The Bookstore Mouse

by Peggy Christian, Gary A. Lippincott (Illustrator)

After literally falling into a story, a mouse named Cervantes discovers the true power of words. This rollicking allegory is for every book lover, every story lover, every lover of words--and the bane of censors everywhere.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Fiction, Books About Books, Childrens, Animals, Juvenile

134 pages, Hardcover

First published November 30, 1995

Reviews

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd actually like to rate this 3 1/2 stars. It's a cute story about a mouse who learns how to use words properly through an adventure in a story book with Sigfried, a young scribe who has trouble with words. I enjoyed the illustrations sprinkled throughout the novel. I especially liked the mouse's resolution to the problem with the bookstore cat, Milo. Recommended.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite quotes came from this book: A page of print is like a secret passage that leads you to worlds so far away, you cannot imagine them until the magic of reading carries you there. page 130

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvellous story about the magic of reading, envelloped in a classic tale. Loved the word plays.

[Allie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Sweet little story. Loved the ending. A teeny bit simplistic

[Cynthia Egbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored this book. It is yet another one off of the 100 books about libraries and bookstores list. How grateful I am that this list found it's way into my life. This book describes so well how deeply one can get lost in a book, even if one is a mouse!

[♥ Sandi ❣ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little book about a mouse a scribe and a dragon. But...also educational. You will definitely learn some new words in this book. I was amazed. Well illustrated and quick simple story.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read of a fable wherein a mouse helps a young man save a town from a giant and a dragon. Nice illustrations add to the fun of the book.

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Caudill Nominee: 1999

An odd little book with a adventurous story, The Bookstore Mouse is the tale of Cervantes the mouse and Sigfried, the scribe. As they journey through the words in books in a bookstore on Ninth and Market Streets, the save the dragon-captured troubadours who still have tales to tell.

Best line in the book:
" 'Reading. Well, reading is...' I tried to remember what my dictionary said. 'Reading is to take in the sense of letters or symbols.' But after my experience with Sigfried, I knew that wasn't it at all. 'It's really much more than that. A page of print is like a secret passage that leads you to worlds so far away, you cannot imagine them until the magic of reading carries you there. ' "

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting concept of a book...a mouse who lives in a bookstore and has a unique way of interacting with the books and the words inside. It wasn't really my style and actually couldn't bring myself to read the whole thing (only made it through the first three chapters). However, with the bit that I read and then skimmed, it seemed to be fairly well-written with no questionable content that I could see.

I can see how this book might help books and reading come alive for kids that have a harder time reading.

We'll be putting this book out on the shelves, and we'll see how the kids react to it!

[Cori'sCorner · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐ Oh my goodness, how I wanted to love this book, but I can't. This is supposed to be a children's novel, but I, a 25-year-old college-educated avid reader, had to stop so many times to look up ridiculous words it, took me right out of the story and had me procrastinating finishing the book for weeks. It's not that long a book. This book tried to be a love letter to books and reading, but somehow, it got lost in its own self-importance and gravitas. So disappointed, this book had so much potential to be a new favorite.

[Diane Burnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bookstore Mouse by Peggy Christian is a very imaginative story. I enjoyed the play on words the different fonts all moving the tale along. It is narrated by the mouse who lives up on a book shelf away from the cat. He eats the words from a cookbook enjoying many delicacies contained in the pages. The mouse, Cervantes, is relocated rather unexpectedly by a human removing a book from the shelf. Thus starts the adventure.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A longer, transitional (3/4th grade) story with larger font, wider line spacing, more pictures than a typical novel, this story of a mouse who literally falls into a story gets a touch confusing trying to negotiate between reality in the bookstore and the fantasy world of the book the mouse reads. Still, engaging and quick reading.

[Courtney Elyse · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite childhood tale and honestly the best dream I could ever conjure. I've actually had this dream where I fall into a book and get wrapped up in the story within the pages. Such beautiful allegory as well. It's one of those stories that took hold at a very young age and I imagine I will share with my children one day.

[Judgemental Toast · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was clever but I found myself skimming the pages. Meh.
This is knit-picking but I didn't care for the message it gave of "listening to your elders about doing the best you can in the job you've got is boring and should be avoided if you want adventure and a fun time." Again, knit-picky, not a big deal or a deal breaker.

[Sara K Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read about a bookstore mouse who falls into a story and helps the would be hero to find his true calling. The mouse is named Cervantes which is fitting as the story line and chapter titles are very Don Quixote-esque and I am currently taking a break from reading that great novel.

[Abigail Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

What an adorable book! It captures every bibliophile’s love of reading in a clever way. It also creatively discusses reading skills like skimming and context of words when you don’t know their meaning. It was very cute!

[Tammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book fulfills the 2018 Popsugar Challenge for a book that involves a bookstore or library.

[Michelle Damour · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5. I picked this book up thinking my children would enjoy hearing it. I did not read it to them as the vocabulary is such that I needed a dictionary at times.
I liked the story very much.

[Ciocido23 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for children about learning the impact of words. Fun adventure with a boy and a mouse.

[Mandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

We love a short, cozy, witty little novel! This one is super cute. I especially enjoyed the wordplay and all of the clever little plays on the reading process. This would be great to read with kids!

[Louel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the illustrations in this but the main mouse character is so mean and condescending?? Also I like the idea of how language works in the type but the writing itself is plodding.

[Kest Schwartzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clearly intended for kids, but the conceit was interesting enough to surprise and delight me (an alleged adult) as well. It took a little bit to -get- to the part I found interesting, but I really did quite enjoy the book.

[Chazzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this little charmer up and read it the same day. Yes, it is a children's book and a quick read, but the story line and characters pull you along.

Cervantes is a mouse who lives in a bookstore. Not just any bookstore, but and antiquarian bookstore. He loves words and knows his way around and in books. His diet is of delicious words from fancy cookbooks. He can throw sharp words and pointed remarks...and does at Milo, the bookstore cat who would love to get his claws on Cervantes.

One day Cervante's protective 'wall of words' gets moved and he must flee to a safer shelf. Cervantes finds himself in a very old book and becomes involved in the adventure told in the book. Knights and a dragon and storytellers are new characters to him. Will he survive this adventure and will his way with words be part of the arsenal that could slay the dragon?

This is a great read alone or out loud. It reminds me of the books by Kate DeCamillo. Her characters come alive and take you along on their exciting tales...

[Venid V. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Bookstore Mouse is great for little kids... I read it to see if this was a great author and she is. This book is about a mouse that lives in a bookstore that get's stuck in a book. Well he meets the main character of the book and he notices he has a "way with words"... But they go off into an adventure together to deaft the evil dragon, Censor, not a really scary name if you ask me. But they come through word obsticals along the way.
I recomend this book to people who like grammer and adventure!

[Kai Ronin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely amazing, especially for young children with a thirst for adventure and a love for the fantastic and chimerical, such as myself. It was the first legitimate chapter book I ever read, and rocketed me into the aspirations of becoming an author, which I am still following. It is such an influential book that it spawned my love of literature itself, and I will never forget it. In my mind, I thank the author Peggy Christian for the influence she had on me, for without her I may very well have not been interested in becoming an author or reading at all. Five stars...

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would actually give this 3.5 stars but rounded up for creativity and the illustrations. This was an interesting story of a mouse named Cervantes who lives in a bookstore and gets pulled into the actual story in a book. There was some cute word play and some lessons learned by Cervantes but I still prefer 'The Phantom Tollbooth' by Norton Juster. :)

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever story. Plays on words, and plays with words, plays with story... fun. This might be a good read-with-an-adult story, as there are some pretty big words that even adults might have trouble with.

[Birgitte Bach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sød og formidabelt velskreven lille bog om læsning og bøger. Historien handler om musen Cervantes, der bor i en boghandel, men bogen handler også om så meget mere, den leger med udtryksfuld typografi og har et meget sjovt og levende billedsprog.

[Audrey Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allegory of reading and writing for every reader and writer. This book made me fall in love with literature when I was little, I found a copy for free and my mom read it to me, I recommend to all young readers and parents of young readers. Simply delightful.

[else fine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The setting for this book is based on the bookstore I grew up in, and the opening description makes me cry every time I read it. I'd recommend it to anyone who has ever loved a bookstore.