The Children’s Book Review | August 29, 2017
Gigi Priebe’s Selfie with The Long Way Home
Here’s my selfie, taken in my writing hideaway, upstairs in our barn in Westport, MA where I’m holding The Long Way Home, a fast-paced follow up to The Adventures of Henry Whiskers, my adventure series about a young mouse who lives in Windsor Castle and its world-famous exhibit, Queen Mary’s Dollhouse. In book #2, Henry discovers a crinkly old map in the dollhouse library, but before he gets the chance to show it to his best friend Jeremy, the two are caught in the castle kitchens by a benevolent chef who gives them the heave-ho into Windsor Great Park. With nothing but the mysterious map to help them find their way home, Henry and Jeremy must work together to survive in the great outdoors and overcome their biggest challenges ever! This chapter book, illustrated by Daniel Duncan, appeals to both boys and girls ages 7 – 10 and is an especially fun book to read aloud.
Gigi Priebe’s Shelfie
The shelves that you see here hold my wedding album, family art and many of the books that my parents read to me plus those that were added when David and I started our own family. Photos of my husband and children are sprinkled across some of the shelves as well as yearbooks from high school (where I met my husband), my Henry Whiskers books and a stuffed animal a friend gave me when my first book came out. (Technically the animal is a rat, but if you take his picture head-on he can pass for a mouse. Here he’s holding a miniature passport I made for him because I took him on a recent trip abroad and wanted to post his photos on social media.) There is another shelf nearby that is covered with just as many books. Collectively they represent the past, the present and what I cherish most: childhood, family and a lifetime of memories.
Written by Gigi Priebe
Illustrated by Daniel Duncan
Publisher’s Synopsis: Henry Whiskers and his cousin, Jeremy, must find their way back home—Queen Mary’s dollhouse—and to Windsor Castle with the help of a mysterious treasure map in this fun, fast-paced follow up to The Adventures of Henry Whiskers.
Little Henry Whiskers is thrilled when he discovers an old, crinkly map, complete with a giant X marking a spot, full of treasure—at least, that’s what Henry thinks. All he knows is that this map is something BIG—he can feel it right down to the tip of his tail.
But before he can share his exciting find with his cousin and best friend, Jeremy, they find themselves in the danger zone: The Windsor Castle Kitchen. And after being unceremoniously caught and thrown out of the castle, with nothing but the map, the two little mice realize they have bigger problems than being caught in the kitchen! How will they get back to the dollhouse?
With the help of his cousin, Jeremy and a fellow field mouse named Wisely, the cousins battle a hungry falcon, an endless and stormy lake, and the maze of landmarks on the Windsor Castle Grounds as they try to find his way back home—and discover the mysterious map is more connected to the Whiskers family than either of them could have ever imagined.
Ages 7-10 | Publisher: Aladdin/Simon & Schuster | 2017 | ISBN-13: 9781481465779
Available Here:
Reviews for The Adventures of Henry Whiskers:
“The Mouse and the Motorcycle (1965) upgrades to The Mice and the Rolls-Royce. Like an extended version of Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Two Bad Mice (1904), Priebe keeps this short chapter book constantly moving, with Duncan’s peppy art a cute capper.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Short, quickly paced chapters and plenty of twists, turns, and challenges keep the story moving briskly, and the simple, elegant narration and regal setting make the story feel of a kind with other classic mouse tales from children’s literature.”
“Oh, that Henry Whiskers! He’s a worthy mouse, feisty, fun, and unforgettable. He zips through the Queen’s dollhouse, leaving us breathless. Readers will beg for more of his adventures!”
—Patrcia Reilly Giff, Award-Winning Children’s Book Author
“The text flows well, making this selection ideal for either independent readers or for classroom read-alouds. VERDICT: Fast-paced and sure to appeal to young fans of animal adventure.”
—Islam, Brooklyn Public Library for the School Library Journal
About Gigi Priebe
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 | Facebook | Simon and Schuster
Book Giveaway
Enter to win
- A copy of The Adventures of Henry Whiskers
- A copy of The Long Way Home
Age Range: 7-10
Giveaway begins August 29, 2017, at 12:01 A.M. MT and ends September 29, 2017, at 11:59 P.M. MT.
How To Enter
- Complete the entry form below.
- Enter once daily (optional).
Giveaway Rules
- NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.
- Enter between 12:00 AM Mountain Time on August 25, 2017 and 11:59 PM on September 25, 2017.
- Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13 and older.
- Winners will be selected at random on or about September 28, 2017.
- Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.
- The Children’s Book Review is not responsible for prize fulfillment.
Prizes courtesy of Aladdin/Simon & Schuster
Discover more books like “The Long Way Home,” by Gigi Priebe, by checking out our reviews and articles tagged with Dinosaurs and Picture Book; and be sure to follow along with our Selfie and a Shelfie series.