Spaghetti: A Mouse and His Treasure

by Merrilees Brown

Meet Spaghetti the mouse — a tiny collector, recycler, artist and the ultimate noodle-powered problem solver!

Spaghetti loves collecting — lost buttons, bits of string, old pencil stubs and lots and lots of dried spaghetti. Spaghetti’s family sees a mousy mess. Spaghetti sees mouse treasure!

But when too much treasure takes up all the space in the mouse house, Spaghetti’s parents insist that something needs to change. It’s time for Spaghetti to put on his thinking cap (a pencil shaving) and come up with a creative solution for everyone in the mouse house.

A charmingly illustrated picture book that celebrates creativity, recycling, and thinking outside the pasta box. Perfect for inspiring young makers, dreamers, and spaghetti-lovers alike!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

48 pages, Hardcover

Published September 30, 2025

Reviews

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spaghetti is an adorable mouse that loves collecting treasure, especially spaghetti. When his family complains about the collecting and excess stuff everywhere he doesn’t get discouraged. Spaghetti, a resourceful mouse, tries to solve everyone's problem with his creativity. His affection for his treasure and family is apparent, making this book a must read. Such a positive fun message for kids and adults alike.
This book would be perfect for a lesson on recycling, it’s got my wheels turning for fun ideas. I can’t wait to read it with my students. I highly recommend this book the story and the illustrations are wonderful.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tundra Book Group and Merrilees Brown for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Spaghetti by Merrilees Brown is a third person-POV picture book about a mouse named spaghetti. When Spaghetti’s family runs out of room because of all his treasures, he finds a way so everyone can be happy.

The art is so cute. The colors are very soft and the style is even softer. I loved the minimalist approach to backgrounds on some pages because it really let us focus on the mice characters.

The story is all about finding a compromise and sharing what you love with the people you love. It doesn’t take a lot of words to tell the story, so I think this is best for beginning readers or nursery schools.

I would recommend this to beginning readers and families starting to read picture books to their children

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spaghetti is a delightful little mouse and so is his story. He is an appreciative "collector, recycler, artist and the ultimate noodle-powered problem solver"!
The illustrations by the author are imaginative, colorful, and fun!
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school, waiting room, or your local public library! Pub Date Sep 30, 2025
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected galley proof from Tundra Book Group | Tundra Books via NetGalley. ***** #review #goodreads #storygraph #NetGalley @librarythingofficial #SpaghettiAMouseandHisTreasure written and illustrated by @merrileesbrown @tundrabooks @penguinrandomca #kidlit #picturebooks @childrensbookcouncil #childrensbookillustration #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk @indigo #bookbub #KidLit #ReadTundra @barnesandnoble #kidlit #picturebookart #childrensbook #food #family #rhyming #togetherness #Recycling #picturebook #mouse #creativity #tundrabooks #Storytime #collector #penguinrandomhouse #parenting #family

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clever, tiny mouse named Spaghetto is the central character in "Spaghetti" by Merrilees Brown. His favorite hobby is collecting things. That is, until his parents tell him to stop collecting. With all of Spaghetti's treasures, their house has become too crowded. Spaghetti continues to collect despite that. Eventually, his house becomes so full that his parents tell him to get rid of everything. Rather than throwing anything away, spaghetti decides to use everything he collects to make things for his family. All manner of creations are made by Spaghetti. In this way, he can still keep everything he has collected. As a side note, spaghetti is also Spaghetti's favorite meal.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Tundra Book Group through NetGalley.
Spaghetti is a charming mouse who collects all sorts of items others discard. He sees the promise in each thing so keeps them in their home. Others don't see the charm and complain about how much he keeps. He realizes he needs to create something that his whole family will treasure. Readers see him ponder, come up with an idea, and then build with his collection. By the end, everyone is delighted to play oh his creations.
Delightful book to teach about creative solutions and using imagination. A STEAM book for younger readers. The artwork offers hints to his creations as the book progresses.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Spaghetti" is a children's story about a mouse (named Spaghetti) who has a passion for collecting. But when the collection becomes a problem, Spaghetti thinks of a solution that can bring everyone together.
What an absolutely sweet book. The illustrations feel heartwarming and the wording is simple but meaningful. I would recommend this for children in the 2-4 age range; my preschool class would love it! It would be a great read for a child in your life who may share Spaghetti's passion for collecting treasures.
Thank you, Tundra Books, for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 7 year old niece found this an easy read, but she sure seemed to enjoy the story.
The book is beautifully illustrated, and draws your eyes in as you move along in this read.
She got a kick out of what he ended up making with all the pieces of spaghetti, and he has quite a collection!
She loved the family pictures, and we talked about collecting things. She also loved the mouse's name, "Spaghetti!
This is such a delightful book for youngsters, and I have a feeling we will be reading it again soon!
I received this book through the Publisher Penguin Random House, Tundra Books, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Ollie Skyba · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an incredibly cute story!
The illustrations are so gentle and sweet, depicting a charming underground world of tiny mice—so adorable that I can't even think of them as household pests! Spaghetti, the smartest little inventor mouse, doesn't just gather things; he thoughtfully creates and embodies a big idea that benefits his entire family.
Delightful and heartwarming!

Thanks NetGalley for ARCopy.

[Annie Brechbuhler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merrilees Brown's story about a mouse named Spaghetti who uses his imagination to create things with objects that others find useless could be a new classic. This beautiful picture book is simple, lighthearted, and fun. I would absolutely purchase a copy of this book for my classroom or my daughter's home library.

Thank you to Tundra Book Group and NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Kristi Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spaghetti is about a mouse named Spaghetti who loves…. spaghetti!

Spaghetti is a collector of what might be trash but turns it into treasure, decorating mouse house with all kinds of knick-knacks! A little imagination goes a long way!

Spaghetti is a cute children’s book with adorable illustrations!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tundra Book Group for an early release copy of this book!

Spaghetti releases September 30th, 2025-mark your calendar!

[Fallon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spaghetti is an adorable story about a mouse who finds treasure in the things abandoned by others. This story works well to learn about reusing items.

The illustrations are cute, the story itself is very simple and my four year old requested it three nights in a row.

Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an ARC of this one.

[Emilee (emileereadsbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A precious story about a mouse named Spaghetti and how he uses his passion for collecting and a little creativity to make something amazing to those who mean the most to him, his family. The illustrations are fun and sweet and Spaghetti is quite the endearing little mouse.

Thanks to Tundra for the digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Deborah]

Themes of creativity, recycling, and family come together in this sweet story, drawn and colored in pencil and soft textures. Added bonus for me—I happen to be assembling a list of my favorite picturebooks about art and creativity right now—and this title will fit right in. :)

What are YOUR favorites?

[Laurel Zeisler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had charming illustrations. The story was lighthearted and fun. I enjoyed the whimsical nature of the creations throughout the book. I think this book would be good to use in a classroom setting to encourage children to create pictures out of yarn.

[Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spaghetti, A Mouse and His Treasure by Merrilees Brown is a story about a mouse named Spaghetti. He collects what some might think of as trash but he thinks of as treasure. The things he collects he uses to create things for his family and friends to enjoy; he uses his imagination to create fun new things. A simple story with a message of what can be accomplished with a little work and imagination.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spaghetti is probably the cutest mouse I have ever seen illustrated. For the most part I really enjoyed this book. There are one or two pages where I think the illustrations are a tad difficult to decipher but overall a lovely story of creativity and using what we have.

[Stella Marchione · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very cute story about a mouse and his wonderful collection. Also, how he transforms his treasures into something more valuable for his friends and family.

[Ardin Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute book. I really loved how Spaghetti turned his treasures into something that could be shared with his entire family.

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Spaghetti!

[Jared White · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very cute book about hoarding, I mean, "collecting." I do like that things are upcycled and that it works out in the end. The illustrations are adorable.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5