We have mice. HopeÂfulÂly just one, but it’s a brash one, scutÂtling around the kitchen durÂing breakÂfast this morning.
This hapÂpens in the fall at our house. We’ve cerÂtainÂly tried to find where they might be getÂting in, but they say a mouse only needs a dime-sized hole, and we obviÂousÂly haven’t found it. Caught two a couÂple of weeks ago.
They’re small. Cute, even. Which is good, because othÂerÂwise I’d have the heeÂbie-jeeÂbies. And I (mostÂly) don’t. It’s just a To-Do on the list — and I’m not the one who To-Do’s it even.
But it has me thinkÂing…. We might not want them in our housÂes, but mice are beloved charÂacÂters in kids’ books. CerÂtainÂly at our house they have been. Ralph S. Mouse…The Mouse and the MotorÂcyÂcle…all of Kevin Henke’s wonÂderÂful mice picÂture books…The BramÂbly Hedge ColÂlecÂtion…Mrs. FrisÂby and the Rats of NIMH…A Mouse Called Wolf…StuÂart LitÂtle…The Tale of DesÂpereaux…BriÂan Jacques’ RedÂwall Series…Avi’s PopÂpy and RagÂweed books…Bless This Mouse…. And these are just some of the books in which mice play the starÂring role. PlenÂty more have mousy “minor charÂacÂters.” (Think TemÂpleÂton in Charlotte’s Web, or Mouse in the Bear books by BonÂnie BeckÂer.)
I’ve writÂten many Red ReadÂing Boots columns about our favorite mice books. (I just looked back—many!) I look at the shelves in my office, which have been stocked with all of the famÂiÂly favorites I’m allowed to take from the #1 Son’s and DarÂling Daughter’s shelves, and goodÂness! It would appear we’ve raised them on mice! #1 Son had imagÂiÂnary mice friends who accomÂpaÂnied through the triÂals and tribuÂlaÂtions of earÂly childÂhood — and no wonÂder! Did we read anyÂthing else?!
What is it about mice that are so appealÂing for stoÂryÂtelling? Is it that they’re the preÂsumed underÂdog because of their size? Yet in stoÂry after stoÂry, they prove themÂselves to be intelÂliÂgent, resourceÂful, and couraÂgeous — their size even advanÂtaÂgeous. CerÂtainÂly this is a theme worÂthy of putting before children.
Is it because they are so wee and dear (ficÂtionÂalÂly!) and lend themÂselves to illusÂtraÂtions? Some of my most favorite illusÂtraÂtions have mice in them (see the above list for starters!) Their litÂtle clothes!
Or is it because we like to imagÂine parÂalÂlel uniÂversÂes in which the smallÂest aniÂmals creÂate homes and vilÂlages and worlds from our bits and bobs? HidÂden away in the hedgerows, the rafters, beneath the floorboards…all these stoÂries runÂning along beside use.
It might be this last thing for me. When I’m on walks I often see tiny holÂlows, small pockÂets, and invitÂing dime sized (and largÂer) holes in the walls and hedges and trees. When I see these, I’m immeÂdiÂateÂly furÂnishÂing a home for tiny ones inside — scraps artÂfulÂly repurÂposed, cozy built-ins, windÂing passages….
I’m fulÂly aware that othÂer rodents could star in such scenes, but it’s always a bitÂty mouse with large ears and eyes and flickÂerÂing whiskers that comes to mind. PerÂhaps it’s because of what I’ve read over the years? CerÂtainÂly could be. There’s someÂthing about mice that fire our imagÂiÂnaÂtions, I think.
I’m on the hunt for new mouse books. What do you have to recommend?
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A Nest for Celeste by HenÂry Cole! One of my daughÂter’s favorites.
OH YES!!! Love A Nest for Celeste – thanks for the reminder!
The Dark at the Top of the Stairs by Sam McBratÂney and Ivan Bates, and The School Mouse by Dick King-Smith (on of my favorite read-alouds for priÂmaÂry grade children!)
These are not new books by any means, but two of my favorite “mouse” series when I was growÂing up were “The CrickÂet in Times Square” and its sequels, with Chester Mouse, and “Miss BianÂca” and othÂers in this series by Margery Sharp (latÂer made into “The ResÂcuers” by DisÂney). Mice do make loveÂly charÂacÂters in books, but I haven’t always been as fond of them when I’ve found them inside my house! And for a wonÂderÂful mouse read-aloud picÂture book: “Mouse Mess” by LinÂnea Riley.
CrickÂet in Times Square is one of our favorites – the audio, too. And I loved The (DisÂney) ResÂcuers as a litÂtle girls. I’m not posÂiÂtive I’ve read it though. Mouse Mess is new entireÂly – adding it to the list!
A newÂer mouse book that I’ve enjoyed is Word of Mouse by james PatÂterÂson and Chris GrabenÂstein. it makes me think of Mrs. FrisÂby and the rats of NIMH but set in suburbia.
Oh my – that sounds almost to good to be true, Jon! Will check it out – thanks for the recommendation!