Douglas by Randy Cecil
Published by Candlewick Press on September 10th 2019
ISBN: 0763633976
Pages: 120
Goodreads

Randy Cecil continues to delight readers with Douglas, a companion book to Lucy (2016). Douglas follows the adventures of a small mouse that slips into the sweater pocket of a little girl named Iris while she is at the movie theater. Once discovered at her home, Iris dresses the mouse in a doll’s sweater and names her after Iris’ favorite actor, Douglas Fairbanks (Iris either doesn’t know or doesn’t care that the mouse is female, and assigns her a male name). Douglas’ storyline is sweet, and the points of view are seamlessly handed off from one character to another as the reader follows Douglas in her travels as she attempts to return to the safety of her movie theater home. Told in four acts, the narrative shifts viewpoints between multiple characters with each numbered chapter. There are ample cliffhangers and visual nuances to keep the reader turning the pages. With limited text on each page, Douglas would be well suited for reluctant readers. Cecil’s black and white artwork is a fantastic combination of simple yet detailed renderings, infused with humor and emotion. Douglas tells the story of bravery, perseverance, and friendship, and will delight its target audience of children aged 5 – 8 years.

Reviewed by Jennifer Benham, Prince Memorial Library, Cumberland