This black-and-white-and-pink graphic novel is a fast and enjoyable read for kids 7 and up. With girly hearts and pink accents, this comic is a good counterpart to boy-centered comics like Calvin and Hobbes. Baby Mouse is a delightfully innocent and humorous character who has big dreams of being a race car driver. She accomplishes these dreams with some help from her friends who build her soapbox car and help her practice. ( )

In Babymouse Burns Rubber, Babymouse leans heavily (a bit too heavily perhaps?) on her friendship with Wilson as she endeavors to enter the soap box derby. The fact that she can barely ride a bicycle and has no skill in building or fixing things never even enters her mind, which is, of course, full of daydreams - Babymouse's alien encounter, Babymouse the race car driver, Babymouse the worldwide traveler, Babymouse the captain of the Titanic. Will Babymouse win the race? Will her selfishness cost Wilson the chance to enter? You'll find out in Babymouse Burns Rubber!

Siblings Jennifer and Matthew Holm keep the fun coming in this latest installment (the 12th) of the very popular Babymouse series. Holm pays tribute to Star Wars films (imagine the scrolling text rolling into deep space),

CHAPTER VII
A NEW CUPCAKE
It is a dark time for the REBELLION. The brave pilot,
BABYMOUSE, has badgered her
best friend into building her a
SOAP BOX DERBY CAR.
...
for the blah blah blah blah...
are you still reading this?
and Margaret Wise Brown's, Goodnight Moon.

In the great pink messy room ...
there was a telephone (somewhere on the floor underneath the dirty socks)
and a plate of half-eaten cupcakes.
Goodnight cupcakes.
Goodnight cupcakes being eaten by Babymouse.
Goodnight math homework that's not finished.
...
Of course, the illustrations complete the package. Simple, yet expressive and full of humorous details like aliens wearing bunny slippers, "Goodnight aliens hiding in the closet."

http://www.shelf-employed.blogspot.com ( )

Kearsten says: When Babymouse’s best friend Winston tells her of an upcoming soap box derby, she’s convinced it’ll fulfill her dreams of race-car-driving fame…but she can’t build the car herself. Will Winston help her at the expense of his own derby dreams? Babymouse is a funny and charming character and she, plus the black, white and pink art makes this series very appealing to 2nd – 5th girls. ( )

When Babymouse’s best friend Winston tells her of an upcoming soap box derby, she’s convinced it’ll fulfill her dreams of race-car-driving fame…but she can’t build the car herself. Will Winston help her at the expense of his own derby dreams? Babymouse is a funny and charming character and she, plus the black, white and pink art makes this series very appealing to 2nd – 5th girls. ( )

I love Babymouse! ( )