Babymouse
{{Short description|Graphic novel series by Matthew Holm and Jennifer L. Holm}}
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| creator = Matthew Holm (illustrator)
Jennifer L. Holm (writer)
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| owner = Random House
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| website = {{URL |web.archive.org/web/20120516081853/http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/babymouse|randomhouse.com/kids/babymouse}} (Internet Archive)
{{URL|http://www.babymouse.com/}} (current)
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Babymouse is an American graphic novel series created by American authors Matthew Holm and Jennifer L. Holm.{{cite web |title=Babymouse Series |website=Common Sense Media |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/babymouse-series |access-date=2024-12-29}} The series follows the titular character Babymouse as she navigates the hardships of elementary school.{{Cite web |last=Brianna |date=2011-08-11 |title=Review: Babymouse by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm |url=https://slatebreakers.com/2011/08/11/review-babymouse-by-jennifer-l-holm-matthew-holm/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=slatebreakers |language=en}}
As of 2024, the main series consists of twenty entries,{{cite news |title=Babymouse Series |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/BMO/babymouse/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |work=Random House}} as well as five entries in the spinoff series Tales From The Locker,{{cite news |title=Babymouse Tales from the Locker Series |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/B2T/babymouse-tales-from-the-locker/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |work=Random House}} which follows Babymouse as she enters middle school,{{Cite web |last=Lodge |first=Sally |date=2017-06-29 |title=Q & A with Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/74138-q-a-with-jennifer-l-holm-and-matthew-holm.html |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Publishers Weekly |language=en}} and The BIG Adventures of BabyMouse,{{cite news |title=The BIG Adventures of BabyMouse Series |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/MBF/the-big-adventures-of-babymouse/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |work=Random House}} another spinoff series featuring full-color print and a larger page size compared to the previous entries. Additionally, a picture book titled Little Babymouse and the Christmas Cupcakes,{{Cite web |title=Little Babymouse and the Christmas Cupcakes |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/531899/little-babymouse-and-the-christmas-cupcakes-by-jennifer-l-holm-illustrated-by-matthew-holm/9781101937433 |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=Penguin Random House Canada |language=English}} which was also the first entry in the series to feature full-color print, is aimed at younger readers. Squish is a spinoff series featuring Babymouse's science fair project, an anthropomorphic amoeba.{{Cite news |date=2011-05-13 |title=Science Fair Comics (Published 2011) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/15/books/review/childrens-books-babymouse-graphic-novels-by-jennifer-l-holm-and-matthew-holm.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241216013416/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/15/books/review/childrens-books-babymouse-graphic-novels-by-jennifer-l-holm-and-matthew-holm.html |archive-date=2024-12-16 |access-date=2025-01-01 |language=en}}
Babymouse has sold over three million copies, receiving praise from critics and readers alike for its humour and visual style.{{cite web |title=Children's Corner: 'Babymouse' is a superhero kids can identify with |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08176/892045-42.stm |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Post Gazette|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20101121123541/http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08176/892045-42.stm |archive-date=November 21, 2010 }}{{Cite web |title=Using Graphic Novels in Education: Babymouse |url=https://cbldf.org/2014/11/using-graphic-novels-in-education-babymouse/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=Comic Book Legal Defense Fund}}
Background
The first entry in the Babymouse series was finished in 2001, illustrated by Matthew Holm and written by his sister, Jennifer L. Holm. The book was not picked up by publishers for almost two years due to a lack of interest in the character. Eventually, the manuscript was sold to Random House in 2003, and the book was published in 2005.
The initial idea for Babymouse was conceived when Jennifer was having a "typical Babymouse kind of day". While sitting in her kitchen, the image of a grumpy mouse with big whiskers and hands on her hips appeared in Jennifer's mind, leading her to scribble it onto a napkin. When she saw her brother again, she showed him the drawing and they decided to create a book series together using the character.{{Cite web |title=The true story of how Babymouse was born {{!}} Reading Rockets |url=https://www.readingrockets.org/videos/meet-authors/true-story-how-babymouse-was-born |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=www.readingrockets.org |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2011-10-24 |title=Matt & Jenni Holm - ReadKiddoRead |url=http://readkiddoread.ning.com/page/matt-jenni-holm |access-date=2024-12-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111024004804/http://readkiddoread.ning.com/page/matt-jenni-holm |archive-date=October 24, 2011 }}
The reason they decided on a graphic novel format was because they believed comic books had shifted to an adult audience, and they wanted to create a comic book that would become popular with children that featured an easily relatable character. The series is aimed at girls because as a child, Jennifer felt that comic books were mostly aimed at a male audience and she couldn't relate to the characters.
In 2010, a Babymouse animated series was reportedly in the works, but never released.{{Cite web |last=Baker |first=Jeff |date=2010-02-18 |title=Babymouse turns into a career for Matthew Holm |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/books/2010/02/babymouse_turns_into_career_fo.html |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Oregon Live |language=en}}
Books
- Queen of the World! (2005)
- Our Hero (2005)
- Beach Babe (2006)
- Rock Star (2006)
- Heartbreaker (2006)
- Camp Babymouse (2007)
- Skater Girl (2007)
- Puppy Love (2007)
- Monster Mash (2008)
- Babymouse: The Musical (2009)
- Dragonslayer (2009){{Cite web |date=June 14, 2012 |title=Review: Babymouse: Dragonslayer by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm |url=https://slatebreakers.com/2012/06/14/review-babymouse-dragonslayer-by-jennifer-l-holm-matthew-holm/ |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=Slate Breakers}}
- Babymouse Burns Rubber (2010)
- Cupcake Tycoon (2010)
- Mad Scientist (2011)
- A Very Babymouse Christmas (2011)
- Babymouse for President (2012)
- Extreme Babymouse (2013){{Cite web |date=2012-11-17 |title=EXTREME BABYMOUSE |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jennifer-l-holm/extreme-babymouse/ |website=2025-02-01 |via=Kirkus Reviews}}
- Happy Birthday, Babymouse (2014)
- Bad Babysitter (2015)
- Babymouse Goes for the Gold (2016)
=Tales From The Locker=
- Lights, Camera, Middle School! (2017){{Cite web |date=2017-06-26 |title=Lights, Camera, Middle School! by Jennifer L. Holm |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780399554384 |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=Publishers Weekly}}
- Miss Communication (2018)
- School-Tripped (2019)
- Curtain Call (2020)
- Whisker Wizard (2021)
=The BIG Adventures of BabyMouse=
- Once Upon a Messy Whisker (2022)
- Besties! (2023)
=Other books=
- Babymouse Collection Books 1-13 (2010)
- Little Babymouse and the Christmas Cupcakes (2016){{Cite web |date=2016-09-26 |title=Little Babymouse and the Christmas Cupcakes by Jennifer L. Holm |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781101937433 |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=Publishers Weekly}}
Characters
- Babymouse is the main character and titular protagonist of the series. She has an active imagination and prefers to spend her time absorbed in books. Messy and disorganized, she is often late for class.
- Narrator is the main narrator of the series. He sardonically comments on Babymouse's life, with her regularly interacting with him.
- Locker is humourously depicted as sentient, often eating Babymouse's homework or teasing her.
- Felicia Furrypaws is the main antagonist of the series. She is popular yet rude, egocentric, and manipulative.
- Wilson Weasel is Babymouse's long-time best friend since kindergarten.
- Squeak is Babymouse's pesky younger brother.
- Georgie is a tall giraffe and friend of Babymouse.
Achievements
=Awards and honors=
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| Year
!Title ! Award ! Category ! Result !{{Ref heading}} |
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| 2006
|Babymouse: Queen of the World! |ALA Notable Children's Book Award |Middle Readers |{{won}} |{{Cite web |title=2006 Notable Books Announced |url=https://www.ala.org/news/news/pressreleases2006/februray/alsc06notablebooks |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=American Library Association |language=en}} |
| 2006
|Babymouse: Beach Babe |Graphic novel, elementary and middle grade | rowspan="4" {{nom}} |
| 2006
|Babymouse: Beach Babe |Gryphon Award |Honor Books |
| 2007
|Camp Babymouse |Graphic novel, elementary and middle grade |
| 2010
|Babymouse: The Musical |Lulu Award |Leah Adezio Award for Best Kid-Friendly Work |
| 2010
|Babymouse: Dragonslayer |Lulu Award |Leah Adezio Award for Best Kid-Friendly Work |{{nom}} |
| 2013
|Babymouse for President |Best Publication for Early Readers |{{won}} |
| 2015
|Happy Birthday, Babymouse |Children's Choice Book Award |Third to Fourth Grade Book of The Year |{{nom}} |