Mouse Paint [Paperback]

Ellen Stoll Walsh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 27, 1995 | Age Range: 2 - 6 years | Lexile Measure: 250L (What's this?)

One day three white mice discover three jars of paint--red, blue, and yellow. Both parents and children alike will appreciate this lighthearted presentation of a lesson in color. “Walsh’s cut-paper collage illustrations have bold colors and just the right simplicity for the storyline. A real charmer that’s great fun as well as informative.”--School Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A gang of mice learns to mix colors and to count; the "naive charm and exuberance" of Walsh's cut-paper art helped earn Mouse Paint a spot among PW's Best Books of 1989. Ages 2-6; 4-8.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Walsh’s cut-paper collage illustrations have bold colors and just the right simplicity for the storyline. A real charmer that’s great fun as well as informative."--School Library Journal (starred review)

"Simplicity reigns in Walsh's brief tale, and a feeling of joyful discovery pervades her broad lines and expressive figures."--Publishers Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 2 - 6 years
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper; 1 edition (March 27, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152001182
• ISBN-13: 978-0152001186
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 8.6 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,924 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #40 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Mice, Hamsters, Guinea Pigs & Squirrels

More About the Author

ELLEN STOLL WALSH is the author and illustrator of many award-winning early concept books for young children, including Mouse Paint, Mouse Count, and the Dot and Jabber trilogy. She lives near Rochester, New York.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Love to paint them mousies, mousies what I love to paint April 9, 2004

By E. R. Bird HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Board book

I'm curious. Why do the best picture books explaining color involve solely, and with few exceptions, mice? I mean, just consider Denise Fleming's fantastic "Lunch" or Ed Young's stunning, "Seven Blind Mice". For some reason, mice are just prone to well written color-infused storylines. "Mouse Paint" is no different.

Three adorable albino mice (able to hide from clever cats by standing on white pieces of paper) come across three jars of pain. On is red, one is yellow, and one is blue. Thinking, in a typical mousy fashion, that the jars of paint are Mouse Paint, the three climb in. Next, they set about dipping their toes in other colors, creating whole new combinations. Thus, kids learn that when a red mouse does a jig in a puddle of yellow paint, his feet will eventually turn a bright cheery orange. By the end of the tale, the mice are painting all sorts of colors hither and yon, mixing and matching shades in all sorts of new and exciting ways.

The book is made from a series of cut-paper collages. You wouldn't necessarily know this when looking at it, however. These mice have verve and pep. Their puddle dances are lively and entertaining. There are subtle in-jokes, such as the mice washing themselves clean in a large bowl that reads, "CAT". And to top it all off, they're pretty darn cute to boot. Though I've seen good books explaining colors to kids, this is the best I've seen that explains how to create a new color out of the combination of two others. All in all, it's a good read and an entertaining one as well.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite little art helpers. June 20, 2005

By A. Purviance

Format:Paperback

As an elementary art teacher I have seen many many color themed books. This is the one I use every year in grades K-3, they never get tired of it, it's a wonderful refresher for them. It's endearing and educational at the same time. You just can't go wrong with "Mouse Paint".

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Many facets of value October 2, 2002

By abookbug

Format:Board book

This book is a must have for anyone associated with a preschool child! By means of a clever tale - charming on its own - this book explores primary colors, color mixtures, and contrast. It became one of my child's favorites as a toddler and remains a favorite at age four. Longevity isn't the only milage we've gotten out of this book, either. It has also spawned many spontaineous, artistic experiments with color (mixing paint or playdough, etc.). For broad, lasting appeal and educational merit, this book is a great (bargain!) investment.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great simple book for young children! September 2, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

Three white mice get into mischief when they discover some paint - red, blue, and yellow. The (almost) repetitive, simple text has each mouse "dance and swirl" and make a new color, which the mice announce with amazement- "Look, red feet in a blue puddle makes purple!" I use this book as a springboard for many activities in my preschool class - science, art, felt board stories. It's great for children to "read" by themselves, too.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Laugh and Learn! September 19, 2003

By Michelle

Format:Board book

We stumbled on this award-winning picture book by accident - but what a find! Three clever mice, illustrated by author Ellen Stoll Walsh in colorful cut-paper collage, discover three jars of "mouse paint." With childlike curiousity they dive right inside. And like children who can't resist splashing in puddles (mine included), the mice "splash" and "mix" and "dance" until they make a colorful mess. My daughters were already learning to identify colors. With Mouse Paint I was able to introduce the mixing of colors RED, BLUE, and YELLOW to create GREEN, ORANGE, and PURPLE - a concept they would not have learned until later.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Passes the kid test with flying colors! April 7, 2004

By TOMMY C ELLIS

Format:Board book

I know...corny heading--but so true. My three year old loves this book, and my 20-month old goes crazy for it. We checked Mouse Paint out from the library, then rechecked it out, and finally ordered our own copy. When the book arrived, my toddler exclaimed, "Daddy! Mouse Paint!"

This is a cute and clever telling of how mixing paint colors brings new colors. The pictures are simple, but appealing, as is the text.

Bottom-line: If your children are 0-3 buy this book!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining look at the art and science of color. January 15, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

As an art teacher, I enjoyed the way in which this book presents the concept of primary colors, secondary colors and color mixing. It is easy to read, easy to understand and entertaining for young children who are experiencing the "science" of color for perhaps the first time, and for those who are re-experiencing it, it makes it fun and entertaining all over again.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful picture book July 17, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

In my opinion this is one of the greatest books ever written for children. As both a mom and elementary school teacher it is rare for me to make that kind of statement! However, it is even more rare to find a 'concept' book that has such a perfect balance of subject matter for learning and good storytelling for pure entertainment. To top it off, the illustrations are magnificent and the whole thing can be read from cover to cover quickly enough to make it a favorite for nap time or for a lesson starter in classroom situations. Guaranteed to become an instant hit with the toddler/pre-k set. Well worth the price.