The Adventures of Henry Whiskers and The Long Way Home by Gigi Priebe

The Adventures of Henry Whiskers 
Author:  Gigi Priebe
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Aladdin
Number of Pages: 160
Published:  January 3rd, 2017

Source:  Review copy provided by Blue Slip Media

Opening Lines:  "IN A DIMLY LIT ROOM, INSIDE A CASTLE, perched high on a hill above the River Thames in England, sits a dollhouse."

Book Synopsis from Authors website:

"Unbeknownst to anyone at Windsor Castle, twenty-five generations of Whiskers have been living in its most famous exhibit: Queen Mary’s Dollhouse. Never meant for dolls or even children to play with, this miniature masterpiece comes complete with four floors, forty rooms, two working elevators, hot and cold running water and electricity. It’s even got toilets that flush, a garage filled with luxury cars, a grandfather clock that chimes and a library filled with leather-bound books. For a young, book-loving mouse named Henry Whiskers, it’s the perfect place to call home. When the dollhouse undergoes unexpected repair work and Henry’s little sister disappears, he teams up with his best friend Jeremy and risks everything in a whisker-whipping race against time to rescue her. Along the way, he will have to bend house rules, heist a car from the dollhouse fleet and cross forbidden boundaries into the murky world of Rat Alley. Before it’s over, Henry will discover unlikely friends in surprising places, redefine community and find the courage he never knew he had."

The Adventures of Henry Whiskers is the first in a series of chapter books by Gigi Priebe set within Queen Mary's dollhouse at Windsor Castle.  The exhibit sounded so fascinating that I was encouraged to do a bit of exploring online of my own.  Everything in the dollhouse is functional, including its running hot and cold water and there's even a fully stocked wine cellar.  Lots of places for Henry and his friends to have an adventure and get into trouble too.  Not only do they have to avoid being caught by The Warden, the exhibits tour guide, there is also a mangy cat named Titus roaming the halls.  The Adventures of Henry Whiskers reminded me of Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary, especially when Ralph finds his motorcycle. There was a nice balance of perils and mishaps to keep the story entertaining and the pacing moved along well.  Not only would this make a wonderful classroom read out loud, it would work well for a child who likes animal stories and is ready for a bit longer of a book with more advanced language.  There is also the added bonus of a teacher's guide of discussion questions, creative activities, and writing exercises at the author's website.    I especially liked how the themes of courage, family, and loyalty were incorporated into the story.  

The Long Way Home (The Adventures of Henry Whiskers #2) 

Author:  Gigi Priebe

Format: Paperback
Publisher: Aladdin
Number of Pages: 160
Published:  August 29th, 2017

Source:  Review copy provided by Blue Slip Media

Opening Lines:  "Henry Whiskers sucked in his breath and clamped a paw over his mouth.  His rounded ears flicked back and forth, listening for any sign of trouble."

The Long Way Home is the second book of The Adventures of Henry Whiskers series by Gigi Priebe and finds Henry stumbling upon a map to the grounds of Windsor Castle while exploring in the library of Queen Mary’s Dollhouse.  Before he can uncover the mystery of what lies at the giant X, he and his friend Jeremy are captured in the kitchen and released into the wild far away from their home.  Having never been outside the castle, Henry and Jeremy are ill equipped to handle their new environment, but with a bit of luck, Henry's map and some new friends, they might be able to make their way back to the castle.  

In this second book, we're introduced to some of the historical monuments and locations near Windsor Castle.  Specifically, the Seville Gardens, The Totem Pole, and The Copper Horse, with details of how the Totem Pole came to be on the castle grounds.  Things at first looked bleak for our two adventurers as they navigated through the harsh terrain while contending with a hawk and another mean cat.  Luckily they happen across some field mice who not only knew Henry's father but can help them to get back to the castle.   One of the things that I've enjoyed about The Adventures of Henry Whiskers is how close Henry and his family are.  In the first book, Henry was very determined to save his sister when she was missing, and that family bond continues in this second book with the alternating chapters of the two friends adventures outside and Henry's mother mounting a rescue party to search for them.  The chapters are fairly short with language geared for a child transitioning toward longer books.   Overall, a fun animal adventure along the lines of Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary.   

Gigi Priebe is the mother of three, the founder of Stepping Stones, an award-winning children’s museum in Norwalk, Connecticut and the author of The Adventures of Henry Whiskers, the first in her middle-grade series. When she is not writing--or rewriting--she is a philanthropic advisor and community volunteer in Fairfield County, Connecticut, where she lives with her husband, a cat named Tigger, a dog named Clover, and probably some mice. To learn more and to download a free curriculum guide, visit  gigipriebe.com.

There’s more about Gigi and the Stepping Stones museum in this clip.