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The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito Hardcover – Picture Book, September 7, 2016

by Tomson Highway (Author), Sue Todd (Illustrator)
5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars 4 ratings
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Timely, Fun, Challenging and Wise!

Tomson Highway's musical cabaret, The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito, couldn't be more vividly presented unless you were sitting in the middle seat of the front row watching the Cree playwright, performer, musician and poet himself. The story of a wingless little mosquito from Manitoba has all the whimsy and wise humour any audience could ask for.

The ageless theme of a misfit, who finds her voice through song and who learns to make friends by communicating directly with her audience, is a timely treat for anyone who has felt like an outsider, dealt with bullying, moved to a new place, or was different from the rest of the pack.

The entire script is here, complete with song lyrics, stage directions, Cree vocabulary, and challenging tongue twisters to delight all ages. A perfect book for drama students, teachers, and theatre enthusiasts, this beautiful full-color volume serves as an interactive read-aloud for the young, or a great way to introduce students to the joys of staging a musical production.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    72 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Fifth House Publishers
  4. Publication date
    September 7, 2016
  5. Dimensions
    11.25 x 0.35 x 11.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1927083389
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1927083383
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 3–5—Sporting stubs instead of wings, Canadian-born Mary Jane Mosquito is constantly belittled by her nasty teacher and cruel mosquito classmates. Moving to Winnipeg to live with her aunt, she attends a diverse school open to insects of all types. However, when they, too, reject her, she takes out her frustrations by threatening the housefly Minnie Matouche with a can of Raid. When Aunt Flo finally explains that one acquires friends only through kindness and love and by sharing one's gift, Mary Jane decides to go on tour and share her talent for song with others, who become her friends. In an oversize format filled with intensely colored block prints, this print version of a one-act, one-woman musical commissioned by Stratford Summer Music (a multiweek festival in Canada) features stylized figures in both full- and half-page illustrations. Dedicated to disabled children, the story uses audience participation as Mary Jane sings in English, French, and her native "mosquito language," but without an accompanying CD, elementary readers will have to invent the music. Despite the appealing premise, the plot is too obvious, and the idea that audience members whom the protagonist meets only briefly could be considered "friends" is a little forced. A couple of Canadian references are not explained and will likely be incomprehensible to American listeners. VERDICT The book has an interesting look, but it promises more than it delivers. Consider only where plays and musicals are popular.—Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, formerly at LaSalle Academy, Providence

Review


"Highways enthusiastic song lyrics vary in structure and scansion, providing ample creative opportunity for readers who want to sing them. . . As a play, this would be a piquant choice for a teenage troupe; as a picture book, its best used with early elementary children."
— Kirkus Reviews

"A timely treat for anyone who has felt like an outsider, dealt with bullying, moved to a new place, or was different from the rest of the pack... Highly recommended for family, school, and community library collections."
— Midwest Book Review

"The middle of winter when mosquitoes don't bug us may be the perfect time to contemplate the growth and peregrinations of Tomson Highway's little mosquito girl, whose winglessness brings her mockery and general misfittery throughout her school career. With panache and energy, Highway gives us her story in monologue in three different languages — Cree, French and, mostly, English. This is the script for a one-woman musical in one act; it's odd, but nevertheless satisfying, to find here the musicality, wit and moral warmth of Highway's lyrics — even without accompanying score and piano player. Todd's illustrations, in the style of woodcuts, jazz up the rhythms and emotional intensity of Mary Jane's trials with an abundance of quivering black lines and flamboyant colour. This mosquito may not fly, but she sings with infectious vigour. Dedicated to "disabled children everywhere," this is really a story about finding one's voice."
— The Toronto Star

"Tomson Highway's musical cabaret, The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito, is a most unusual book. It represents a mixture of commentary about bullying, disabilities, leadership, isolation, identity, and residential school experiences. Together with Sue Todd's illustrations, Highway's written text makes powerful statements that are informative and thought-provoking.
 Highly Recommended."
— CM Magazine

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Fifth House Publishers; 1st edition (September 7, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 72 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1927083389
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1927083383
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.38 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 11.25 x 0.35 x 11.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars 4 ratings

Customer reviews

5 out of 5 stars
5 out of 5
4 global ratings

Top review from the United States

James S. Eisenberg
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Message, Vivid Realization !!!
Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2017
The story of the only girl mosquito ever born without wings, the book, a version for reading, of Canadian Cree Tomson Highway's wonderful children's'musical cabaret' has a message of hope for kids who feel themselves to be outsiders or victims of bullying. The illustrations by Sue Todd are vivid, colorful and imaginative.
But beyond that, the book may hold interest for kids interested in musicals and theater in general.
Most of the text is in English, but there are some passages in Cree, which are translated for the audience by our heroine..
The only thing I can think of that might make this even better, would be a disc of the original tunes, for kids who might be tempted to 'do it themselves' ! .
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