between the illustrations and text. While the text refers to a single dwelling, the illustrations sometimes depict the house as multiple side-by-side buildings, such as in a 4-page spread that folds out from the middle of the book.

A gentle story with outstanding illustrations, The Mouse Who Carried a House on His Back is an easy and beautiful read that will appeal to kids and adults alike.