Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Dakota Crumb: Tiny Treasure Hunter by Jamie Michalak, illustrated by Kelly Murphy

  Years ago I enjoyed Michalak's Joe and Sparky early readers, but it's been a while since I've looked at any of her work. This was a fun book with an emphasis on the miniature, something I (and quite a few of my library kids) always enjoy.

As the sky over a museum, in a busy city, fades to purple and inside the museum darkens and closes, a tiny mouse zips out to explore. Dakota Crumb, with a sack, a map, a coil of rope, and a cozy red sweater, is on a search for treasure! She travels through the museum, seeing ancient masks and statues, modern paintings, and avoiding the night staff and cleaners while she collects tiny artifacts and treasures.

Later, in an alley in the city, bugs, birds, and rodents line up to visit a tiny door and see the grand opening of... Mousehole Museum! Sharp-eyed readers will spy all the treasures Dakota Crumb collected, displayed in the Itty Bitty Gallery, Vault of Shiny Things, and Gift Shop. A final spread shows all the things Dakota didn't find but that readers can look for in the big museum!

Michalak's sing-song prose, with inner rhymes and exclamations, "Whoosh! WHOA! Too slow." make this a delightful read-aloud and one that kids will want to listen to over and over again.

Verdict: A delightful addition to storytimes and read-aloud sessions at home and in school. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781536203943; Published June 2021 by Candlewick; Review copy provided by publisher

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