The Island of the Skog is a 1973 picture book written and illustrated by Steven Kellogg.
Their current life full of danger from cats, a group of mice decide to set sail for a new home. After much wandering, they find a nice island, only to find it's already inhabited by a creature called a Skog.
This book includes examples of the following tropes:
- Cats Are Mean: The story starts with the mouse heroes in constant danger of being killed by cats. Unable to bear their current circumstances, the mice take Jenny's suggestion to look for another home. When they sail away, the cats form a crowd at the pier, waving signs insulting the fleeing rodents.
- Claiming Via Flag: When the mice land on the titular island, Bouncer plants a flag, claiming the land for the mice while simultaneously declaring himself the king of the new nation.
- "Could Have Avoided This!" Plot: A group of mice set sail to find a new home, and they find an island that their guidebook says is inhabited by a Skog. Some of the mice make a show of force by firing cannons. Then, the next morning, their boat is gone. They lay a trap for the Skog, which turns out to be a mouse-size creature wearing a huge, terrifying disguise for fear of the newcomers.Skog: I was frightened by your cannons and your trap. I cut the line to the ship because I thought you were sleeping on board. I thought it was better to be alone than to be afraid.Jenny: If only we'd trusted each other.
- Easily Forgiven: Once it realizes that the mice are generally friendly, the Skog prefers to make friends and join their society than to hold a grudge for their coming ashore without asking permission and scaring it.
- Isle of Giant Horrors: Subverted. When the Skog first appears, it's a towering, cloaked figure. However, after the mice trap it, it turns out the Skog is the same size as the mice and not a monster at all.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Bouncer is always ready for a fight and puts himself forward at every opportunity, but he's ultimately good-natured. While he tries to scare the Skog with a show of force at first, once he realizes it's a small creature that just wants to live in peace, he helps it to its feet and accepts it into the mice's society.
- Message in a Bottle: The pictures show that the mice "mailed" letters by throwing bottles into the ocean.
- Only Sane Man: Jenny is usually the voice of reason.
- Read the Map Upside Down: The mice end up wasting time and resources blundering into snowy territory because Bouncer, who appointed himself the captain, read the map wrong.
- "Scooby-Doo" Hoax: The Skog, which leaves huge footprints and appears as a humongous, horrifying cloaked figure, turns out to be a mouse-size creature, which only put on the costume from fear of the mice.
- Sudden Musical Ending: The book ends with Bouncer leading the mice in song for the only time in the narrative, singing about their new home and friendship with the Skog.
- Surprisingly Functional Toys: The mice roll a decorative ship from their old home to the harbor using pencils and use it to sail away in search of somewhere better. It works perfectly fine.
- Trademark Favorite Food: The mice are fond of cheese and waffles.
