The Great Green Mouse Disaster
illustrations by
on Goodreads (24)
What’s inside...
The Great Green Mouse Disaster is a children's book by Jane O'Connor that tells the story of a group of mice who find a can of green paint and decide to paint themselves and everything around them green. They are initially thrilled with the transformation, but soon realize the consequences of their actions. They face challenges as they work to clean up the mess and restore their home, learning valuable lessons about responsibility, the environment, and the importance of thinking before acting. In another story, a troupe of performing mice escape into a hotel lobby, causing chaos throughout the hotel. With detailed drawings by Dupasquier, the story encourages children to follow the different storylines by asking questions about the characters' whereabouts on each page.
Age
4-8
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What would you do if you found a giant green mouse in your room?
How do you think the characters felt when they saw the giant mouse?
Why is teamwork important when solving big problems?
Can you think of a creative solution to help the characters in the story?
How would you help a friend who was scared like the characters in the book?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to relate to the characters by asking how they would feel in similar situations.
Use expressive voices for different characters to make the story more engaging and lively.
After reading, ask your child to draw their favorite scene, which can lead to further discussion about the story.
Connect the book’s theme of problem-solving to real-life scenarios your child might encounter, encouraging them to think creatively.
Praise your child’s responses to encourage more detailed and thoughtful answers in future discussions.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Teamwork and cooperation
Explanation: In 'The Great Green Mouse Disaster,' the mice must work together to solve the problem of rescuing their friends from a dangerous situation. This collaboration is key to their success.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of working together to achieve common goals, which is applicable in school projects, sports teams, and family activities.
Example Lesson: Creative problem-solving
Explanation: The characters in the book use inventive methods to tackle challenges, showing that sometimes, unconventional approaches are needed to solve problems.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to think outside the box and apply creativity to overcome obstacles in their daily lives, from homework to interpersonal conflicts.
Example Lesson: Courage and bravery
Explanation: Facing a scary situation, the mice muster up the courage to save their friends, demonstrating bravery in the face of fear.
Real-World Application: This lesson teaches children the value of facing their fears and the importance of bravery in challenging situations, whether it's trying something new or standing up for what's right.
Example Lesson: The importance of planning
Explanation: The mice in the story have to plan their rescue operation carefully. This shows how planning can lead to better outcomes.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to apply planning in their studies, in organizing their time, and when preparing for events, which helps them achieve better results and feel less stressed.
Example Lesson: Empathy and helping others
Explanation: The mice feel a strong need to help their fellow mice in trouble, showing empathy and compassion.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of being considerate and helping others in need, fostering a sense of community and kindness.