Angus MacMouse Brings Down the House (Animal Tales)
#2 of 70 in Animal Stories Series
What’s inside...
When a poor street mouse named Angus accidentally wanders onto the stage of the opera, he scares the soprano so much that she sings a record-breaking high note. Word gets out, and soon the soprano, Minnie McGraw, becomes world famous, and goes on tour with Angus as her secret. But things go wrong when Angus becomes famous in his own right and Minnie grows jealous. Minnie and Carlo, the scheming tenor, come up with a plan to mousenap Angus! Trapped in a cage backstage, will Angus be able to escape in time to save the opera company from ruin?
Character compass
Angus Macmouse
Freddy
Discussion points
How do you think Angus MacMouse felt when he was trying to achieve his dream? Can you relate to his feelings?
What are some of the challenges Angus faced? How did he overcome them?
Why is friendship important in Angus's adventure? How do his friends help him?
What did you learn from Angus's journey? Is there something new you want to try after reading about his adventures?
If you could give Angus one piece of advice, what would it be?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their feelings about Angus's struggles and triumphs. It's a great way to discuss resilience and perseverance.
Discuss the theme of friendship in the book. Ask your child about their friends and the ways they support each other in achieving goals.
Explore the lessons learned from the book together. Ask your child what they would do differently if they were in Angus’s shoes.
Use examples from Angus’s story to motivate your child to try out new things or to keep working towards their own goals, reinforcing the value of hard work and belief in oneself.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Courage and determination
Explanation: Angus MacMouse, despite being small and initially underestimated, shows great courage and determination throughout his journey to save the theater.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to face their fears and pursue their goals relentlessly, understanding that size or others' opinions do not define their capability.
Example Lesson: The value of teamwork
Explanation: Angus collaborates with other animals to plan and execute the rescue of the theater, demonstrating that teamwork often leads to greater success than working alone.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply this by engaging in collaborative activities at school or in sports, learning to value and incorporate diverse perspectives and skills.
Example Lesson: Creativity and problem-solving
Explanation: The protagonist, Angus, uses his wits and creativity to overcome obstacles, showing that sometimes unconventional thinking leads to the best solutions.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to think outside the box and use their imagination to solve problems in their daily life, whether in academic tasks or personal challenges.
Example Lesson: Resilience in the face of adversity
Explanation: Throughout the story, Angus encounters various challenges but his resilient spirit keeps him moving forward, teaching him and others perseverance.
Real-World Application: Children learn that setbacks are a natural part of life and that persistence and resilience are key to overcoming these hurdles.