Mina by Matthew Forsythe

Genre

Texas 2x2

Target Age Group

4-8 years, grades PreK- 3

Summary

Mina follows a young mouse who is unsure about the guests her father brings home one day due to their unusual behavior. Mina eventually asks a doctor to check out their new guest, and the doctor reveals to their surprise that the guests are cats; the cats use this opportunity to pounce on the mice, but their chase ends unsuccessfully.  

Justification for Choosing

I chose this picture book because it was recommended to me by one of the children's librarians at the library I work at. They said this was one of their favorite recently released Texas 2x2 reads as they loved the art style used for the illustrations. The cute illustrations and the book fitting the criteria for a Texas 2x2 are the reasons why I selected this book for my blog.

Evaluation

For this review, I will be evaluating the book's plot, characters, and illustrations. 

Plot: 

The storyline of Mina is suitable for children in the recommended age group as the story is silly and fast-paced to entertain young readers. The story invites readers to suspend disbelief by not questioning why the mice do not know what a cat looks like and believing the animals are capable of cooking and reading. Though the reader must suspend disbelief at times, this is a necessary aspect of the book to entertain young readers. Furthermore, the book progresses logically with the characters asking for information from a trusted source which triggers the cats to act before the mice are out of reach. The story ends satisfyingly for readers as Mina, her dad, and the doctor are able to escape from the cats through the help of the stick bugs that were mentioned earlier on in the story. The ending is happy and reflective as Mina realizes the importance of trust and making light of unpleasant situations.  

Characters: 

The characters in Mina are relatable for young readers who are often unsure about the world around them. While the characters are older than the target age group of readers, they express child-like qualities as they are naive and optimistic. The characters are not stereotypical, but they do lack complexity as the book is fast paced with little exposition. The dialogue between characters and their actions aids the development of the characters as the reader understands why the protagonist Mina is often wary of her dad's thoughtless decisions. Reader's of all ages can identify with the characters familial struggles and their ability to grow and learn from new experiences. 

Illustrations: 

The illustration style of Mina is eye-catching and captivating for readers of all ages. The illustrations have the perfect amount of complexity to keep readers engaged in the story and continue wondering what will happen next. Additionally, the illustrations move alongside the plot which helps to maintain the pacing of the story. Illustrations are important for the picture book genre, and Mina does a great job at making sure the illustrations are conveying the plot, setting, and characters in a way that is engaging for children and adult readers. 

Overall Rating: 5/5

References 

Forsythe, M. (2022). Mina (M. Forysthe, Illus.). Simon and Schuster.