In Arthur Russell Smith’s The Robe Squad, an endearing story about found family, a man and his tiny dog discover a frightened and cold mouse on a walk and adopt him.

Artie, who appears to be an adult in the book’s illustrations, and his dog Gizmo enjoy taking walks along the Boston Harbor together, wearing robes when it is chilly. One day, they hear a soft squeak and discover a mouse that seems ill. Artie brings the mouse to a local vet, who assures them the mouse just has a mild case of the “sniffles” and is hungry.

Artie and Gizmo then return home with their new friend Mouse, warm him up and offer him food, and settle into comfortable companionship by the fire. Artie spends the evening knitting a tiny robe for their newest “Robe Squad” member.

The Robe Squad serves as an introduction to this trio of friends, and it’s easy to imagine future titles that follow their adventures. However, as a standalone, the narrative delivers a limited plot with few complications and no character development. Artie presents as a thoughtful and compassionate person (although adults may not love the suggestion that picking up a small, sickly animal with bare hands is a good idea).

The detailed and expressive illustrations do a nice job of conveying the chill and coziness of each scene, bringing readers closer into the story, in turn.
Overall, The Robe Squad is a warm, visually appealing introduction to a friendly and likeable group of friends, though its slim plot makes it feel more like a setup for future adventures than a fully satisfying story on its own.