Island of the Skog

Rating:
Summary: Skog and mice
Review: Yet another beloved Steven Kellogg book from my fleeting youth. Published originally in 1973, the story tells the tale of a pack of mice that decide to leave the city life and become sea faring rodents instead. Together, the seven little creatures take a small antique ship (with working cannon) from the antique store in which they leave and set sail into the sea. When at long last they come across a tropical isle, they are shocked to discover that the land already has an inhabitant. According to their books, this is the island of the Skog. Not entirely certain what a Skog is, they bombard the land with cannon balls. That done, they set about inhabiting the isle but are shocked to discover giant footprints. After successfully unmasking the creature, they discover that perhaps jumping to conclusions is not the best policy when meeting people different from yourself for the first time.

I suppose the book is ostensibly about judging people before you get to know them. I prefer to think that this story is a cry against the whole, "Shoot first, ask questions later", method of diplomacy that a nation (who shall remain nameless) may employ from time to time. Or, more likely, I'm reading too much into an entirely pleasant picture book. This is a true Kellogg creation through and through. Filled to the brim with his tiny details and intricacies, a reader could pour over each page for a month so as to best locate all the delicate touches. As you go through the tale, each character has his or her own distinct personality. Jenny, the unofficial mouse in charge, and Bouncer the head of his bowling league are the two main characters, but they've a lively and involved supporting crew as well. Rereading the tale now, I was shocked to see how dated the three bowling team mice in their overlarge sports jerseys were. Why they're positively 1973! Otherwise, these pictures are somewhat timeless. The images in this tale stuck in my brain for years, so I can guarantee to you that any child that reads this book today will take it with them the rest of their lives. Though everyone has a favorite Kellogg creation of their own, one of my picks without a doubt is the inestimable "Island of the Skog". Take. Read. Savor.