Review by Booklist Review
Folksy, Grammy-winning children's music duo the Okee Dokee Brothers have converted one of their songs into a charming folktale with a moral. Mr. and Mrs. Muskrat live a quaint life in their cabin on the river. On one of their daily fishing trips, Mr. Muskrat hauls in the catch of a lifetime a magic fish who offers the Muskrats a wish if only they let him go. Mrs. Muskrat has simple dreams: a hammer and nails to patch up their roof, a new soup kettle, a warm quilt, while her husband's dreams are much more grandiose and lucrative. What they end up receiving will surprise readers and spark conversation about gratitude. Reese's full-bleed, jewel-toned illustrations are vivid, bright, and expressive, and they incorporate lively design choices. Mr. Muskrat's explosive interruptions, appearing in large text that engulfs the page, will certainly provoke plenty of giggles. An included CD has both the audiobook and songs from the band. Though the lesson at the end of the story isn't new, this sweet, down-home story is an unexpected delight.--Linsenmeyer, Erin Copyright 2017 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-3-A fun, folksy twist on "The Fisherman and His Wife." Every day, two muskrats leave their ramshackle cabin to go fishing. Mr. Muskrat hopes that they'll catch enough fish to make them rich. His wife just hopes they'll catch their dinner. One day, Mr. Muskrat hooks a magic catfish who promises them a wish if they'll let him go. While Mrs. Muskrat wants to wish for practical things, her husband has more extravagant ideas: a big house, then a mansion, then a 1,000-star hotel. The catfish says the magic words, and the muskrats rush off to see if their wish has been granted. Instead, they find their same ramshackle cabin; the only difference is that the old willow tree out front has fallen down. Mr. Muskrat is upset until they go inside and discover that the hole in their roof allows them to see a thousand stars above their heads. Awed by the beauty, Mr. Muskrat realizes what his wife knew all along-that they only ever needed the simple things. The illustrations are distinct and add to the Americana flavor of the story. The language is lively and complements the visuals. Children will delight in reciting the catfish's magic words each time. This title is more suited for slightly older readers, as some pages are lengthier than others. This offering also comes with a 12-track CD of original Okee Dokee Brothers songs (one track is also the audio recording of the book, which is helpful for beginning readers who want to follow along). The songs are fun additions and would be enjoyable during dance-specific programs or as a way to end storytime. VERDICT A charming retelling of a traditional tale, suitable for storytime or independent reading.-Paige Garrison, The Davis Academy, Sandy Springs, GA © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
