Mouse Island [Hardcover]

Eve Bunting (Author), Dominic Catalano (Illustrator)

Book Description

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

Mouse lives alone on an island. At night he watches the lighthouse beacon flash across the water, a warning to ships to stay off the rocks. In the daytime, he dozes in the sun, or searches for tasty sea morsels for dinner. Whales swim by and sea lions bark for him. Life is good. So why does he have a feeling that something is missing something that would make it even better? One day a boat sinks near the island, and Mouse swims to the rescue of a strange, furry creature that has been tossed into the ocean. What is it? What kind of dangerous creature has he saved? Eve Bunting's charming tale of an unlikely friendship is warmly illustrated by Dominic Catalano.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Ever since the lighthouse on Mouse Island was automated, Mouse has lived alone on the island. He spends his days comfortable and safe, wading in the tide pools, sleeping in the sun, and eating the sea things he finds. Yet every day, he wonders why he isn’t content. One day a ship sinks near the island, and Mouse rescues a cat that had been aboard. Cat menacingly alerts Mouse to the antagonistic relationship between their species, but being honorable, Cat realizes he’s obligated to his rescuer. Mouse teaches Cat how to fish,  Cat teaches Mouse how to play volleyball, and they live happily, with Mouse reflecting “how strange it was that sometimes you didn’t know what you wanted till you found it.“ Full-page pastel illustrations competently portray the characters and their pleasant ambience as this cat-and-mouse tale unfolds. Grades K-2. --Randall Enos

About the Author

Eve Bunting is the author of the Caldecott-winning Smoky Night, illustrated by David Diaz. Among her many other titles are Will It Be a Baby Brother?, Mouse Island, Emma's Turtle, Baby Can, My Red Balloon, My Special Day at Third Street School, and Girls A to Z. She lives in Pasadena, California.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Pr (March 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590784472
• ISBN-13: 978-1590784471
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,322,452 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Eve Bunting has written more than 200 books for children, many of which can be found in libraries around the world. Her other Clarion titles for very young readers include My Big Boy Bed, which was also illustrated by Maggie Smith, and Little Bear's Little Boat, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. She lives in Pasadena, California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A STORY OF FRIENDSHIP AND TRUST, April 1, 2009

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mouse Island (Hardcover)

Young readers that I know cannot resist the stories of Eve Bunting. Pair this warm, winning tale with illustrations by Dominic Catalano and you have a book that's sure to please five to seven-year-olds.

This time out Caldecott Medal winner Bunting introduces a lone island dweller - Mouse. Not only does he live alone, but he's very self-sufficient. Mouse finds plenty to eat, is quite safe, and really has no responsibilities. Nonetheless, he is not content. He know there is something missing but has no idea what it is.

One day his friend Herring Gull dropped in, and Mouse described his feeling of emptiness. Gull thought he needed to see the world and offered to fly him around. Mouse declined with, "I'm afraid of flying."

Then one day Mouse looked out and saw that a fishing boat was sinking. Fortunately, a lifeboat came and saved three men. But, the rescuers overlooked one small head bobbing in the water. "Hold on!" Mouse shouted, and he jumped in to save whoever or whatever it was.

Youngsters will be surprised at who Mouse finds, and learn a valuable lesson in friendship.

- Gail Cooke