Customer Reviews

Town Mouse, Country Mouse

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the first book I've seen by Jan Brett. The story was so well written that my daughter, aged 4, and I would have thoroughly enjoyed the book even without the pictures. But those pictures! Each time we read the book, we find some new aspect of the illustrations to focus on and enjoy. We checked this book out of our library, and will have to return it soon. But my daughter will receive her own copy for her birthday this December. If you want to present your child with excellent story-telling, as well as beautiful artwork, this one's a must-buy.

This book tells the "grass-is-always-greener" story of the city mouse and the country mouse. One day, the city mouse wakes up and decide he is unhappy with his lot in life. He and his wife pack a picnic lunch and go off for a holiday in the country. There they meet the country mouse, who is enthralled by the smell of city cheese, and the mice decide to do a house swap. However, they each find that they don't have the skills and knowledge necessary for survival in the other's environment. Attacked by cats and besodden in a thunderstorm, they rethink the arrangement and return home. Very young children may find some of the predators a bit scary, but older children should be able to handle the tension and enjoy the humor as well. The book has about 1100 words.

As near as we can tell, Aesop's Fables date back to at least the 6th Century B.C. I personally feel that many of these tales are even older and Aesop had probably recorded quite a number of old folk tales from the past. Be-that-as-it-may, this is a rewrite of one of my favorite of Aesop's Fables. This story has been told and retold in countless languages, in countless countries and it would be almost impossible to find and read them all. I will say though, that with this offering, Jan Brett has done the tradition proud and pretty well proved that what was good in the 6th Century B.C. is good today!

In this story, we have the Town Mouse and his wife and the Country Mouse and his wife that, after a chance meeting, decide to trade places. You all know the story, and if you don't, I don't want any spoilers here, so I will not give a blow by blow rundown on the adventures of these four in their new environment.

What sets this particular version apart from so many others though, is the art work. I cannot remember a children's book that was so well illustrated and to be frank, so interesting. The author alternates, page by page from Town Mouse back to Country Mouse. At the side of each illustration we have a sort of preview of what is going to happen next. This is not a "copy" of an upcoming page, but rather a general view of what might be. Once the child (and parent or grandparent catches on, this can be quite fun). But back to the art. The only way I can describe it would be Victorian. It is vivid, detailed, colorful and just down right interesting. The way the author has humanized the various critters does not come across as phony at all, and actually looks quite natural is a stage sort of way. I could safely say that most people could read and look at this book twenty or more times and each time find some detail they have never seen before with previous readings. Each page is a visual adventure; each page is an absolute delight. Now this does not mean this work does not have a strong and well written text. Far from it! The story flows well, is easy on the eye and the story is quite understandable to the targeted age group which would probably be kindergarten through third or fourth grade.

The obvious lesson learned from the story is to be happy with where you are, stop complaining and count yourself lucky you have what you have. What is nice about this work though, is that the adult reader can get much more mileage out of this than just the moral of the story. This is an ideal book to help children learn to really observe and look for details. It will be obvious after several readings, even to the little ones, that there is more to see if you just take the time to look. Absolute hours of discussion can be had just talking with the child about the different things seen on each and ever page.

This particular publication dates back to 1994. Let's hope it is with us many, many more years.

Children often hear "No peeking!" A clever book designer encourages them to peek in this story of two mice cousins who temporarily trade residences.

Cleverly placed peepholes encourage youngsters to peek and see what new adventure awaits each mouse before turning the page.

Not only is this a fun book, but there's also a moral to the story: There's no place like home!

THE BOOK WAS VERY EXICTING AND YOU NEVER KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT. THERE WERE EXCELLENT DRAWINGS. I HAVE SIX OF HER BOOKS SUCH AS TROUBLE WITH TROLLS,THE HAT, THE MITTEN,COMETS NINE LIVES, ,BERLIOZ THE BEAR AND COUNTRY MOUSE TOWN MOUSE. I COLLECT HER BOOKS FOR THERE DETILES AND WRITING.

This children's book has amazing illustration to it. The story is simple but full of adventure. A great afternoon story time book.

I still have a copy of this in my home for my 20 year old daughter to re-read, and then for my granchildren to read.

My two favorite illustrators are Clare Beaton and Jan Brett.

Out of all the Jan Brett books, this is a favorite. The story of the town mouse and the country mouse is so perfect for her style, because it lets her illustrate two rich and fabulous environments. Her details are so good, and on every page there are clues to what will happen next. I can't get enough of this book, and I like the twist at the end.

Our family doesn't so much read books as we fall into them, and the good ones bring us back for more. I love this book, and I would vote that Jan Brett is a genius storyteller in pictures. This is a truly terrific book.

The illustrations are beautiful in this book. The lesson of thinking the grass is always greener on the other side is told in such a way that a child can understand.

We love Jan Brett's books for thier content and beautiful illustrations. We read this one with the folkmanis mouse puppets and that is a big hit at our house. My little girl loves this one. I would recommend all of the Jan Brett books. Great literary content.