Mouse trouble tells the story of an old windmill that is overrun by mice. The grumpy miller never sees these clever mice but he knows they are there and determines to get rid of them. He buys a large tabby cat but is too mean to feed him which means that the cat never has the energy to catch the mice. Rather than rejoicing in this fact though, the mice actually feel quite sorry for him and decide to make his life a bit easier. Without ever allowing themselves to be caught, they let the cat chase them and help him to become fitter and healthier. They also pretend to be very scared whenever they see the cat which does wonders for his self esteem.
| Mouse Trouble by John Yeoman | |
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| Category: For Sharing | |
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Reviewer: Jo Heffer
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| Summary: Everyone knows that cats and mice should be sworn enemies and that is what the grumpy old miller expects when he buys a large tabby cat to help get rid of all the mice in his windmill. However, he does not expect his cat to be so unfit, nor the mice to be so clever. He soon comes to the conclusion that this cat is never going to solve his mouse trouble and therefore will have to go. He doesn't reckon on those clever mice having other plans though. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 32 | Date: September 2010 |
| Publisher: Andersen Press | |
| ISBN: 978-1849392013 | |
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The only problem is that as the cat never actually catches any mice, the miller decides to get rid of the cat by tying him up in a sack and throwing him in the river. The mice are very upset by this turn of events though and therefore come up with a cunning plan. It is reliant on the cat promising to be friends and never again attempting to chase them. When he agrees, they all work together to thwart the miller in the most devious of ways.
I read this book with my five year old daughter and she absolutely loved it. The funny story line with its clever twist really appealed to her and she fell in love with the fat cat and the clever mice which meant that she was delighted by the way they got the better of the grumpy miller. Adding to her enjoyment were Quentin Blake's wonderful illustrations which show so well the way that the mice are everywhere. She loves pouring over many of the pages spotting all the different things that the mice are getting up to from hiding in the pockets of workmen's aprons to using the great millstone as a roundabout. There is so much detail in these illustrations that each time you look at them you notice something new.
Mouse Trouble is a clever tale that uses very accessible language that young children will appreciate. It is very well written and is the sort of book that is a joy to read aloud and share with a small child. As there is quite a lot of text on most pages, it is also a more substantial story than many picture books and is therefore also likely to appeal to older children who can also enjoy reading the story to themselves. I think parents might enjoy it a little bit too!
I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.
If your child enjoys Mouse Trouble they might also like The Bear's Water Picnic also by John Yeoman and Quentin Blake.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Mouse Trouble by John Yeoman at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Mouse Trouble by John Yeoman at Amazon.com.
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