Look Out, Patrick

Look Out, Patrick

Completely unaware of the many dangers surrounding him, Patrick, a self-confident little mouse, sets out on a springtime stroll, narrowly--and unwittingly--avoiding hungry animals, falling irons, and other potential catastrophesFrom Publishers WeeklyDynamic illustrations in vivid colors animate this tale of Patrick the mouse, out for a stroll on a summery day. Patrick wanders through scenes of blossoms and lush vegetation, taking in the greenery, the bird songs and the scent of nectar. But he is blissfully unaware of his close calls with the perils on every spread. A hawk that tries to scoop him up crashes into a tree that Patrick happens to be passing under; a snake tries to bite him, but misses when Patrick bends down to sniff a buttercup. Rats are foiled by water that pours out of a drain at an opportune moment. And finally, narrowly avoiding first a mousetrap and then a human foot, Patrick realizes he's in trouble when a falling iron misses him by millimeters. "That was a close one," he says. "This must be my lucky day!" Children will relish the wacky humor and be reassured by Patrick's ultimate deliverance from harm. Ages 2-6.Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.From School Library JournalKindergarten-Grade 2-- Patrick thinks the world a pleasant place; he is oblivious to the dangers around him and just as unaware of his narrow escapes. A hungry bird swoops and hits a branch just above him, and a hungry snake bites a pitchfork when the young mouse ducks to sniff a flower. All other dangers are unwittingly dodged until Patrick, aware of his final escape, exclaims, " 'That was a close one! Must be my lucky day!' " The illustrations, while depicting Patrick's near misses, fail to convey the sense of motion necessary to dramatize the action. The layouts are occasionally confusing, with some half-spreads running into each other and breaking the visual flow. While children may be drawn to the colorful, cartoonlike pictures, they are somewhat amateurish, and the rather mundane text fails to generate much excitement. Ron Roy's Three Ducks Went Wandering (Clarion, 1979) uses the same idea with more humor and success. --Lori A. Janick, Parkwood Elementary School, Pasadena, TXCopyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.