• Age: 4 to 8
• Grade: p to 3

Celebrated artist Isabelle Arsenault joins forces with author Jonathan Stutzman for an enchanting tale about the expansive power of generosity.

Vincent was a mouse with boots on his feet, a hat on his head, and a house on his back.

When an ordinary spot on a grassy hill calls out to him, Vincent puts down the house he carries on his back and knows he’s where he needs to be. As hungry and tired travelers pass by, Vincent welcomes them into his home, making room for everyone. And even when it seems that the house is as full as it possibly can be, there is no woodland animal so big or so scary—not a ravenous cat, nor a fox, nor a whole herd of deer—that Vincent would turn it away from his warm, magical home on the hill. Jonathan Stutzman’s charming voice is enhanced by the elegant, inventive die-cut art of three-time Governor General’s Award winner Isabelle Arsenault in this classic tale of a generous little mouse with a special house and an ever-expanding heart.

Quand il était enfant, JONATHAN STUTZMAN adorait les livres et les bandes dessinées. Aujourd’hui, il est un réalisateur récompensé et un auteur de livres pour enfants. Il vit en Pennsylvanie avec son épouse, l’illustratrice Heather Fox, et leur bouledogue français Sir Hugo.

As a child, JONATHAN STUTZMAN loved books and comic books. When he grew up, he became an award-winning filmmaker and picture book author. Jonathan lives in Pennsylvania with his wife, illustrator Heather Fox, and their French bulldog, Sir Hugo.

Jonathan Stutzman's profile page

Isabelle Arsenault is a very talented Quebec illustrator who has won an impressive number of awards and has achieved international recognition. She has illustrated Migrant by Maxine Trottier, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book and a finalist for the Governor General’s Award; Virginia Wolf by Kyo Maclear, winner of the Governor General’s Award; Le coeur de monsieur Gauguin by Marie-Danielle Croteau, winner of the Governor General’s Award; and My Letter to the World and Other Poems by Emily Dickinson, a finalist for the Governor General’s Award. She has also illustrated Once Upon a Northern Night by Jean Pendziwol and Jane, the Fox and Me by Fanny Britt, forthcoming from Groundwood. Isabelle has won the Grand Prix for illustration (Magazines du Québec) for six years running. She lives with her family in Montreal.

Isabelle Arsenault's profile page

Vincent the mouse’s extraordinary house expands to make room for all in need of shelter. . . Delicate gouache, ink, and cut-paper illustrations in a subdued palette mirror the quietness of the text, and seeing the home's interior colors brighten in contrast with the dull drizzle outside is especially satisfying. . . a welcome message.
—Kirkus Reviews

Stutzman’s text possesses a subtle humor. . . Arsenault’s textured illustrations, filled with rewarding visual details and surprises at nearly every page-turn, bring to life the snug interior world of Vincent’s home. A warm, welcome, and satisfying read.
—The Horn Book

Generosity literally knows no bounds for a small, red-nosed mouse named Vincent in this picture book. . . . an all-too-timely message of open doors and open hearts.
—Publishers Weekly

Lively, expressive. . . tells a satisfying tale, while leaving room for interpretation, discussion, and reflection.
—Booklist