Children’s Book Review: The Travel Adventures of PJ Mouse By Gwyneth Jane Page and A Giveaway

I’m joining with other bloggers to share a couple of great books with you as well as offer a wonderful giveaway. To see all the participating blogs on the iRead Book Tour, click HERE.

THE TRAVEL ADVENTURES OF PJ MOUSE IN CANADA

By: Gwyneth Jane Page

Illustrated By: Megan Elizabeth

Published: February 2014

Publisher: Friesen Press

PJ Mouse is found under a bench, wet and cold by Emily who takes PJ home. PJ is a stuffed mouse and becomes part of Emily’s family. PJ is thrilled to find out Emily and her family are leaving on an adventure across Canada and PJ gets to go along. Even though this is a fictional story with a talking stuffed mouse, children and parents can learn about the country being visited by the family. Through conversations, and PJ’s many questions, we learn about taking a ferry, walking across a glacier, a salt water lake, Niagara Falls, and much more during their trip through Canada.

Emily and her siblings treat PJ as one of the family and take him along on all the adventures, explaining the unique characteristics and special notes about each location. The story is age-appropriate for young children to keep them interested and yet factual based. Parents will enjoy learning about the uniqueness of each location along with their child. Besides learning about the tourist attractions, the reader will also be introduced to the language and the culture of the country. The chapters are the perfect length to read one at bedtime, leaving the child interested in hearing the next stop on PJ’s adventure the next night.

The author’s daughter is the illustrator. The cute colored pencil drawings of PJ Mouse on his many adventures are adorable and will help younger children stay interested in a chapter book.

I love books that combine creativity, imagination and learning into a story Since our family will be traveling to Niagara Falls and Canada this summer, I found this book interesting even without a young child to read to. I hope that the author continues to find new adventures for PJ Mouse and his family to share with readers.

THE TRAVEL ADVENTURES OF PJ MOUSE IN QUEENSLAND

By: Gwyneth Jane Page

Illustrated By: Megan Elizabeth

Published: December 2014

Publisher: First Choice Books

In the second book in the PJ Mouse series, PJ and his new family embark on an adventure through Australia. PJ is a stuffed mouse that Emily found wet and dirty under a bench. After bringing him home and washing him up, he became part of the family. Even the family cat likes PJ Mouse.

After taking a very long airplane ride, PJ Mouse and the family arrive in Australia. Their first stop is a theme park where PJ faces his fears on a number of exciting rides. The Great Barrier Reef allows PJ to meet a new friend after nearly becoming lost. More adventures on the beach and in the rainforest create funny situations that PJ must try to get himself out of. These silly predicaments will help children with problem solving and remind them that getting help from others is sometimes necessary.

Megan Elizabeth has created some gorgeous drawings to accompany this story. My favorite illustrations were during PJ’s visit to the Great Barrier Reef.  She also includes a illustrated map of the country with their journey marked out so the reader can see how far across the country they have traveled.

I’m very impressed with this series of books and hope that PJ continues his adventures to other countries.

Gwyneth Jane Page and Megan Elizabeth