Milo and the Magical Stones [Hardcover]

Marcus Pfister (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up

Milo, a resourceful mouse, makes an extraordinary discovery that changes his life forever.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2. Milo, a mouse who lives on a small mountain island, finds a glowing rock that provides both light and warmth on a cold winter night. Partway through the story, after a warning from wise Balthazar that if the mice take something from the island, they must return something, the book's pages are cut in half giving the story two different endings, one happy and one sad. These pages actually turn independently. While the two tales are well told, the first showing unselfish, caring mice, and the second the unfortunate consequences of greed, the contrivance makes the presentation heavy-handed, resulting in an offering that's more useful than entertaining. The watercolor illustrations are thoroughly engaging, and the golden rocks actually sparkle on the page. With his cocked ear and rotund figure, Milo is irresistible. It could well be that the lure of these island mice and the glamour of the golden rocks will be enough to entice readers over and over again.?Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Pfister (Hopper's Treetop Adventure, p. 226, etc.) begins this book with his trademark fly-in-the-ointment approach: A happy bunch of cherubic cliff mice inhabit an idyllic island, where all is wonderful until winter forces the mice into dank, dark caves. One mouse, Milo, discovers a magical glowing stone (thereby allowing Pfister's other trademark--dazzling reflective elements--to take the stage) that provides heat. The other mice, understandably, would like stones for their caves. Balthazar, something of a sage, cautions that the stones belong to the island and something must be given in return for their use. The book's pages thus split in two: ``The Happy Ending'' appears on top, ``The Sad Ending'' below. The top story is predictable--each mouse fashions a decorative stone in gratitude. The bottom story takes a more compelling route, becoming a full-blown cautionary tale of the consequences of greed, envy, and environmental pillaging. In this duel of positive/negative examples, the negative clearly has more vigor and impact, and brings Pfister's message--about making wise ecological choices--home. (Picture book. 3-6) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: North-South (September 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558586822
• ISBN-13: 978-1558586826
• Product Dimensions: 13.3 x 8.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,546,251 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Marcus Pfister has written and illustrated many books for North-South, including the popular Penguin Pete and Hopper series. His books The Rainbow Fish, Rainbow Fish to the Rescue!, and Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale have become international best-sellers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helping kids to Write/ the concept of ending a story, July 25, 2001

By 

Laurie (Fayetteville, New York USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Milo and the Magical Stones (Hardcover)

This book so clearly shows students/children the effect the ending has on a story. It's great if you're teaching students or your own child how to write stories. Just reading it gives them perspective and, with each of their stories, they can write two different endings and choose the better one. This book is FANTASTIC! Get it!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Milo and the Magical Stones, July 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Milo and the Magical Stones (Hardcover)

Milo and his mice friends find some glowing, magical stones which led them into making a bad choice or a good choice. This book offers two different endings- a happy one or a sad one. This is a great story for all young children to enjoy. Marcus Pfister's illustrations and texture on the pages capture both children's eyes and hands. After reading the happy ending to my kindergarten class, they could not wait to hear what happened in the sad ending. I highly recommend this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Page Turner for Children!, June 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Milo and the Magical Stones (Hardcover)

This is a great story to read out loud to a child at the end ofthe day. My kids couldn't wait to see if Milo and the other mice madea good choice or a bad choice in how to handle the magical stones. As a matter of fact, my kids (ages 10,9,and 6) made me go back and read the other ending right away. This book teaches a hard lesson about greed and covetousness without being too preachy. My kids were enthralled with the glowing stones, and the beautiful illustrations. This is a favorite book in our house - I would buy it for any child's library.