Builder Mouse

by Sofia Eldarova

Two mouse friends have two distinctly different uses for leftovers.
 
Edgar loves to build with them.
 
Toby loves to eat them.
 
This makes life challenging.
 
So Edgar sets out to find someone who will appreciate his creations as art, and not as lunch.
 
This sly, appealingly understated, and warm-hearted book is the American debut of the author/illustrator Sofia Eldarova.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Friendship, Construction, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 2, 2016

Reviews

[Hannah Kalal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Builder Mouse is a story of two mice friends, Edgar and Toby. Together the two share the same living quarters where Toby collects food leftovers. With these leftovers, Edgar creates his art masterpieces, which Toby admires and then he eats. Tired of getting his artwork eaten, Edgar leaves for the big city to display his art to true art enthusiasts! Edgar soon realizes that Toby is a true admirer of his work, and Edgar returns home. Toby is thrilled to have his friend back, and also has a gift for Edgar's return!

-An activity for students would be to have them create sculptures or art pieces with food objects. This would be an exciting activity as children are generally taught "do not play with your food!" It would get imagination flowing and hands-on activities are always fun!

Eldarova, S. (2016). Builder mouse. Boston: Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

[Holly Haught]

In this book, Edgar loves to build things out of the left overs that he and his best friend Toby find throughout the day. Edgar builds beautiful towers and is a great architect, but Toby keeps eating his masterpieces. As a result, Edgar gets upset and decides to go somewhere where his art is appreciated. Everywhere he goes his art is still eaten. As a result, he ends up back home where he realizes he's meant to be.

I loved this adorable book. It made me smile and I loved the story and the meaning behind it!

In the classroom, I would use this opportunity to explain to my students that there are two sides of a story. Edgar was upset that Toby didn't appreciate his architecture. However, Toby really did appreciate it, but in a way different than Edgar wanted. When Toby realized that he'd been upsetting Edgar's feelings, he gave him blocks to build with so he wouldn't eat them.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edgar loves to build... very tall things from the leftovers he finds. He wants to be an architect. Edgar's best friend Toby likes leftovers too! He likes to eat them! This makes it hard for Edgar sometimes. Edgar gets fed up and leaves home. He travels, he explores, and he BUILDS! But everything he builds get eaten. When Edgar finally makes his way home, Toby has a surprise for him... his very own set of wooden building blocks!

Teaching points: friendship, creativity, compromise, unique life goals

Location: LES library

Related reads:
Library Mouse series by Daniel Kirk (Epic!, Libby app - ebooks & audio)
Little Elliot series by Mike Curato (Open ebooks)

[Margaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable book about different perspectives and what food means to an architect and a foodie.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations complement the moods of the story.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet and charming tale about the enduring power of friendship and love. When Edgar is faced with the choice of his passion to create and that of keeping his friendship with Toby, he chooses his dream to build. Dissatisfied and lonely, he eventually discovers that both can be had through compromise and understanding. Unique, original and accompanied by charming artwork, this will delight older preschool/younger elementary children. Highly recommended.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contained unexpected hilarity, all constructed out of food! I believe that any individual who reads this book will have a smile on their face throughout. I enjoyed how this book showed Edgar's journey and, in the end, reminded him that home is where your heart is. This would be a wonderful book to use for story time, and the children would absolutely get a kick out of a talented architect building structures out of food.

[Kate Hastings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grades K-3. Edgar the mouse loves to build structures from leftover food he finds. The problem is that his best friend only seems to appreciate how his art TASTES. He leaves with hopes of finding an audience for his work. He does find an audience wherever he goes-- a hungry one. Dejected, he returns home. Moral of the story: Insanity=keep doing the same thing and expect different results.

[Selena]

The grass isn't always greener on the other side of the mouse hole especially when you are an artistic mouse who builds his art from leftover food. Everyone wants to eat it, but to figure out the solution you have to go back home to the ones who love you to find your true calling.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edgar seeks out other aesthetically-minded mice who appreciate his architectural talents. Droll, appealing, and fun.

[Emily Scheinman]

Loved the illustrations

[Ann Valdez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the use of color and the illustrations in this fine story reminding us there is no place like home (even though it is not perfect.)

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friendship and compromise. Some good life lessons.

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mouse who builds food sculptures is upset that everyone eats his work instead of appreciating it.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a wonderful story about a mouse who love creating works of are with food.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it! great book to tie in with a Lego or art program

[Kala · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's cute and kind of funny, but I have a hard time imagining a child enjoying this one.