Around the World with Mouk [Hardcover]

Marc Boutavant (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 18, 2009 | Age Range: 8 and up

Filled with vibrant illustrations, search-and-find challenges, and 46 reusable stickers, this oversized book is a spectacular play space for future world travelers. And Mouk is the perfect tour guide! His journey takes him all around the world, and at every stop along the way his animal friends share fascinating tidbits about local customs. Young adventure-seekers will be amazed and amused by something new with every reading.

WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this French import, Mouk is a busy bear with a large head and tiny body, whose world feels like a Richard Scarry/manga mashup. He joins his animal friends at a chic Parisian restaurant just before leaving on a world tour (So basically, you are dumping us, one catlike friend comments), visiting places like Finland, the Sahara, Japan, and New York. Every page is an explosion of activity, as assorted animals converse in speech balloons and mini-dramas unfold. For extra eye candy, the book comes with a spread of reusable stickers that can be placed onto the smooth, shiny pages. Dynamic and lots of fun. All ages. (Nov.)
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Review

SCHOLASTIC PARENT & CHILD
One of our favorite illustrators, Marc Boutavant, brings to life the adventures of Mouk, a bear who travels the world. Each page is full of small visual details about each locale, perfect for poring over.

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Dynamic and lots of fun.

URBANBABY.COM
"The neon hues and adorable little creatures make this sticker book a feast for the eyes."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (November 18, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811869261
• ISBN-13: 978-0811869263
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 11.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #244,835 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Brace yourselves! Boutavant is the next BIG THING! March 18, 2009

By Jingle Belle

Format:Hardcover

FINALLY!

I'm so happy that there is a Marc Boutavant book published / translated for the US market and what a book! From what I understand this is Mr. Boutavant's first solo book, one that he has both written alone and illustrated and it is a great introduction to his whimsical illustration work!

Little kids (and adults alike!)will love poring over the art of each page, following Mouk's every single step in the various countries he visits. Mr. Boutavant leaves no corner unadorned, which invites the reader to gladly re-visit Mouk and his friends over and over!

I hope this book is successful enough in the US that his other books will be translated!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars DAZZLING & EDUCATIONAL November 23, 2009

By Maria Petrova

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Ok I just saw/read/pored over this book and I don't know where to begin putting my excitement into words... I'm willing to bet you've never seen a book THAT colorful, THAT sweet and that happy. It's a blissful journey of Mouk through different lands and gives little details about the culture, geography, and foods of that area. It's a brilliant and delightful way to teach kids about different places on the globe. It's so thrilling, that I at my 33 years of age, will absolutely buy one not only for many of the kids I know, but also for myself. This could be a cool gift for a designer friend. It's so flawlessly executed that it will absolutely appeal to artsy, design-conscious adults. The stickers are through the roof as well... So much to play with! So much to learn!

23 of 31 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars I thought I'd really like it... December 1, 2009

By J. Chidester

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I ordered this book for my almost 5 yr old daughter after reading about it in a parenting magazine. The book is visually interesting and each 2 page spread has one block of text that gives the overview of Mouk's travel experience in that location. Then there are a few little text bits within the illustrations that are a foreign word, the name of a local food or a short description (example:"it's raining bougainvillea blossoms").

Another reviewer thought this book would appeal to artsy, design-conscious adults, and I completely agree. Grown-ups will like it. But I'm not convinced that young kids will find it so engaging (I returned the book after we read through it). I've learned my lesson before with books and toys that I think are cool, artistic and educational, and my kids haven't been taken with it as I was. I found the book's illustrations pretty full of details as it was, and couldn't imagine layering the reusable stickers on top - there's no empty space. I found the text to be trying too hard to cram in cultural references, so it wasn't a narrative, it was more like a list - and for the age 4-8 crowd definitely bordering on pretentiousness. I was hoping that "Mouk" was going to be more like an around the world Richard Scarry book and for our family it wasn't.