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Alexander and the Magic Mouse
The Old Lady, her Magical Mouse, a Brindle London Squatting Cat, a Yak, and Alexander, the smiling alligator, lived together on a hill without any friends until the thirty-day rain endangered the town below them.
44 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1969
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196 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
November 18, 2011
Several years ago I was sputtering about this book in the kid's section of a B&N, trying to keyword-prod the clerk to find the title. "There's a mouse..."
"Stuart Little?"
"No, no, a magical mouse, and an alligator who is shy and nice, and a cat..."
"I don't think we--"
"A squatting cat!"
"I can check for--"
"A BRINDLE LONDON SQUATTING CAT." He was looking at me nervously, as if I might eat his nose, but the memories were pouring into me now, through a hole in time's silty dike, flooding the moment with smells of tea and jam and the scent of a warm fireplace while the cold rain lashed the windowpanes of that old Victorian house. "Alexander," I told him. "Alexander and the Magic Mouse."
He clicked through his terminal with urgency before he looked up with tight, worried eyes. "That's out of print," he said. "We don't have that. I'm so sorry."
"Stuart Little?"
"No, no, a magical mouse, and an alligator who is shy and nice, and a cat..."
"I don't think we--"
"A squatting cat!"
"I can check for--"
"A BRINDLE LONDON SQUATTING CAT." He was looking at me nervously, as if I might eat his nose, but the memories were pouring into me now, through a hole in time's silty dike, flooding the moment with smells of tea and jam and the scent of a warm fireplace while the cold rain lashed the windowpanes of that old Victorian house. "Alexander," I told him. "Alexander and the Magic Mouse."
He clicked through his terminal with urgency before he looked up with tight, worried eyes. "That's out of print," he said. "We don't have that. I'm so sorry."
November 27, 2009
I read and reread this book when I was child, seated at the ladybug table in the bright and dusty reading room of the Princeton, Massachusetts public library. A most surprising and satisfying moment was when, some 12 years ago, I stopped back by while on a trip through the area and the book was still there, and it smelled exactly the same, though a bit more tangy with age and child-borne grime. Alas, the ladybug table was no longer in evidence.
August 24, 2010
One of my absolutely favorite books when I was a kid, about an old lady and her exotic friends, including an alligator who saves the town from an impending flood. The description does not do this charming story justice. And the illustrations are marvelous.
I scoured libraries for years to find this book, because I couldn't remember the title - sadly, not a single children's librarian was ever able to help me identify it. I can't imagine how this book has not reached the status of classic. On the other hand, it's out of print now, and used copies start at around $75, so clearly I'm not the only person who values it!
I scoured libraries for years to find this book, because I couldn't remember the title - sadly, not a single children's librarian was ever able to help me identify it. I can't imagine how this book has not reached the status of classic. On the other hand, it's out of print now, and used copies start at around $75, so clearly I'm not the only person who values it!
April 8, 2025
The illustrations are really enjoyable - I’d love to live in that house!
The book is about an old lady and her exotic animals who live together on a hill outside of town. One day, the Magic Mouse announces that it will rain thirty days and that they must prepare.
The story has a hard rain, cozy moments and an unselfish hero.
Ages: 4 - 9
Parents may want to know that this picture book is wordier than some.
Content Considerations: there is a magical mouse - aside from him being able to make himself invisible or able to discern a rain storm coming, his magic is not described.
The book is about an old lady and her exotic animals who live together on a hill outside of town. One day, the Magic Mouse announces that it will rain thirty days and that they must prepare.
The story has a hard rain, cozy moments and an unselfish hero.
Ages: 4 - 9
Parents may want to know that this picture book is wordier than some.
Content Considerations: there is a magical mouse - aside from him being able to make himself invisible or able to discern a rain storm coming, his magic is not described.
November 18, 2013
My daughter and I recently unearthed this oldie-but-goodie off of our shelf. While the story is long, it is well told and the illustrations are gorgeous. This book delights me so much. It pleases the inner Victorian part of me that is convinced I'm a great lady while at the same time it satisfies the dooms-day prepper in me, determined to overcome any natural catastrophe. Last but not least, one of the characters is a yak. All children's books should contain a friendly, milk sharing yak in them.
If you can possibly locate this picture book you will be a much better person for it.
If you can possibly locate this picture book you will be a much better person for it.
July 13, 2011
Like the others who have so glowingly reviewed this little known gem, I have my own idyllic recollections of discovering and growing to love Alexander and the Magic Mouse. My mom found it at a garage sale and read it to my brother whenever we asked which was very often, indeed!
July 21, 2022
If I'd had access to this as a child, it would have been one of my very favorites. I'm not sure why. On the face of it we just have a lot of words to tell a fairly simple story, with some old-fashioned art about a situation that children cannot relate to their lives.
There are lots of elements to love. Think of the somewhat vain but very brave Alexander, alligator. Think of the Yak, romping in the meadow. Of the Magical Mouse, who came with the house, who has been invisible for going on forever but still knows how to predict weather and bake teacakes. Of the Brindle London Squatting Cat, whose name is much more charming than his acerbic personality.
Think of battening down for a long spell of cabin fever, and making sure you have plenty of molasses and pickled watermelon. Of braving the weather to save the town. Of the old lady's fancy gowns, fancy hair, and relatively fancy tea set.
Note the art, with images that are small panels on one page, a double-page spread elsewhere, full-page, half-page, whatever it takes to get the job done. Some colored, some an orangey 'sepia' effect. Many only show bits of the characters, for example the old lady's foot as she climbs the stairs.
In our imaginations, sometimes we live in this kind of house, with these kinds of friends, and are ready when we're needed to do brave deeds!
If you like the old ladies of Crictor or Babar the Elephant, you'll love this.
---
Reread. This is now on openlibrary.org so I will let my hardcover go, either to a nostalgic paperbackswapper or to a certain young family.
There are lots of elements to love. Think of the somewhat vain but very brave Alexander, alligator. Think of the Yak, romping in the meadow. Of the Magical Mouse, who came with the house, who has been invisible for going on forever but still knows how to predict weather and bake teacakes. Of the Brindle London Squatting Cat, whose name is much more charming than his acerbic personality.
Think of battening down for a long spell of cabin fever, and making sure you have plenty of molasses and pickled watermelon. Of braving the weather to save the town. Of the old lady's fancy gowns, fancy hair, and relatively fancy tea set.
Note the art, with images that are small panels on one page, a double-page spread elsewhere, full-page, half-page, whatever it takes to get the job done. Some colored, some an orangey 'sepia' effect. Many only show bits of the characters, for example the old lady's foot as she climbs the stairs.
In our imaginations, sometimes we live in this kind of house, with these kinds of friends, and are ready when we're needed to do brave deeds!
If you like the old ladies of Crictor or Babar the Elephant, you'll love this.
---
Reread. This is now on openlibrary.org so I will let my hardcover go, either to a nostalgic paperbackswapper or to a certain young family.
June 28, 2017
This was my absolute favorite picture book as a young child. I do believe I drove my poor mother crazy asking her to read it every single night. It's a pretty long book to have to read over and over and over and.... To this day, I still thrill at the pictures and the story; every time I open the book, I go back in time and it's just as real as it was when I was three. I do hope my kids will enjoy it as much as I did (and maybe I'll get pay-back for all the times I made my mom read it to me).
January 28, 2012
My all-time favorite children's picture book. Amazing illustrations and a story I never ever get tired of hearing! Story is about an old lady who lives in a hill top mansion with her animal friends from around the world. When the magic mouse warns them that the town below will flood from a rain that will last 40 days, she asks her pet alligator, Alexander, to go warn the town's mayor.
January 17, 2018
My son and I enjoyed this book, he’s 5 and it was perfectly suited for his age.
April 27, 2015
Both my grown daughters rave on this book from their childhood so I gave it a read. Whimsical, well-written and heart-warming.
December 5, 2012
The illustrations of the house have always made me want to live in an old Victorian mansion. (Until I grew up and learned what AC and heating bills were.)
February 5, 2014
I loved this book as a child and hopefully my mum didn't throw it out after I left home many years ago! I would love to pass it onto my daughter.
March 17, 2015
My absolute, hands-down, favorite book from my childhood! So sad that it is out of print.
March 24, 2015
The illustrations are amazing as is the story. My favorite book from childhood has held up. I would give it six stars if I could.
October 30, 2025
This was first published in 1969, the year I was born. Children's books were a little bit different then. For example, this book casually throws in the phrase sou venir. There is also an alligator from China ... named Alexander. Because Alexander is a traditional Chinese name, apparently.
When kid's authors didn't know anything about a far away country, they just winged it. There wasn't an internet back then to check. And no one from the West was taking holidays in China back in 1969.
Yeah, I realize it's a modern fantasy book, but it's these little jarring notes from the real universe that breaks up the suspension of disbelief necessary to enjoy a fantasy story.
By the way, there is such a species as the Chinese alligator, which does seem to be perpetually smiling. There were a lot more of them in 1969 than today, where they are now critically endangered.
Anyway ...
These four animals live with an Old Lady -- the aforementioned Alexander, a Tibetan yak, a brindle cat from England, and the Magical Mouse, who apparently is the world's best weather forcaster. The people of the town across the river have no idea of the torrential rain and flooding to come. Hence, it is up to Alexander to bring a written warning from the Old Lady.
Because the Magical Mouse doesn't give a fuck about the town.
Weird book. Nicely weird at times -- such as the character of the cat. And not so nicely weird at other times -- like their preference for eating pickled watermelon. Now, I know that this is an actual foodstuff, but the thought of anyone stuffing his or her face with it, is nauseating.
The intricately detailed illustrations by Phillipe Fix are far superior than the story. He adds things like a little gargoyle statue in the master bedroom, the Magical Mouse when the text said that the Magical Mouse couldn't be found, and a boy with only one sock pulled up.
Many of the illustrations are in full color, but others have a limited palette of black, white and tan.
When kid's authors didn't know anything about a far away country, they just winged it. There wasn't an internet back then to check. And no one from the West was taking holidays in China back in 1969.
Yeah, I realize it's a modern fantasy book, but it's these little jarring notes from the real universe that breaks up the suspension of disbelief necessary to enjoy a fantasy story.
By the way, there is such a species as the Chinese alligator, which does seem to be perpetually smiling. There were a lot more of them in 1969 than today, where they are now critically endangered.
Anyway ...
These four animals live with an Old Lady -- the aforementioned Alexander, a Tibetan yak, a brindle cat from England, and the Magical Mouse, who apparently is the world's best weather forcaster. The people of the town across the river have no idea of the torrential rain and flooding to come. Hence, it is up to Alexander to bring a written warning from the Old Lady.
Because the Magical Mouse doesn't give a fuck about the town.
Weird book. Nicely weird at times -- such as the character of the cat. And not so nicely weird at other times -- like their preference for eating pickled watermelon. Now, I know that this is an actual foodstuff, but the thought of anyone stuffing his or her face with it, is nauseating.
The intricately detailed illustrations by Phillipe Fix are far superior than the story. He adds things like a little gargoyle statue in the master bedroom, the Magical Mouse when the text said that the Magical Mouse couldn't be found, and a boy with only one sock pulled up.
Many of the illustrations are in full color, but others have a limited palette of black, white and tan.
August 30, 2020
Wayback when, my grandmother owned an anthology Of old children’s picture books. I remember there was one about a walrus and a zookeeper switching places, there was a retelling of Aladdin, and then there was this one which was a favorite of my brother and I. Years went by and the Book was lost or sold off or misplaced. I gave it a half hearted hunt after my grandparents moved away from their farm but I could never quite find it. My mom manage to find this book for $50 or so online sometimes more. I managed to find an $11 one by luck on amazon.com. I’m not letting it go this time. It was imaginative it was beautifully illustrated and I love it. His review is pretty darn far from a serious examination of A book, but it’s also a children’s book that was a big part of me growing up. It’s hard to be overly critical with that.
October 13, 2020
My mother was determined to teach me how to read before I started Kindergarten. She ordered some children's books from a book club and this one was one of them. At first mom read it to me, and then I slowly learned how to read it. I fell in love with this story! I read it over and over to the point where I loved Alexander. I don't remember the other books at all, which shows how much I read this book. Suffice to say, by the time I entered school in 1969, I was a pretty good reader. I never forgot this story and it brings such fond memories to me. The innocence. The child like imagination that made me feel I was part of the story and lived with Alexander and the magic mouse. I wished that I had found this book when my children were little. I would have loved to have shared this part of my childhood with them.
August 24, 2025
I had this as a kid. A memory came to me as I was falling asleep last week. I did a search on what I could remember and found a copy. Very good story and Exceptional artwork. If you have kids or you just want to feel like a kid get a copy and enjoy it.
April 20, 2018
I really enjoyed this cute book. I've really come to love and enjoy nonfiction and fiction books about alligators. Cute children's book!
August 7, 2020
I loved the illustrations and the atmosphere of the old lady and her animal friends (family) living a secluded life high up on a hill above the town. Each animal had it's own unique personality.
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April 18, 2022These illustrated children's books just will not let me go! So lovely.
July 12, 2023
Another fabulous book from my own childhood that just gets better with age. I wish more people knew this book. It’s fabulous!
May 20, 2025
This is where it all started, with my grandmother reading this to us every night. So much aesthetic and imagery has been drawn from my memories of being read this story growing up.
February 28, 2024
There's a lot in this book that one just has to take as is. The narrator tells you this is how things are and that's all there is by way of explanation.
More work is done by the bright illustrations. Although they show an old woman who dresses to fit her Victorian surrounds, the illustrations are done in vibrantly warm colors that were typical of the late 1960s-1970s.
https://pussreboots.com/blog/2024/com...
More work is done by the bright illustrations. Although they show an old woman who dresses to fit her Victorian surrounds, the illustrations are done in vibrantly warm colors that were typical of the late 1960s-1970s.
https://pussreboots.com/blog/2024/com...
April 4, 2013
Alexander and the Magic Mouse (1969), written by Martha Sanders and illustrated by Philippe Fix, is the story of the Old Lady and her very odd animal friends: a Brindle London Squatting Cat, a Magical Mouse, an Alligator from China and a Yak. During a 30-day rainstorm, the bridge to town washes out, and so the Old Lady sends Alligator to warn the mayor that the town is going to flood, but he struggles to make it.
Themes: Perseverance; Friendship; Community; Family
Ways to use this book with children:
*Have students write about what unusual animals they would like to have as pets.
*Write about how the Old Lady came to have these unusual animals for company.
Themes: Perseverance; Friendship; Community; Family
Ways to use this book with children:
*Have students write about what unusual animals they would like to have as pets.
*Write about how the Old Lady came to have these unusual animals for company.
February 1, 2014
Something made me think of this last night...it was the pouring rain as I drove home from work at midnight...after weeks of endless wet.
This was a book that I owned as a child and returned to over and over.. A tale of accepting difference, of caring for others and compassion. It is full of divine, detailed and evocative illustrations and a story that is intelligent and worthy.
It should be in the life of any child...full of wonderful lessons and insights.
This was a book that I owned as a child and returned to over and over.. A tale of accepting difference, of caring for others and compassion. It is full of divine, detailed and evocative illustrations and a story that is intelligent and worthy.
It should be in the life of any child...full of wonderful lessons and insights.
May 27, 2010
There is an old lady that lives on top of a hill with her animal friends the Brindle London Squalling Cat, a Magical Mouse, and Alligator from China and a Yak. The Magical Mouse tells them that is going to rain for 30 days and 30 nights so they prepare but the town below them does not know about the coming storm. So Alexander swims down to the town to deliver a letter warning the town.
January 17, 2009
This was my favorite book as a child, about an old woman who lives in an old Victorian house on a hill with a cat, a yak, a crocodile, and a magic mouse. And what happens when a flood hits the town down below.
June 14, 2014
A beautiful story about a brave alligator and his unusual family, this was one of my favorite stories when I was little. Alexander is a wonderful hero, and the Brindle London Squatting Cat is a delightful antagonist.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews