The Naughty Mice
Little Windows Series
What’s inside...
The Naughty Mice is a children's picture book by Andy Langley that tells the story of a group of mice who cause trouble in a house by nibbling holes in the carpet, stealing food, and making a mess. Despite being chased away by the house cat, the mice keep returning to cause more mischief. Eventually, the family brings in mousetraps, which successfully scare the naughty mice away for good.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-6
Length
10 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think made the mice act naughtily?
How do you think the other animals felt when the mice were being naughty?
If you were one of the mice, what would you have done differently?
Why is it important to consider how our actions affect others?
Tip: Role play these questions
While discussing the book, maintain a curious and open tone to encourage your child to express their thoughts freely.
Use the illustrations in the book to point out non-verbal cues that might indicate how the characters are feeling.
Relate the mice’s behavior to real-life situations, asking your child how they would react in similar scenarios.
Praise your child for their insights, which reinforces their interest in analyzing stories and their themes.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of honesty
Explanation: In 'The Naughty Mice', the mice learn the consequences of lying when they try to evade responsibility for their actions. Throughout the story, their dishonesty only leads to more problems.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by understanding the value of telling the truth, even when it might be difficult. This promotes trust and integrity in their daily interactions with family and friends.
Example Lesson: Teamwork and cooperation
Explanation: The mice in the story realize that working together helps them solve problems more effectively than working alone. This is demonstrated when they collaborate to fix the mess they created.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of cooperating and contributing in group settings such as in school projects or team sports, enhancing their social and problem-solving skills.
Example Lesson: Responsibility for one's actions
Explanation: As the story unfolds, the mice understand the repercussions of their actions and learn to accept responsibility rather than blaming others.
Real-World Application: Children learn to take ownership of their actions, understanding that their choices have consequences. This encourages personal accountability and maturity.
Example Lesson: Empathy and kindness
Explanation: When the mice experience the negative effects of their mischief from another perspective, they learn to empathize and show kindness to others.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children to consider other people's feelings and perspectives, fostering a more empathetic and understanding approach to relationships.