Mice: with audio recording
on Goodreads (398)
What’s inside...
This book is suitable for children aged 6 to 12 years and serves as a guide to keeping mice as pets. It covers important responsibilities of mouse ownership such as selecting varieties, creating a suitable habitat, socializing, proper handling, health maintenance, and safety. Additionally, the book features a whimsical nighttime story about house mice and a cat, illustrated by Caldecott Honor medalist Lois Ehlert, which presents a fresh take on the classic cat-and-mouse dynamic.
Age
4-8
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Mice
The Cat
Discussion points
How do you think the mice feel when they're exploring around the house?
What do you like most about the mice's adventures?
If you were a mouse for a day, what would you do?
Why do you think the mice are so quiet and sneaky?
What kind of house would you build if you were a mouse?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to imagine being in the world of the mice, enhancing empathy and creative thinking.
Focus on the descriptions of the mouse's experiences to help your child understand the story from the mouse's perspective.
Ask your child to draw their version of a mouse’s house, deepening their connection to the story.
Discuss the importance of being considerate and quiet, drawing parallels between the mice's behavior and good manners.
Relate the adventures of the mice to your child’s own daily explorations or hide-and-seek games to make the content more relatable.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Kindness to all creatures
Explanation: The story portrays mice in a sweet and friendly light, encouraging children to be kind and considerate to all creatures, regardless of their size or societal perceptions.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by showing compassion and care towards animals and insects they encounter in their daily environment, learning to respect all living beings.
Example Lesson: Overcoming prejudices
Explanation: Mice are often viewed negatively, but this book presents them positively, teaching children to challenge common stereotypes and form their own opinions.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to be open-minded and not judge others based on appearances or popular beliefs, promoting inclusivity in their interactions.
Example Lesson: Importance of perspective
Explanation: By offering a different view of mice through a narrative and audio recording, the book teaches children that there are multiple perspectives to every story.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to consider different viewpoints and understand situations from various angles, enhancing their empathy and critical thinking skills.
Example Lesson: Valuing simplicity
Explanation: The mice in the book find joy in simple things, suggesting that happiness doesn't require grand possessions or status.
Real-World Application: This lesson can help children appreciate the small joys in life, like spending time with family or enjoying nature, fostering a sense of gratitude and contentment.