Mouse Around [Paperback]

Pat Schories (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Drops of water fall from the pipe over the mouse nest. A small mouse nestled inside tries to catch a drop, but as he reaches out for it--just a little farther--he tumbles from the nest into the back pocket of the plumber who is fixing the leak. The mouse is off on a wonderful chance journey which takes him all around town.
In this wordless picture book, children will delight in following the mouse from hiding place to hiding place, guessing where he'll turn up next, as he piggybacks his way from bakery box to garbage can, moving sneakily from street to store to shopping bag.
With rich watercolors, Pat Schories captures the bustling life of the town and its people--all of whom are oblivious to the mouse and his big adventure as he makes his way home.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This engaging, wordless picture book traces the odyssey of an inquisitive mouse who travels up from the basement, unobserved, in a plumber's pocket. By hiding in rolled newspapers, shopping bags and even a donut hole, the sly fellow takes a tour of the outside world before coming back to the basement at day's end. Simple in concept and design, Schories's pictures tell a story with several diverting subplots effectively and with great charm, while offering the fun and challenge of hunting for the mouse on each page. Each spread typically contains several boxed illustrations, including small close-ups that link the action of the larger frames, spotlight dramatic or humorous moments and help readers to pick out the mouse, often visible as only a tail. Ages 3-6.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-- Illustrations of varying sizes depict the wordless, inadvertent travels of a young mouse who falls from his safe nest in the cellar into a plumber's pocket. From there he journeys via doughnut, slipper, and toy truck (among other unorthodox methods) throughout a busy town. The trip is a circular one and he eventually returns home, although there is no indication that this is intentional. The many detours and adventures seem entirely random, which weakens the story's impact considerably. Schories injects some mild suspense as the mouse narrowly escapes various tragedies, but these do little to add depth. Because of their arbitrary nature, they indicate neither the mouse's bravery or intelligence, nor are they sufficiently exaggerated to create an atmosphere of slapstick humor. The illustrations are adequate, although the world they portray is decidedly bland. Those searching for a compelling plot or intriguing characterization will be disappointed by this slim adventure, but less demanding onlookers may find it diverting. --Lisa Dennis, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (April 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374454140
• ISBN-13: 978-0374454142
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 9.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,367,774 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

As a child, my favorite pastimes were playing outside, and when inside, making art. All these years later, my life is much the same. I have created many books for children, and am most well-known as the illustrator of the BISCUIT books written by Alyssa Capucilli and published by HarperCollins. Recently I've done a small series of wordless books about a dog named JACK, published by Boyds Mills Press.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful kids book, December 28, 2009

By 

Bonnie L. Flierl "mtnmama" (Longmont., Co) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mouse Around (Paperback)

This is a picture tale. No words are needed as you follow little mouse on many adventures in a day of his life. Beautifully illustrated and very imaginative. Children of all ages can enjoy following his capers.

5.0 out of 5 stars A circular mouse tale, December 17, 2004

By 

motivated reader to 3 boys (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mouse Around (Hardcover)

My boys, ages 3, 5, and 6 LOVE this book! Even with repeated readings over the course of two years they have remained engrossed in the travels of the little mouse as he leaves his home and embarks on several accidental adventures through town. They are always concerned about whether he will be able to find his way home again...he does.

The pictures tell the story, so it is perfect for little ones to "read" to each other or their parents. After reading the book, each of my boys became more aware of how different systems operate together, i.e., when people need things, they travel to different stores or locations to get them by different modes of transportation.

4.0 out of 5 stars Wordless Wonder, May 12, 2000

By 

sandshell "childrensbookreader" (Nantucket, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mouse Around (Paperback)

This book has been a charmer for an entire childhood in our home. With wordless books, young readers may spend a few moments solving the story line and enjoying its presentation. Readers who pick up Mouse Around, whether young or old, typically linger over each page as they follow the adventures of one mouse who has fallen out of the nest. The intricacies of the plot as it twists and turns pulls the reader in with delight and its happy ending completes this appealing circular tale.