Prahin (Elbert, the Curious Clock Tower Bear) avoids distractions in this story that, like the river it features, flows steadily forward. Mouse wants to lie in the sun in peace, but she lives in a house with a cat who wants to eat her. One day, she resolves to act. Climbing into a ship-in-a-bottle with some gingersnaps, she waits for the cat to tip it out the window and into the river that runs below. New friends initially prove merely gingersnap-interested, and foul weather overtakes her, but she faithfully rides the bottle and the river while looking for a safe new home. Prahin renders engaging characters and dreamlike backdrops in a palette of verdant fresh greens, pale blues, and touches of old rose. The ship-in-a-bottle charms (it's like a small, seaworthy caravan), and Mouse is a poised hero, as when she introduces herself to a chipmunk despite the fact that she's sopping wet and out of food: "Mouse drew herself up nice and tall. 'I don't have any gingersnaps.' " It's a pleasure for readers to be there when she can stretch out in the sun at last. Ages 3--7. Agent: Paul Rodeen, Rodeen Literary. (June)

Mouse enjoys simple pleasures, like eating gingersnaps, basking in the sun, and climbing aboard the mouse-sized ship in a bottle. Unfortunately, Cat enjoys trying to eat Mouse at every turn, so Mouse stuffs the ship's bottle with gingersnaps, boards her favorite vessel, and lets Cat pounce her, and so the bottle, off the window ledge and into the gentle river below. Panels in teal, lime, and cotton-candy pink show Mouse's adventure down the river, which has peaceful moments and scary ones--grabby seagulls! cookie-stealing bunnies! The biggest fright comes when a fierce storm forms, casting a gray pall over the scene as lightning zips and dark waves crash, roughly tossing the bottle and its tiny traveler about. When the water finally settles, Mouse paddles to shore, where she's greeted by a friendly chipmunk, a snack, and new friends who don't want to eat her. Prahin gives little ones a thrilling adventure in miniature with this mouse-centered tale. Because most of the storytelling is done through the illustrations, this book works best for individual reading or one-on-one sharing.

At the helm of her fine boat, a mouse finds a new home and a new life. Fed up with Cat's endless quest to eat her, Mouse fills the bottle around her ship with gingersnaps, a favorite treat, and floats away in search of a safer, happier existence. The journey isn't altogether smooth sailing at first, what with rapacious sea gulls and other hungry creatures greeting her and depleting her cookie stash. Add in stormy weather, and Mouse seemingly has bigger problems than she had with Cat. Fortunately, she has courage, ingenuity, and strength on her side. When the bottle at last reaches the shore of a large city, the ship in a bottle turns out to be an even better deal than Mouse originally believed: She realizes her good luck in discovering welcoming, helpful new friends--and a new culinary delight (kids will easily relate). As for Cat? In the end, it's still waiting, morosely and comically, at an open window. This simply told, sweet, gently humorous story will have great appeal for young readers/listeners, and Mouse is a quietly charming heroine kids will earnestly root for. Delightful, pastel-colored cartoon illustrations beguile, competently suggesting place, atmosphere, and emotional heft; their varied presentation in full spreads and softly outlined panels very ably drives the text. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Time spent in this bottle is time well spent indeed. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.