Little Mouse and the Big Cupcake by Thomas Taylor

by Thomas Taylor

When one small mouse finds one BIG cupcake (a chocolate chip, raspberry cream cupcake!), he wonders how he will get it home. It's much too heavy for him to carry. So, one by one, Little Mouse asks his animal friends to help. They all say with a deliciously satisfying ending!

Genres: Picture Books, Food, Storytime, Animals, Friendship, Childrens, Fiction

Hardcover

First published August 3, 2010

About the author

Thomas Henry Taylor is a British children's writer and illustrator.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_...

Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Thomas^^^^^Taylor

Reviews

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm on a roll about books with cupcakes, maybe I need to eat some :) adorable children's book about sharing!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet library find that my two year old son enjoyed reading with me. The illustrations were particularly cute and we both enjoyed the story as it reinforces the message about sharing.

[picturethisbook.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

The simplest stories can be some of the hardest to get right — if it's too straightforward, it becomes boring; if it's saddled with unnecessary fluff, it becomes fussy and try-hard. Thus, Little Mouse and the Big Cupcake is a breath of fresh air. Not only is this charming book executed well — with a good story that is complemented with understated pencil illustrations that look as sweet as the giant cupcake on the cover — but it also has a nice, feel-good message about the perks of sharing.

Basically, a little mouse finds an enormous cupcake, but doesn't know how to carry it home. So, she asks some animals for help. The generosity of the mouse eventually leads her to get the (somewhat incidental) help that she needs, as well as a few new friends.

I especially appreciated the way the author took pains to make the story read better by avoiding repetition and using a variety of (manageable) words: great for vocabulary building. E.g. 'big' is also expressed using 'large' and 'wide'; 'taste', using 'nibble' and 'try'; 'yes', using 'of course' and 'okay'. The large, well-spaced typeface is also great for early readers. All in all, this is a good read that should appeal to most kids.

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[Jennifer Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the book, Little Mouse and the Big Cupcake. It's a story of an adorable little mouse who finds a rather large cupcake...much too large for him to carry home himself. Mouse's friends come along one by one, each asking for a small taste themselves. Little Mouse sweetly obliges them all until the end, when there is very little cupcake left. But instead of being sad that he gave almost all of his cupcake away, Little Mouse is ecstatic to finally have a mouse-sized cupcake he can carry home!

With the large print and wonderfully drawn pictures, this book is an excellent choice for an interactive read-aloud with younger grades, Kindergarten to 3rd. It provides a perfect introduction for lessons on friendship, cooperation, and sharing.

Taylor, T., & Barton, J. (2010). Little Mouse and the big cupcake. London: Boxer Books.

[EOL Juv Staff · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful and frustrating dilemma little mouse happens upon. Luckily, some good friends stumble across mouse and are more than willing to help him out of a scrumptious yet problematic situation leaving everyone satisfied in the end. The bright colors and big font (making more time to read since you don’t have to search for your glasses) adds to the enjoyment of this picture book. As an added bonus, it is a great read-aloud!

[Chinook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both Kait and Maddie found the big bites the animals took very amusing. It’s a nice way to look at sharing - that it’s kind and can be useful, in the end. And I like a message that says there’s no point having more than you can use.

[The Book Crusader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought for sure this book would go in the "Little Red Hen" direction: aka, Mouse asks for help, others refuse to share in the work but want to later reap in the benefits, which Mouse, in turn, refuses.

Instead, Mouse just let them pig out on his find. And what's worse, in the end, they act like they did him a favor by devouring most of it and leaving him only a single morsel.

I don't want to be that guy, but children's books just aren't what they used to be. This shit wouldn't fly in my day. Back then, we had real children's literature. I'm talking The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash; Miss Nelson Is Missing!; and Three up a Tree. Kids today just don't realize what they are missing out on.

[Sue Winson · Rating 5 out of 5]

22-month old little-AJ loves this book! There is a huge cupcake in the story with chocolate chips and raspberry-cream, a really kind-hearted mouse who doesn't mind sharing, and many other animals that chew and munch and bite and scrunch!

This book is perfect for little-AJ's age. He is at this important transitional stage, learning the joy of sharing and moving away from his self-centred behavior. He smiles and giggles looking at the animals taking turn to have a bite at the huge cupcake. Little-AJ shared his favourite grapes with daddy, mummy, aunties, and uncles right after, giggling all the way watching us eat.

Little mouse found a huge cupcake, but it was too huge to bring home. So he shared the yummy food with a bird, a frog, a mole, a snail, a possum and a chipmunk, until the cupcake shrinks to the right size for the mouse's tummy!

This is a happy story that hits all the right elements of a perfect book for young toddlers: cute animals, scrumptious food, softness of colours, straightforward storyline, obvious message about the benefits and joys of sharing, and a delicious ending that makes us all smile.

Blog review here: https://storypleasemummy.wordpress.co...

[Victoria Ouellette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Mouse and the Big Cupcake is the tale of a small mouse who needs help from his friends getting his newly found treasure home. With the “help” of all of his hungry animal friends, the little mouse is able to get his cupcake right where he wants it- in his tummy! This book is perfect to read aloud to young children, most likely ages 5-7, because it does not have a lot of words and the illustrations are large and clear. This is why I chose it for our read aloud. The illustrations themselves, by Jill Barton are easily recognizable and are simplistic in design to get to the point. This aims the book at younger ages so that the child does not get distracted while reading and looking at the pictures. Thomas Taylor does an excellent job using a basic level of vocabulary with fun onomatopoeias that make the read aloud more fun! Overall, Little Mouse and the Big Cupcake is a lovely story about sharing and how it can get you what you want too without hitting the reader over the head with the message.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I was concerned that this title may be too alike to "If You Give a Mouse a Cupcake"...but it's a completely different book. It may be cutely paired with the former in a storytime about sweet things...or mice! Little Mouse stumbles upon a chocolate-chip, raspberry-cream cupcake (which sounds a little bit gross to me) that he sees as a yummy surprise. The problem: it's too big to carry home. With some help from his friends, they work it out...the audience will be on the edge of their seats during the tenuous moment right before the pleasing ending. This is a standout title for a readaloud once I'm back in the library!

[Toni Chahine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little Mouse and the Big Cupcake was an enjoyable story to read. This book teaches young children the concept of sharing. The little mouse sees a large cupcake and wants to take it home with him. He cannot do it on his own. Many other animals come over, offer help, but still cannot move the cupcake. All these animals ask to try the cupcake and little mouse says yes. After awhile little mouse realizes how small his cupcake has now gotten. He feels sad until he realizes this is a perfect size for him! He is now able to carry it home. This book teaches young children to share, and good things will happen! I enjoyed this book.

[Ellon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute book. The mouse has a big cupcake that is too big for him to carry. He asked for help but none of teh other animals can carry a cupcake that big either but they each want a piece. At the end, there is only a small bit of the cupcake left but that is the perfect size for little mouse.
I like that mouse doesn't get upset with others eating his cupcake. Although I could see some people saying that mouse needs to stand up for himself.
I used this book to kickstart a healthy eating discussion with my students but I could also see teachers using it to discuss sound words as the book has tons of them.

[Miss Pippi the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little mouse finds a large cupcake. He wants to take it home, but it is too big. Animal friends come along and want to help, but it is too big for them too. Mouse shares the treat when his friends ask for a nibble. Each nibble makes the cupcake smaller and smaller until it is the perfect size.

Sweet and simple story about friends, asking for help, and sharing. The illustrations made of watercolor paints, pencil, and graphite stick are adorable with soft and gentle tones.

2014 Theme: chocolate
2015 Theme: cupcakes
Additional themes: cupcakes, mice

Reviewed from a library copy.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about a sweet little mouse who has a cupcake that all the animals he meets want to eat.

I read this book aloud to three different age groups: babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. It went over well with all of them. There are a few different things you can do with this book: count the animals with the children, have them imitate the sounds the animals make as they eat the cupcake, or have them guess what Little Mouse is going to answer with when the animals ask if they can have some of the cupcake.

[Mariarosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so cute!!!!!! My younger siblings loved the story, and their favorite illustration was the frog's eyes as the animals watched another animal eat the cupcake. They were totally giggling. I also loved the lesson. The mouse shared his cupcake with all of his friends and it turned out to be the solution to his problem. My younger siblings also easily understood the lesson and agreed with it and enjoyed it.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the cute story of mouse who happens upon a very large cupcake that she can't move all by herself. When all sorts of animal friends stop by, Mouse tries to persuade them to help her move it, but all they want is a piece of the cupcake, which Mouse graciously shares. My 3 & 4 year old boys really enjoyed this book.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Mouse finds a cupcake but cannot carry it home because it's too big. Each friend he asks cannot help because the cupcake is too big for them to carry as well. Eventually, after lots of sharing, they find a solution. Beautiful illustrations and simple text with a good message about sharing make this a good read aloud choice.

[Spike's Place · Rating 5 out of 5]

Click here to place a hold at the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library

[Anna Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story about how sharing and kindness helps a small mouse solve a big problem, and make new friends at the same time.

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mouse finds a cupcake but it's took big to carry. He shares with his friends and gets the answer to his problem.

[Eryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating given by my daughter. She really liked the message of sharing when you have more than you need and making friends.

[EJLJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, positive, great illustrations, this book does a very good job of telling a "believable" (for children) story, that shows how sharing is not only a nice thing, but can benefit you!

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mouse asks for help carrying a giant cupcake home.

A similar idea to A New House for Mouse, but with a cupcake instead of an apple.

Thomas Taylor's story is for a slightly younger audience and Jill Barton's illustrations are sweet, clear, and colorful!

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cute picture book will be appealing to young children with it's attractive illustrations and great, predictable story with a clear problem and solution. This could be a great mentor text for problem/solution, sequence of events, or a character lesson on sharing. Adding it to my week of reading lessons which are anchored by A Cupcake Party. (Note to self: Week 10)

[Caroline K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad story, but also not my favorite. It left me feeling a bit sad, because the little mouse had been taken advantage of by his friends. There are some good themes too, though, like how to be generous and not greedy. The illustrations are fun and would make me want to read/look at the book if I were a child.

[Mrs Heet -Librarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Little Mouse is asking all the other animals for help, and none of them can help but all of them ask for some of his cupcake. They all took big bites too. I didn't like the not sharing aspect of the story, Mouse gets left with a small amount for himself, and the other animals get away with thinking they can just take whatever they want.

[Catie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. Short, and simple and sweet.

A little mouse finds a big cupcake. He needs help from his animal friends. Sometimes the best thing you can do is share a vast quantity of baked goods, right?

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun illustrations!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Animals share a cupcake. Includes sound effects to imitate.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is simple, fun, carefree, with a theme of sharing and friendship. Very cute.