A Garden For Miss Mouse

by Michaela Muntean, Christopher Santoro (Illustrator)

Miss Mouse plants a garden which soon becomes more than she can handle.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Gardening

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Jillian Johns · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book is one meant for children under the age of eight most likely. Miss Mouse was bored of her annual vegetable garden and decided to go big by seeding every inch of land around her home. Her garden grew like wildfire, engulfing her home such that she had to be rescued by the entire town. The plot is fantastical in the fact that the garden grows to such overwhelming proportions under her care, but remains realistic in that the vegetables do not become gigantic- they just multiply. The illustrations have some realism (textured fur on the anthropomorphic animals) and there is gentle detailing on the vegetation. This story was one my mother often read to me and my siblings (and also by herself because she loved it so much). The plot is not too deep and twisty. There is an idea that turns out to be ill-advised when carried out and simple resolution suitable enough for young readers. The protagonist Miss Mouse does learn her lesson by the end of her adventure so it can qualify as a linear adventure. Young readers will enjoy seeing just how in a tizzy Miss Mouse is when she discovers her garden has decided to mutiny against her.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not think my two year old daughter would sit still for a book with eight phrases per page and whole lot of pages. I was happily mistaken. This book makes a great read aloud...daughter in highchair with evening snack...Momma using her most dramatic voice. The text and illustrations lend themselves to that sort of performance quite easily. This was a simple book to make interesting. We loved the humor and the subtle vegetable salad propaganda! See if you can locate a copy of this selection.

[Karsyn Konecny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a little mouse named miss mouse who has a garden but one day her garden gets too big and out of control. The whole town comes to help Miss mouse cut down her garden so it isn't overtaking her house and life anymore. I liked this book because it shows teamwork and helping one another. The intended audience for this book would be first or second grade because they are old enough to understand the concepts in the book and they might be able to read it to themselves as well. I would even do a lesson about how to plant a flower or how a seed grows in a garden because of the concepts in the book.

[Keidra Polite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss Mouse wanted to have the biggest vegetable garden ever. She planted a lot of vegetables and everyone love her garden. However, her garden kept growing and growing until there were vegetables in her house. The neighbors had to come and help her eat all of the food. This teaches students that you should not put too much or you will have problems.

[Kristina Arnold]

This is a cute entertaining book for young children who are maybe working on a science project that consists of planting. Although quite ficitional and not likely to happen it will shock the children when they find Miss Mouse!

[Susan Mabus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was a cute story. I think any child would like this book.A Garden for Miss Mouse

[Sonja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute little story about Miss Mouse planting a garden that grew so big it overtakes her house!

The bit about the author in the back says the idea was born after she tried organic gardening one summer and had 7' tall tomatoe plants!

Bought this one to send to kz4ufo for her Autumn Festival!

[Deanna Caswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these old style books. And I love gardening, but with all the hit-you-over-the-head gardening kids' books out lately, I was excited to see an oldie where a garden was the enemy.