Marshall, the Courthouse Mouse: A Tail of the U.S. Supreme Court [Hardcover]

Cheryl Shaw Barnes (Author, Illustrator), Peter W. Barnes (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Children learn about the Supreme Court and the legal system through the work of Marshall J. Mouse, Chief Justice of the United Mice of America.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 3-4--Using a blend of information and story and an often-forced verse that doesn't scan well, the authors attempt to explain the history and workings of the Supreme Court. They load readers up with a quick overview of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, presenting a lot of relevant terminology in quotes ("bench," "case," "oral arguments," "clerks") without providing clear definitions. Then they describe a scenario in which the mouse Supreme Court rules on the question of whether the Mouse Congress can decree that a different kind of cheese must be eaten on each day of the week. While the process of trial, discussion, research, and decision handed down is in the correct order, the information overload is intense. Cloying, cute mice in suits and dresses, rendered in black line, watercolor, and colored pencil, are seen against the vast and detailed architecture of the Court. The visuals and subject matter overpower the attempted humor and lightness of the text.

Susan Hepler, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VA

Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

A delightful surprise, from start to finish...a marvelous introduction into the workings of the Supreme Court. --Books to Borrow, Books to Buy

Clever...a perfect choice. All children should have aworking knowlede of our judicial process. --Children's Literature

A delightful book...charming rhyming story...beautiful color drawings. --New York Law Journal

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: VSP Books; 1st edition (May 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963768867
• ISBN-13: 978-0963768865
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #289,232 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marshall, the Courthouse Mouse: A Tail of the U.S. Supreme C, October 29, 2000

By 

Melissa M. Reese (Arlington, Virginia United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marshall, the Courthouse Mouse: A Tail of the U.S. Supreme Court (Hardcover)

Marshall, the Courthouse Mouse is an excellent story to teach kids about the judicial system. As a 3rd grade teacher this book really makes it a lot easier and fun for me to teach civics. The use of rhyme throughout the story gets even my most reluctant students involved in the learning process!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific!, February 17, 2001

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marshall, the Courthouse Mouse: A Tail of the U.S. Supreme Court (Hardcover)

Peter and Cheryl Barnes have opened the doors to the Supreme Court and taken some of the mystery out of the judicial process. Told in rhyme and chock full of information, vocabulary and other fun facts, Chief Justice Marshall J. Mouse and his fellow mice justices show youngsters, step by step, how a law is challenged and makes it way through the court...from petition and oral arguments, to the work by court clerks and conferences by the justices, to handing down the final opinion. Cheryl Barnes marvelous, detailed illustrations include the actual architecture and decor of several rooms inside the U.S. Supreme Court. In addition, there are historical notes and other factual information about the Court, famous cases and several justices at the end of the book, to augment lessons and discussions. Marshall, the Courthouse Mouse is a fascinating introduction to the Supreme Court, that will whet the appetite of kids 5 and up and have them asking for more.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, August 6, 2007

By 

AVB "AVB" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marshall, the Courthouse Mouse: A Tail of the U.S. Supreme Court (Hardcover)

The editorial review/synopsis written by Susan Hepler for this book could not be more wrong. Although the authors do not "dumb down" the judicial process for children, they present it in a fun, organized manner that is engaging to children. I've read this aloud to several very young children, all of whom loved it. In fact, one 3-year old child has nearly the entire book memorized. The illustrations are fantastic and accurate, and the story is entertaining, light-hearted, funny, and educational. Perhaps we should expect more out of our children, and hope that they use intelligent books like this one to learn actively, rather than insisting that authors write simplistic, silly books that cater to some children's (and parents') laziness.