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Mouse Tales
When Papa's seven little mouse boys ask for a bedtime story, Papa does even better than that—he tells seven stories, one for each boy!
This Level Two I Can Read is geared toward kids who read on their own but still need a little help.
This sweet bedtime tale is from Arnold Lobel, the beloved author and illustrator of the Newbery Honor and Caldecott Honor award-winning Frog and Toad books.
This Level Two I Can Read is geared toward kids who read on their own but still need a little help.
This sweet bedtime tale is from Arnold Lobel, the beloved author and illustrator of the Newbery Honor and Caldecott Honor award-winning Frog and Toad books.
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
38 people are currently reading
1536 people want to read
About the author
Arnold Lobel
307 books577 followersArnold Stark Lobel was a popular American author of children's books. Among his most popular books are those of the Frog and Toad series, and Mouse Soup, which won the Garden State Children's Book Award from the New Jersey Library Association.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 235 reviews
September 28, 2017
Funny, quirky, clever, and perfect for any age, whether toddler, beginning reader, or adult.
July 16, 2021
Our house loves Arnold Lobel. So fun to read aloud.
February 20, 2025
Ha sido una lectura rapidita para inspirarme para un trabajo del máster. Un éxito. Mi padre nos las leía de pequeñas a mi hermana y a mí antes de dormir.
Perfectas.
Perfectas.
September 5, 2018
This was one of my favorite books when I was growing up so I bought it for my son. It was far better in my memories than it was when I reread it to him. He wasn't impressed. It's still a cute book but not as engaging as I imagined it to be. There are only 4 short stories in this book so it's a quick read. There's a story about a little mouse who was cloud gazing and scared himself when he saw a cat that he thought was after him. Another tale was about a little mouse going on a journey and he wore out his shoes so he got a new pair of roller skates. When those wore out he got himself some boots and finally a new pair of feet. Then there was the grumpy old mouse that hated kids until they helped him fix his pants after a suspender fail with their used chewing gum. And finally the mouse who flooded the town because he let his tub overflow because he just didn't feel clean. While this was awesome in the 70s and 80s, it doesn't compete with the colorful and action packed stories he's used to.
June 14, 2021
This is one book that I don't remember having read in my younger years and if I had I can now understand why it would be one that I wouldn't remember. Unfortunately this easy reader is full of stories that are simple to understand and follow but that is about as worthy as these stories are.
A few of the stories have a bit of a moral to them but otherwise they are quite flat, boring and without much meat, which I guess makes them great for bedtime stories if you are trying to bore seven little heads to sleep.
The illustrations themselves were a bit on the cute side and without much color so not even a need to say this is illustrated for those same young readers.
All in all this is one book I wouldn't mind seeing out of print....
A few of the stories have a bit of a moral to them but otherwise they are quite flat, boring and without much meat, which I guess makes them great for bedtime stories if you are trying to bore seven little heads to sleep.
The illustrations themselves were a bit on the cute side and without much color so not even a need to say this is illustrated for those same young readers.
All in all this is one book I wouldn't mind seeing out of print....
September 28, 2018
Funny stories and great early reader!
April 26, 2020
Tengo mucho cariño a este libro, lo teníamos en mi clase de 1º de primaria. Cada viernes nuestra profesora nos dejaba llevarnos un libro de clase para leer en casa durante el fin de semana. ¡Recuerdo que todxs nos peleábamos por llevarnos este libro, nos encantaba!
A los 15 años me regalaron la edición en valenciano (por los buenos recuerdos que tenía de él en mi infancia), y volví a recordar lo genial que es esta lectura.
A los 15 años me regalaron la edición en valenciano (por los buenos recuerdos que tenía de él en mi infancia), y volví a recordar lo genial que es esta lectura.
October 3, 2019
Un libro perfecto para contar a los más peques antes de dormir.
Reúnen 7 historietas muy cortas sobre rstoncitos.
Reúnen 7 historietas muy cortas sobre rstoncitos.
November 9, 2020
Cute little stories my daughter and I enjoyed together.
January 21, 2021
4 out of 5 stars. Seven short tales for seven mice children.
So fun. Picked this up because it was mentioned in one of the letters in A Velocity of Being by Popova. I'm interested in picture books right now and the more nonsensical, the better. The story I was looking for was the one about a mouse that walked everywhere and changed his feet whenever they got tired lol
So fun. Picked this up because it was mentioned in one of the letters in A Velocity of Being by Popova. I'm interested in picture books right now and the more nonsensical, the better. The story I was looking for was the one about a mouse that walked everywhere and changed his feet whenever they got tired lol
February 19, 2024
Mi libro favorito de la niñez. Lo leí y me pareció muy dulce, puesto que tiene un humor que roza en lo absurdo y eso lo hace sencillamente genial. Los cuentos tienen finales bien concluyentes y rápidos, pero gracias a la compañía de las ilustraciones se tornan muy cálidos y simpáticos.
Personalmente no podría elegir un cuento favorito, ya que todos tienen algo especial.
Personalmente no podría elegir un cuento favorito, ya que todos tienen algo especial.
April 23, 2023
Desde que aprendí a leer, ha sido mi lectura favorita. Siempre recordé las imágenes y las pequeñas historias de estos bellos cuentos. Realmente han sido un abrazo a mi niña interior 💕
March 11, 2024
Lectura en conjunto con Romi. Calificación promedio: 3.75⭐.
Romi: 4,5⭐, su cuento favorito fué El viaje.
Yuli: 3⭐.
Romi: 4,5⭐, su cuento favorito fué El viaje.
Yuli: 3⭐.
Read
July 26, 2024Good practice for my incoming first grader!
January 3, 2025
A mis hijos les encanta, ameno y divertido. Preciosas ilustraciones
April 13, 2025
so silly and fun!
March 21, 2022
Lacks the psychological complexity of other Lobel works - it's just a bunch of mice!
Read
November 19, 2023Hehe
August 15, 2024
Väldigt mysig och rolig. Hade önskat den var längre.
February 1, 2018
A father tells his seven baby mice seven different bedtime stories. They're short and cute; but if your child is more on the contemplative side, or doesn't appreciate seemingly pointless stories, they might not appreciate these. Some lack a meaningful resolve and a few have proverbial-like takeaways that might be more than you want to get into. "But why did the mouse do that? It doesn't make sense."
Reading Level: 1st - 3rd grades
Cleanliness: a mouse's pants fall, exposing his underwear. His wife hits him on the head for looking silly.
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.
Reading Level: 1st - 3rd grades
Cleanliness: a mouse's pants fall, exposing his underwear. His wife hits him on the head for looking silly.
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.
May 3, 2011
Reason for Reading: Son read aloud to me as his reader.
This is perfect Arnold Lobel. Once all seven mouse boys are in bed, Papa mouse begins storytime and he tells one story per child. Thus we have a book of seven short tales. They are all cute and funny and both ds and I enjoyed the book very much. Mostly, the stories are about boys but there is one about a girl and another about a boy and his mother. So this is certainly a boy friendly book, but I don't think girls are going to notice the lack of females; the stories are just funny for everyone. Plus, of course, this is Lobel in the hey day of his artistic talent. Gorgeous and plentiful illustrations.
This is perfect Arnold Lobel. Once all seven mouse boys are in bed, Papa mouse begins storytime and he tells one story per child. Thus we have a book of seven short tales. They are all cute and funny and both ds and I enjoyed the book very much. Mostly, the stories are about boys but there is one about a girl and another about a boy and his mother. So this is certainly a boy friendly book, but I don't think girls are going to notice the lack of females; the stories are just funny for everyone. Plus, of course, this is Lobel in the hey day of his artistic talent. Gorgeous and plentiful illustrations.
January 8, 2021
The illustrations are so nice and calming, but the writing here is maybe too simplified and some of the stories are blah. I liked “Very Tall Mouse and Very Short Mouse,” and “The Mouse and the Winds.”
December 19, 2025
Very cute stories with a vein of perspective; finding the joy in your world. My favorite is The Journey because of the poetic way it is laid out suggests a unique cadence that matches the determination of the story.
May 11, 2015
This is a book I read in first grade. As well as I remenber it has tales and fake stories.
July 16, 2023
me when my feet get worn out and i have to buy new ones
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2024
The "core" story is a papa mouse tells the seven baby mice seven bedtime stories (one for each). As such, they aren't terribly complicated stories—not that bedtime stories ought to be complicated.
1. The Wishing Well
A rather wholesome story about making wishes at a wishing well that audibly SHOUTS in pain when a penny is tossed in it, and avoiding hurting it by first throwing a pillow into the well before the penny. Very cute!
2. Clouds
A mother and son look at the clouds and see things, like a rabbit or mouse, but the son is scared when one very big cloud starts to look like a cat. It quickly vanishes, but the son stops looking at the clouds. A little less cute than the first one, but still a fun story.
3. Very Tall Mouse and Very Short Mouse
They are friends and greet things at their respective eye levels: birds/bugs, raindrops/puddles, ceiling/floor. Then Very Tall Mouse picks up Very Short Mouse and both greet the rainbow. A little dull, since nothing of consequence happens.
4. The Mouse and the Winds
A mouse is stuck in a lake since there is no wind for his sailboat, so he asks the winds to blow him along, but the winds blow him, his boat, and a growing collection of things his boat lands on onto some other thing, until the last wind blows the things into the lake (mountain, becoming island; house, landing on the island; tree, landing next to the house; boat, back in the lake). This is only cute because the owner of the house is apparently fine with suddenly being in a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PLACE from before.
5. The Journey
A mouse wants to visit his mother who lives far away, apparently so far away that the mouse buys a car, rollerskates, boots, sneakers, and finally FEET(?!), but they all, in sequence, FALL APART along the way (except the feet), hence why buying so many things. That, or the mouse is totally getting scammed in the process.
New FEET! The heck?!
6. The Old Mouse
Crotchety old mouse hates children, until his suspenders break and his pants fall down, and everyone else he encounters treats him poorly for it until the children help him out by putting his pants up with chewed gum. Cute end result, but eew.
7. The Bath
A mouse is so concerned about cleanliness and the fact that apparently he can't get clean that he lets his tub LITERALLY FLOOD THE TOWN in the process (rather than... draining the water the normal way?). Furthermore, he very specifically "did not care" that he flooded the town and promptly dried off and went to sleep. Such a terribly self-centered and destructive thing to end on! I can only hope the baby mice fell asleep before hearing this.
Like, this should honestly be more like three stars, except I can sort of accept they're just bedtime stories told to these seven little mice. Taken by themselves, I don't like them as much. Also, the art is too cute.
1. The Wishing Well
A rather wholesome story about making wishes at a wishing well that audibly SHOUTS in pain when a penny is tossed in it, and avoiding hurting it by first throwing a pillow into the well before the penny. Very cute!
2. Clouds
A mother and son look at the clouds and see things, like a rabbit or mouse, but the son is scared when one very big cloud starts to look like a cat. It quickly vanishes, but the son stops looking at the clouds. A little less cute than the first one, but still a fun story.
3. Very Tall Mouse and Very Short Mouse
They are friends and greet things at their respective eye levels: birds/bugs, raindrops/puddles, ceiling/floor. Then Very Tall Mouse picks up Very Short Mouse and both greet the rainbow. A little dull, since nothing of consequence happens.
4. The Mouse and the Winds
A mouse is stuck in a lake since there is no wind for his sailboat, so he asks the winds to blow him along, but the winds blow him, his boat, and a growing collection of things his boat lands on onto some other thing, until the last wind blows the things into the lake (mountain, becoming island; house, landing on the island; tree, landing next to the house; boat, back in the lake). This is only cute because the owner of the house is apparently fine with suddenly being in a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PLACE from before.
5. The Journey
A mouse wants to visit his mother who lives far away, apparently so far away that the mouse buys a car, rollerskates, boots, sneakers, and finally FEET(?!), but they all, in sequence, FALL APART along the way (except the feet), hence why buying so many things. That, or the mouse is totally getting scammed in the process.
New FEET! The heck?!
6. The Old Mouse
Crotchety old mouse hates children, until his suspenders break and his pants fall down, and everyone else he encounters treats him poorly for it until the children help him out by putting his pants up with chewed gum. Cute end result, but eew.
7. The Bath
A mouse is so concerned about cleanliness and the fact that apparently he can't get clean that he lets his tub LITERALLY FLOOD THE TOWN in the process (rather than... draining the water the normal way?). Furthermore, he very specifically "did not care" that he flooded the town and promptly dried off and went to sleep. Such a terribly self-centered and destructive thing to end on! I can only hope the baby mice fell asleep before hearing this.
Like, this should honestly be more like three stars, except I can sort of accept they're just bedtime stories told to these seven little mice. Taken by themselves, I don't like them as much. Also, the art is too cute.
August 26, 2020
Ta niepozorna książeczka, jest nie tylko urocza treścią, ale i prześlicznie wygląda. "Mysie bajeczki" mnie zaskoczyły lekkością i swym idealnym dopasowaniem na DOBRANOC. Dzieci uwielbiają te opowieści i ja je doskonale rozumiem! Jest w nich ciepło kominka, ciepło głosu taty i wreszcie ciepło domu, kończącego się dnia, zapach wykrochmalonej pościeli.
Już coś niecoś wspomniałam o wydaniu, ale zatrzymam się przy tym temacie nieco dłużej. Otóż "Mysie bajeczki" wydano w twardej oprawie, na przyjemnym, świetnej jakości papierze. Efekt jest znakomity! Trzymanie tej książki w dłoniach wywołuje uśmiech na twarzy. Oprawa przypomina stare księgi, jest w tym historia, jakaś trudna do uchwycenia moc, która z miejsca przenosi zarówno dzieci jak i dorosłych w magiczny świat - świat baśni.
I oczywiście ilustracje, o których grzechem byłoby nie wspomnieć. Są niby takie proste, takie zwyczajne, niewydumane, a takie dobre! Uwielbiam ich kolorystykę, a kreska jest klasyczna, jak w starych baśniach. Ponadto autor bawi się z czytelnikiem. Ilustracje nie są tylko dodatkiem do tekstu, ale są z nim nierozerwalnie złączone, dopełniają go i wręcz stają się słowami, tymi niewypowiedzianymi, błąkającymi się po zakamarkach dziecięcego umysłu.
Tak oto płynnie przechodzę do treści. Co z nią? "Mysie bajeczki" są proste, dosłowne, nieskomplikowanie... ktoś mógłby napisać, że zwyczajne, ale to by nie była prawda. Właśnie w tej prostocie tkwi największa siła, a w tej dosłowności klucz do serc dzieci.
Arnold Lobel przenosi nas do mysiego domku, gdzie tata, przed snem, opowiada swoim siedmiu pociechom siedem bajek. Pisarz z miejsca kupił mnie tym zabiegiem ojcowskiej miłości i troski. To się nie mogło nie udać! Moją ulubioną bajeczką jest "MYSZ I WIATR", ale każda jest ciekawa i sprawdza się idealnie jako czytanka na dobranoc.
Oczywiście polecam tę książkę. Drodzy rodzice - dzieci będą zachwycone, gdy ją im kupicie i CO WAŻNIEJSZE, gdy będziecie im ją czytać przed snem.
7.5/10
Już coś niecoś wspomniałam o wydaniu, ale zatrzymam się przy tym temacie nieco dłużej. Otóż "Mysie bajeczki" wydano w twardej oprawie, na przyjemnym, świetnej jakości papierze. Efekt jest znakomity! Trzymanie tej książki w dłoniach wywołuje uśmiech na twarzy. Oprawa przypomina stare księgi, jest w tym historia, jakaś trudna do uchwycenia moc, która z miejsca przenosi zarówno dzieci jak i dorosłych w magiczny świat - świat baśni.
I oczywiście ilustracje, o których grzechem byłoby nie wspomnieć. Są niby takie proste, takie zwyczajne, niewydumane, a takie dobre! Uwielbiam ich kolorystykę, a kreska jest klasyczna, jak w starych baśniach. Ponadto autor bawi się z czytelnikiem. Ilustracje nie są tylko dodatkiem do tekstu, ale są z nim nierozerwalnie złączone, dopełniają go i wręcz stają się słowami, tymi niewypowiedzianymi, błąkającymi się po zakamarkach dziecięcego umysłu.
Tak oto płynnie przechodzę do treści. Co z nią? "Mysie bajeczki" są proste, dosłowne, nieskomplikowanie... ktoś mógłby napisać, że zwyczajne, ale to by nie była prawda. Właśnie w tej prostocie tkwi największa siła, a w tej dosłowności klucz do serc dzieci.
Arnold Lobel przenosi nas do mysiego domku, gdzie tata, przed snem, opowiada swoim siedmiu pociechom siedem bajek. Pisarz z miejsca kupił mnie tym zabiegiem ojcowskiej miłości i troski. To się nie mogło nie udać! Moją ulubioną bajeczką jest "MYSZ I WIATR", ale każda jest ciekawa i sprawdza się idealnie jako czytanka na dobranoc.
Oczywiście polecam tę książkę. Drodzy rodzice - dzieci będą zachwycone, gdy ją im kupicie i CO WAŻNIEJSZE, gdy będziecie im ją czytać przed snem.
7.5/10
July 20, 2024
An interesting read that I preread for my children. Nothing inappropriate was found and I would recommend to families.
It starts off with a papa mouse agreeing to tell a bedtime story, one for each of his sons. The stories are short, a little abrupt (but perfect for the tone of this book), and encompasses morals between the lines. For example, the story about the well is really about making a personal sacrifice before you can get something you desire (which often happens in real life). And the story about the movie who didn’t feel clean enough so she kept running the water until it flooded the whole town, but deliberately took no care as to how it affected others, addressed selfishness, but indirectly through the picture and the story, not in as many direct words. This book provides excellent structure for conversation starters on character traits and behaviors.
It starts off with a papa mouse agreeing to tell a bedtime story, one for each of his sons. The stories are short, a little abrupt (but perfect for the tone of this book), and encompasses morals between the lines. For example, the story about the well is really about making a personal sacrifice before you can get something you desire (which often happens in real life). And the story about the movie who didn’t feel clean enough so she kept running the water until it flooded the whole town, but deliberately took no care as to how it affected others, addressed selfishness, but indirectly through the picture and the story, not in as many direct words. This book provides excellent structure for conversation starters on character traits and behaviors.
April 15, 2024
This early reader concept is cute, and the execution does not disappoint.
Papa has seven mouse children. At bedtime they ask him to tell them a story. Clever Papa creates a special tale for each of his seven mouse boys.
For example, about the story that starts on Page 32, that's "The Mouse and the Winds."
When a mouse goes out in his sailboat, there's no wind, so the boat doesn't move. When the clever mouse asks the West Wind for help, quite an adventure unfolds.
Goodreaders, maybe think "Shaggy Dog Story." Only about a mouse. Times seven.
FIVE STARS for the story and illustrations by magnificent Arnold Lobel.
Papa has seven mouse children. At bedtime they ask him to tell them a story. Clever Papa creates a special tale for each of his seven mouse boys.
For example, about the story that starts on Page 32, that's "The Mouse and the Winds."
When a mouse goes out in his sailboat, there's no wind, so the boat doesn't move. When the clever mouse asks the West Wind for help, quite an adventure unfolds.
Goodreaders, maybe think "Shaggy Dog Story." Only about a mouse. Times seven.
FIVE STARS for the story and illustrations by magnificent Arnold Lobel.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 235 reviews