Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
House for a Mouse
Illustrator: Anne Velghe
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
North-South Books, 2005 ISBN: 0735820171
There once was a mouse who was born in a barn and who happily lived there with her mother. Then, one day, Little Mouse’s mother told her that it was time for her to go out into the world. “You need to find yourself a new home,” her mother said.
Though going out into the big world alone and leaving the home where she was born was not an easy thing to do, Little Mouse set off. She wanted a house with “a lot of sun, very little rain, and no cats at all.”
As she walked, Little Mouse asked some plants, a snail, and some rabbits where she might find a suitable house, but none of them had any useful information to share with her. Finally, feeling very weary, Little Mouse saw a house that looked perfect. Of course, the house could be full of dangers such as a ravenous cat or owl, and countless baited mouse traps. There was no way of knowing. Little Mouse could have walked away from the house, but instead she decided “to risk it,” and she went into the house to investigate.
Finding the courage to do things that frighten you can be hard at times. You cannot be sure when being cautious is wise course to follow, and when it is not. In this meaningful picture book, children will meet a little mouse who takes a chance, who finds courage, and who gets a big surprise.
