The Sewer Rat Stink

Gr 2-5–Geronimo Stilton is back—and in a brand-new format. Angleberger, best known for his “Origami Yoda” series, adapts the escapades about the renowned rat reporter into a graphic novel. A horrible stench has invaded New Mouse City, and citizens are leaving in droves. So Geronimo and his old pal private detective Hercule Poirat venture into the smelly sewers of Mouse Island, where they discover a secret society of rats plotting to take over the world. As in the original prose books, emphasized words are set in contrasting, often dramatic typefaces, and the book is filled with rodent-related puns and references to cheese. But Angleberger has put his own stamp on the long-running series. Unlike the sleek, clean-lined cartoons of previous iterations, his artwork is charmingly childlike, with bold outlines and simple, bright backgrounds. The book is filled with laugh-out-loud situations, endearing characters, ridiculous chase scenes, and madcap action. Amid all the fun, readers will find a lesson on the importance of reducing waste and recycling.