Customer Reviews

Christopher Mouse: The Tale of a Small Traveler

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Advanced elementary through middle school readers will delight in this story of a mouse who is anything but common. Christopher is born in a cage, has encounters in a museum Egyptian room with a dangerous cat, and proves an adventurer and poet alike in this tale of a mouse who must find his way in an exciting world.

The novel Christopher Mouse was an enjoyable book and it held my attention till the last word. William Wise created a spectacular story that was fun and also an amazing read.

My favorite scene in the book in the book was when the cat somehow managed to sneak into the room. The cat had the cage in the clutches of is paw and almost had Christopher for a snack.

I felt the author took way to much time on the introduction and the rising action. I would have stated the main problem earlier in the narrative.

I would recommend this book to my friends. This book was fun but also had a good moral: always go for want you want and never give up.


Summer Tauscher

I just read this book to my 5 1/2 year old son and he loved it. The prose was challenging for him, but he managed to understand it surprisingly well. Some of the reviewers recommend this for older children, presumably because it is somewhat of a challenging read, but the content is certainly appropriate for younger children. It was a great read-aloud and I enthusiastically recommend it.

The curriculum I use to homeschool my children suggested that we read The Tale of Despereaux this year, in first grade. I pre-read it and found it entirely too dark for young children. By chance, I happened to own Christopher Mouse, which I had purchased from a library sale some years back. I read it to my K and 1st grade kids and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a sweet story that has enough adventure to engage young kids without frightening them, and the ending is positive but not cloying. I highly recommend this book for the 5-8 age group.

Like many four-legged furballs, young Christopher Mouse's life begins in a fairly "commonplace way." Born to a loving mother in a wire cage, Christopher spends his days romping with his two brothers and sister, Anna. Thought of as a common white mouse, Christopher knows from day one that he is anything but common. The moment his eyes open, he begins exploring, attempting to quench his thirst for adventure. But there is little to explore in a tiny cage littered with paper shavings. Christopher's mother wants to protect her young, but knows that they will be sold to one of two places in the very near future - the pet shop or a medical laboratory. That doesn't stop her from working to educate them to the best of her ability. She begins with teaching her offspring to read, and moves on to tell them stories about her relatives who - unsuccessfully - escaped from torturous owners. From his mother's talks, Christopher begins contemplating the life ahead of him. The one thing he can not bear to think about, however, is the possibility that he may be separated from his sister, Anna. Together, he and Anna have shared many moments, and have clung to each other from when they were very young. But there is no telling what the future will hold for the two of them. As he grows up, Christopher experiences many bizarre encounters - from a terrifyingly large cat residing in the Egyptian room of New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art, to a group of women who attack him with umbrellas. These encounters only work to seal the deal of Christopher's bravery, and illustrate that exploration is in his blood. As his encounters become more and more terrifying, however, Christopher turns to poetry, and begins composing lyrical works of writing that he can recite whenever the going gets tough. And, if he's lucky, his bright outlook on life will someday lead him to a cozy home of his own, where he doesn't have to worry about escaping from the clutches of evil, or searching for his next meal.

When I was much younger, I used to devour the tales of Dick King-Smith and Avi - both authors who gave animals the run of the story, and featured their narrative on each page. So when I stumbled upon William Wise's CHRISTOPHER MOUSE: THE TALE OF A SMALL TRAVELER, I instantly knew that I would adore it. And I did! Wise does a magical job of weaving Christopher's tumultuous story together. His descriptions of cage-living, and the fear that goes through an animal's mind as they contemplate what the future holds for them is both interesting, yet gut-wrenching at the same time; while the delightful poetry scattered throughout the pages truly helps to put the reader in Christopher's shoes, and gives them the chance to see the world through his shiny eyes. Christopher is a remarkable character. His positive outlook on life - no matter how much trouble he finds himself in - gives hope to his tale; while the various adventures he finds himself thrust upon provide a mix of tragic and triumphant twists and turns that work to make the story even more interesting. Wise does an amazing job of describing the various people Christopher meets up with - both the good and the bad - and illustrates the ups and downs of the life of a small white mouse, as he attempts to find his way in the world. Adorable from start to finish!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

My favorite book is Christopher Mouse Tale of The Small Traveler. The author is William Wise, and the genre is fiction. The book theme is that a mouse is learning how to live on his own. My favorite character is Christopher!

Christopher is brave, cute, and inspiring! I love how he handles things, and he handles them in a calm way. The book is funny and cute!

The author made the book understandable, its not hard to read, and I never wanted to put the book down! This book is different form others!

I like all the characters in this book. It had some poetry that Christopher would write, and I loved them! I like Christopher's family and the new friends he meets!

This book is funny, cute, understanding, and is fun to read! I think every kid should read this one- of- a- kind book!

Do you like mice? If you do this is a good book for you. It is about a mouse named Christopher. He was bought in a pet shop. He has many different owners.

The story begins in the shop of Ms. Chimies. Christopher lives in the shop with his brothers and sister. The main characters are Christoper and his sister, Anna. Ms. Chimies sells them to the same pet shop.

Christopher is my favorite character because he is adventurous. He escapes from his owner and lives on his own for a long time.

I really liked this book because it was really entertaining. It was filled situations. This book is really excellent for fifth graders because it will really keep them entertained.

My favorite book is Christopher Mouse. It is a book about a mouse who gets in trouble. Kids who are 12 or13 will like this book. Both girls and boys will like it because it is funny. The author is a good writer. I laughed a lot while I read this book.

There is a bad guy in this book. He makes troubles for Christopher. You'll have to read the book to find out the ending!

For animal lovers and kids, this is a great book. It's written from the mouse's perspective, making it unique. It's very good, I've actually been reading it to my wife at night.

I bought this book for my 6 year old niece and she loves it. Her mom helps her to read it and they both really enjoy the story. The book is exciting and will keep your interest from the first page to the last. The moral of the story is great for kids to learn - never give up.