Mouse Was Mad [Hardcover]

Linda Urban (Author), Henry Cole (Illustrator)

Book Description

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

Who knows the best way to be mad? Bear stomps. Hare hops. Bobcat screams. Mouse? He just can't get it right. But when he finds the way that works for him--still and quiet--he discovers that his own way might be the best of all.
Linda Urban's story about self-expression is both sweet and sly, and Henry Cole's cast of animal friends is simply irresistible.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2—When readers meet Mouse, he is furious. First he is "hopping mad," but expert Hare informs him that he is not hopping properly and shows him the correct moves. On the animated spreads that follow, Bear, Bobcat, and Hedgehog demonstrate how to be "stomping," "screaming," and "rolling-around-on-the ground" mad. However, each time Mouse tries to imitate them, he finds himself sprawled in a mud puddle. It is not until he is "standing-still mad" and none of the others can best his motionless stance that he begins to feel better. Through playful language and expressive watercolors with colored pencil and ink, this story about anger management proves to be both entertaining and therapeutic. Just like the heroine in Molly Bang's When Sophie Gets Angry—Really, Really Angry… (Scholastic, 1999), Mouse finds his own way through his ire and, in the process, may help a few youngsters get a handle on their own.—Rachel G. Payne, Brooklyn Public Library, NY
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Review

"Urban unfurls the gentle ‘be true to yourself’ moral perfectly, with plenty of funny dialogue, overplayed reaction and the enduring appeal of the tiny hero. Cole’s terrific watercolors reflect Mouse’s emotional growth in spreads and spots brimming with movement. Who knew standing still could be so dramatic? Well-pitched for preschoolers just learning social skills, this would be equally excellent for family reading, classrooms and storytimes."—Kirkus Reviews, STARRED review

“Through playful language and expressive watercolors with colored pencil and ink, this story about anger management proves to be both entertaining and therapeutic. . . . Mouse finds his own way through his ire and, in the process, may help a few youngsters get a handle on their own.”—School Library Journal --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (May 4, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152053379
• ISBN-13: 978-0152053376
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #201,461 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

LINDA URBAN, the former marketing director at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena, California, now writes children's books full-time. A Crooked Kind of Perfect is her first novel. She lives in Montpelier, Vermont.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Okay, officially adorable!, February 17, 2010

By 

A. Williams - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mouse Was Mad (Hardcover)

This is a great little tale about how we express our feelings in different ways (Bear stomps his foot, Bobcat screams, etc. - but what does Mouse do?).

While, if I'm being *totally* picky I could say that I wanted a little better resolution at the end, but the story is still great and the adorableness completely makes up for it!

The moral I got from the story? That we all have different ways to express our emotions, and that one way is not better than another, we just need to find the one that's right for us. And this was certainly a fun way to "learn" that lesson! :)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great book on managing anger for preschoolers, June 25, 2009

By 

M. Tanenbaum (Claremont, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mouse Was Mad (Hardcover)

Mouse is really, really, mad, but has a hard time expressing his feelings. His friends Hare, Bear, Hedgehog, and Bobcat try to help, but their methods don't work well for Mouse. In the end he figures out his own way to manage his anger. This is a great read-aloud for preschoolers, and the comical illustrations by Henry Cole really add to the narrative.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Baby and mom both love this book!, August 10, 2009

By 

DC Mom (Washington DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mouse Was Mad (Hardcover)

Bought this book for my almost two year old. He loves it! The pictures are wonderful and keeps his interest. The story ends with mouse deciding to hop into a bath full of bubbles - a favorite of my son. It's perfect to read before bed time. The humor in the book is entertaining for parents as well -- I imagine we will read for many years to come.