Mouse Trouble

by John Yeoman, Quentin Blake (Illustrator)

All the mice in the granary band together to protect a big tabby from the grumpy old miller

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Cats

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

John Yeoman was for many years Head of English at the French Lycée in London. His collaboration with Quentin Blake began in 1960, and has resulted in a long list of successful children’s books of which a number of earlier well-loved titles are now being republished by Andersen Press for new generations of readers.

Reviews

[Melki]

Hijinks ensue when the mice befriend a cat who was hired by the miller . . . to get rid of the mice.

Love those Quentin Blake illustrations!

[Kathryn]

This book stood out since I recognized Blake's illustrations from the copies of Roald Dahl's books I read many, many years ago. I figured if Blake illustrated it, then at least half of it would be a success. And thankfully the story was a success as well. There is a mean miller, many happy mice, and a cat unskilled in the fine art of mousing, who ends up needing to be rescued. My boys thought it was funny, since our cat acts exactly like the cat in the story. But be warned. The miller is quite awful, as he kicks the cat and tries to drown him. But the ending is happy, of course.

[Fredrick Danysh]

This children's book tells the tale of a misery miller and his windmill that was plagued by mice. It also tells of the struggle of the cat acquired to rid the mill of mice. Easy to read with colorful drawings.

[books.bintulu]

July 2023: Mouse Trouble

Kids, do you know this book was first published before your mom was born? It's a classic by John Yeoman & Quentin Blake, first published in 1972!

Mouse Trouble starts with a colony of mice, led by a pet-store-fled white mouse, that lives in a windmill owned by a mean, bad-tempered man.

The mice enjoy living on the old windmill. They had fun with the great millstone, turning beams and grain chutes. It was festive!

One day, the grumpy old miller bought a big tabby cat to take care of the mouse trouble. Do you think the mice get scared and run away?

Naahh.They find it even merrier! This situation makes the grumpy old miller grow grumpier and decided to throw the cat into a river! The mice begged their leader to put up a brilliant plan to rescue the cat!

When you have a great, wise leader, you can change a problem into an opportunity! The teamwork of the mice and the newly-found friendship with a tabby cat is squeakily admirable😍

John Yeoman, a former Head of English at the French Lycee, London has collaborated with Quentin Blake since 1960 and has resulted in many successful children's books. The illustrations by Quentin Blake are truly amusing and remarkable. You can recognize them straight away!

This book is an amazing read-aloud, bedtime story for children. Thank you #Pansing @definitelybookkids for this copy. This book is available at all good bookstores.

[Lucy Allison]

This book has a very sweet and interesting storyline about some mice living in a mill. The miller becomes cross with his cat because he isn't catching the mice, and so the mice come up with a plan to help the cat. The storyline is a little unexpected which adds to the story being so unique. Although this is an excellent picture-book, there are not many opportunities for further teaching activities. However, I would still have this book in my classroom for younger readers, because it is an entertaining story to read.

[Ellice]

Any book illustrated by Quentin Blake is OK in my book. This tale of windmill-dwelling mice who learn to live survive and even thrive despite the presence of a mill cat has wonderful illustrations and a cheering ending.

[Humara Farooq]

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[Adrian]

A long, long time ago there stood an old windmill, perched on the top of a hill. In its day it had been a very fine windmill, but the miller who owned it now was a mean, bad-tempered man, who would never spend money on repairs. There was one thing that made him especially grumpy--mouse trouble.

I picked this up from the Oxfam Online Second-hand Bookshop when I was looking for some folios to add to our collection. Having found Edward Lear's Complete Nonsense, I noticed it had a Quentin Blake introduction. This inspired me to see what Blake books they had. This popped up for only a few pounds and I couldn't resist, especially as it's older than me!

It is a humorous tale of a grumpy miller, mischievous but friendly mice, and a down-trodden cat that needs a boost to it's self-esteem.

I could look at Quentin Blake illustrations all day and they always take me back to my childhood and his now famous illustrations of Roald Dahl's stories. A solid 3.5 stars.

[nAeEMak نعیمک]

همین اول باید بگویم که امیدوارم روزی تاک یک فکری برای فونتش بکند که واقعاً تجربۀ خواندن را له‌ولورده می‌کند. هر داستانی که بلیک تصویرگری کند حتماً در فهرست خواندنی‌ها باید باشد. داستان روایتی از موش‌های یک آسیاب است که برای خودشان هر کاری دلشان بخواهد می‌کنند و آسیابان تصمیم می‌گیرد برای کشتن‌شان یک گربه بگیرد. از بقیۀ داستان است که کمی متفاوت از داستان‌های معمول است و روایت سمت موش‌ها می‌رود. یک داستان بانمک و ساده که موش‌ها به گربه کمک می‌کنند و با هم دوست می‌شوند. خود داستان عجیب نیست و شاید تکراری باشد اما مثل همیشه این تصویرگری است که داستان را باحال و سرپا نگه می‌دارد. شوخ و شنگی و بازیگوشی همیشگی بلیک باعث می‌شود خنده‌مان بگیرد وقتی موش‌ها را روی پل می‌بینیم یا وقتی که می‌دانیم گربه را در حال بازی با موش‌های می‌بینیم. ترکیب قصه و تصویرگری یک تجربۀ خوب و باحال ساده را برای بچه‌ها می‌سازد که اول از همه یک قصه شنیدند و دنبال «یاد دادن چیزی لازم نیست باشیم» و دوم اینکه قابل درک است و می‌تواند تکرارپذیر باشد و بچه‌ها داستان را یادشان بماند و حتی با دیدن یک گربه یا موش فکر کنند شخصیت‌های کتابی که خواندند را دیدند.

[Riccardo Mainetti]

Una storia splendida ed edificante in cui scopriamo che non è sempre vero che gatti e topi siano acerrimi nemici e che insegna che anche se la Natura ci vorrebbe avversari il destino è sempre in grado di sparigliare le carte.

[Rylan S.]

Cute and fun little story. Those illustrations are A+!