Mitt the Michigan Mouse [Hardcover]

Kathy-jo Wargin (Author), Karen Busch Holman (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 2006 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Kathy-jo Wargin's children's titles sell thousands of copies. Now, for the first time, this talented writer turns her attention to young readers with Mitt the Michigan Mouse. This is the first in a four-book series. Minn from Minnestoa, book #2, was released in September 2006.

Meet Mitt--a delightful white-footed mouse from the deep woods of northern Michigan. He lives happily in the only home he has ever known, a thick red mitten, until a boy and his dog snatch Mitt's cozy home and start Mitt on an adventure across the state to find his beloved mitten.

A beautiful Sandhill crane named Tuuli takes a special liking to the young mouse and promises to find his mitten and deliver Mitt safely back to his woodland home, but the journey is long and filled with danger. Mitt will need his quick mind and story-telling abilities to keep him safe until he locates the old wolverine named Tekla who holds the key to locating Mitt's missing mitten.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kathy-jo Wargin is the bestselling author of numerous children's books, including Once Upon a Christmas Eve, and The Legend of Sleeping Bear. She has received many awards for her work, among them an International Reading Association Children's Choice Award for The Legend of the Loon, and an IRA Teacher's Choice Award for Win One for the Gipper. She lives in northern Michigan with her family, photographer Ed Wargin and their son Jake

Karen Holman left the big city life of New York and moved to New Hampshire in the early 90s to live a more peaceful life. She was selected as the illustrator for G is for Granite: A New Hampshire Alphabet Book and its accompanying book, Primary Numbers. Her freelance clients include, among others, Accent Magazine, the University of New Hampshire, and AT&T. She lives with her husband, Jeff, and two sons, Tyler and Todd. Her family enjoys the recent addition of a lively pair of mice.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 157 pages
• Publisher: Ann Arbor Editions (April 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587263033
• ISBN-13: 978-1587263033
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #683,519 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kathy-jo Wargin is the bestselling author of more than 45 books such as the children's classic The Legend of Sleeping Bear, 2001 IRA Children's Choice Award Winner The Legend of the Loon, IRA Teacher's Choice Award Winner Win One for the Gipper, Bank Street College of Education Best Book Listee The Voyageur's Paddle, and newly released Alfred Nobel, The Man Behind the Peace Prize. She has also written two widely successful coffee table books titled Michigan, The Spirit of the Land and The Great Lakes Cottage Book, working in collaboration with her husband, Great Lakes photographer Ed Wargin.

Kathy-jo Wargin was born and raised on the iron range of northern Minnesota, and studied music composition at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. She has been writing professionally for more than twenty years, and is dedicated to the creation and promotion of quality literature for children. She is a frequent guest speaker at reading conferences throughout the nation such as IRA, MAME, MRA and more. In addition, she regularly visits school systems to perform large and small group presentations and teacher in-service programs, as well as frequent book signing tours and promotional events. Kathy-jo Wargin and family reside in Minnetonka, Minnesota.

Her newest book is titled Moose on the Loose. Here's what School Library Journal has to say: PreS-Gr 1-This rhyming text begins by asking: "What/would you do/with a moose/on the loose?/Would you chase him,/or race him,/or stand up to face him?" As the book continues, the creature becomes more daring, and children will delight in the antics of both the moose and its young human companion. Bold, bright, cartoonlike illustrations capture the action in a humorous style, inviting readers to look closely at all the details. The large boldfaced type complements the illustrations and action. Colorful spreads and simple rhymes will make this whimsical story a hit.-Margaret R. Tassia, Millersville University, PA

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful novel of questing and discovery for young readers., December 9, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mitt the Michigan Mouse (Hardcover)

Written by Kathy-jo Wargin and illustrated by Karen Busch Holman, Mitt, the Michigan Mouse is the first book in the Mitt & Minn series. Mitt is a young white-footed mouse, who lives in his happy home of a wool mitten deep within a forest. One day, a boy and his dog come by, and the dog carries away Mitt's beloved mitten home! Anxious to find his warm mitten, Mitt sets out on a journey to find the home he lost, encountering adventures and surprises along the way. A delightful novel of questing and discovery for young readers.

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! What a book., June 30, 2006

By 

J. L. Hampton (KY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mitt the Michigan Mouse (Hardcover)

Kathy-Jo Wargin has done a tremendous job of getting the reader interested in the travels of Mitt, the mouse. I teach 1st grade and plan on using Mitt, the Michigan Mouse in my History curriculum. I can't wait to hear the antics and travels of Minn, the mouse from Minnesota.

4.0 out of 5 stars A delightful book!, May 22, 2006

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mitt the Michigan Mouse (Hardcover)

Kathy-jo Wargin is one of my favorite children's authors. Her books are always entertaining, informative and educational. She fills her books with loveable people and animals that you root for and want more of when the story is done. Mitt, the Michigan Mouse is no exception.

Karen Busch Holman's black and white illustrations are inviting, detailed and contribute to the story's flavor.

Mitt is a white-footed mouse who has always lived in the woods in northern Michigan. And even though he has only faint memories of his mother, father and siblings, he's a happy mouse with a cozy home. His home is made of thick red wool mitten and is secreted in a white spruce tree.

When Mitt leaves his home to attend a birthday party, a young boy and his dog come to play in the woods. The dog finds Mitt's home, snatches it up and takes it with him. When Mitt returns and finds his home missing, and the animals tell him who has taken it, he is determined to track down his mitten.

Thus begins Mitts exciting adventure that spans many months. Mitt faces many dangers on his journey and meets many new friends along the way. But it isn't until the wolverine Tekla talks to Mitt that he learns the key to finding what he is looking for.

I didn't want it to end.

Armchair Interviews says: This delightful book will thrill middle readers with Mitt's adventures and they will excitedly await the next installment in this series.