BooksforTopics Reading for Pleasure Recommendations
This week marks the publication of The Umbrella Mouse to the Rescue by Anna Fargher – the sequel to the award-winning The Umbrella Mouse, which was based on the true stories of the heroic animals caught up in the conflict of World War 2.
Read on for a review of The Umbrella Mouse to the Rescue and then head over to author Anna’s guest booklist featuring her 5 favourite children’s books featuring animal stories.
Book Title: The Umbrella Mouse to the Rescue (available here)
Author: Anna Fargher
Illustrator: Sam Usher
Publisher: Macmillan
Publication Date: July 2020
Reviewer: Tami Wylie
Most Suitable For: KS2
Review
The story of Pip the umbrella mouse continues in this fantastic sequel to Anna Fargher’s The Umbrella Mouse, which snapped up the 2019 Sainsbury’s Book Prize for Fiction.
The story begins just after the raid on the Nacht und Nebel Camp, as the members of the French Resistance animal group Noah’s Ark are mourning the loss of some of their members. Pip the mouse has become a symbol of hope for the Resistance, inspiring other animals to join the cause. Still in the midst of war, Pip and her animal friends are in grave danger as they aid the humans in their fight against the Axis powers in France. Pip makes a perilous journey as danger comes from all sides – but Pip’s determination to do everything she can to fight for her friends never falters.
The narrative brings action and danger around every corner. The characters are so life-like that you almost forget they are animals and not human. Pip is the perfect little heroine embodying the notion that even the smallest acts can make a big difference. The story weaves themes of resilience, hope, love, family and friendship as it tells of the hardships caused by acts of war and the devastation that can be caused.
Fargher’s sequel will warm your heart, surprise you, stir your emotions and leave you with an overriding feeling of victory and hope.
You can order The Umbrella Mouse to the Rescue online or from your local bookshop or library.
Guest Post
Click here to read author Anna Fargher’s guest booklist featuring 5 classic animal stories for children.
—————-
You can order The Umbrella Mouse to the Rescue online or from your local bookshop or library.
Many thanks to the publishers at Macmillan for sending us a review copy and to Anna for providing the guest post. Check out the other stops on the blog tour, too.
———————
Where next?
> Visit our Reading for Pleasure Hub
> Browse our Topic Booklists
> View our printable year group booklists.
> See our Books of the Month.