The message to The Mouse Who Carried a House on His Back by Jonathan Stutzman might be slightly above many picture book readers/listeners (or to booksellers who were dead-stinking-tired because they had not slept in a few days). In other words, know your reader.
The concept is simple: Vincent travels wherever they must go. They are a mouse with boots on their feet, had on head and the house on his back. The spot on a grassy hill calls him. He puts the house down, and adventure happens. Tired, hungry, weary travelers come (frog, fox, hedgehogs, more). But each thinks they are not small enough (or the house really is not big enough) to fit. Especially when more and more creatures come to stay. Of course, our hero knows better. But the message is a little less simple. We learn that when you are home with friends a house is a home, and never too small to fit all that need a place to be. Even if you are a bit, ol’ bear.
Hints of the folktale The Mitten our group of critters come to life on the pages illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault. The publisher description calls the illustrations “inventive die-cut art.” I say they are neat, classic feeling with modern twists pieces of art. They are bold, colorful, yet fit the cozy theme. They can be a little messy but not in a negative way. I am not sure if Arsenault is a European illustrator, but their work has a look to the pictures that I would usually associate with a French, Italian or even German style.