Mouse Visits Carlsbad Caverns National Park by Tricia Gardella, Illustrated by Ginger Nielson

A whimsical new tale about an American natural landmark, Mouse Visits Carlsbad Caverns National Park by Tricia Gardella is a playful and informative installment of this charming series.

After seeing a video of bats emerging from a legendary destination in New Mexico, Mouse transports himself to see the “flying mice” for himself, ending up on a guided tour of countless underground wonders. After befriending a local pocket mouse, the girl and boy mice explore the massive network of caves, touring geological highlights such as The Totem Pole, Longfellow’s Bathtub, and the Veiled Statue in the King’s Palace, while Mouse’s new friend explains the different formations.

Visually striking, with spirited illustrations of the two mice, the book is a delightful introduction to one of the country’s natural treasures, offering a tender story of unexpected friendship, natural beauty, and the potent power of curiosity. Overall, the text may rely too much on dialogue for a book aimed at this age range – the book has a lot of facts to impart about the caverns, which is interesting and admirable, but sometimes less is more, and the amount of information could be overwhelming for younger children.

That issue aside, this is an entertaining and educational escape, which will help to inspire a love of travel and the hidden dimensions of the natural world.

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