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Adventures of Mouse
One Is a Feast for Mouse: A Thanksgiving Tale
Perfect for Thanksgiving, this warm and humourous picture book gently reminds us to give thanks for the little things. The Thanksgiving feast is over. Leftover turkey and pumpkin pie litter the table. Mouse peeps out of his hidey-hole and spots a small green pea. the perfect feast for one mouse. Yes, one green pea, one red cranberry, one plate of mashed potatoes, and one roasted turkey, that should make a very fine feast for Mouse. But can he get it all back to his hidey-hole?
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2008
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231 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
December 6, 2010
I really enjoyed this story right up until the last few pages. It follows a little mouse who is adorable but gluttonous. He wanders through the left-over Thanksgiving feast (still on the table while the people snooze away the afternoon) and finds a pea first and takes it, feeling that one is enough for him. But, as he wanders on, he finds more things that he takes "just one of" until soon he has a towering pile of food! Eventually, this leads to a big downfall (literally and figuratively). I think it is a great lesson in what one needs vs. what one wants. The cumulative nature of the story and humorous illustrations should be well enjoyed by children.
However, I am not sure this is a tale I would want to share with my children or recommend to my animal-loving friends due to the nasty treatment the cat receives. *SPOILER* When cat chases the mouse, the mouse drops all his food and it clatters to the floor onto the cat. The human woman then comes in and hits the cat with a broom and scolds him, while the mouse escapes to enjoy the remnants of his feast. I absolutely cannot condone animal cruelty, especially when there appears to be no remorse shown for hitting the cat and no "lesson" for the audience (it's kind of a side-note to the mouse's story); unless the message is that sometimes the innocent are blamed but, ack, not like this especially for a children's book, please! Such a pity :-(
However, I am not sure this is a tale I would want to share with my children or recommend to my animal-loving friends due to the nasty treatment the cat receives. *SPOILER* When cat chases the mouse, the mouse drops all his food and it clatters to the floor onto the cat. The human woman then comes in and hits the cat with a broom and scolds him, while the mouse escapes to enjoy the remnants of his feast. I absolutely cannot condone animal cruelty, especially when there appears to be no remorse shown for hitting the cat and no "lesson" for the audience (it's kind of a side-note to the mouse's story); unless the message is that sometimes the innocent are blamed but, ack, not like this especially for a children's book, please! Such a pity :-(
November 16, 2016
boring. Students didn't like this one.
October 29, 2014
Charming story just in time for the holidays. The family feast is over and all is quiet. The food is left out on the table and little mouse can't help exploring his options.
What begins as a search for a small pea-sized meal soon becomes an exercise in gluttony and sloth. As the mouse's greed grows, so do his problems. For a watchful cat has noticed the mouse's sojourn onto the table and is waiting to nab his prey at just the right moment.
Good moral lesson for young people. Be happy with a small reward, which is often sufficient.
What begins as a search for a small pea-sized meal soon becomes an exercise in gluttony and sloth. As the mouse's greed grows, so do his problems. For a watchful cat has noticed the mouse's sojourn onto the table and is waiting to nab his prey at just the right moment.
Good moral lesson for young people. Be happy with a small reward, which is often sufficient.
November 12, 2018
Give thanks for what you have. :)
March 30, 2023
n a culture where one more is just never enough, it can be difficult to teach children about being thankful for what they have. Even though twenty-first century kids have more "stuff" than any past generation of children and adolescents, it seems they are always wanting something more. And why wouldn't the offspring of spoiled adults be just as greedy? Genuine gratitude and thankfulness are sometimes hard to find in a world filled with iPods, Kindles, iPhones and the latest electronic gadget.
"One is a Feast for Mouse: A Thanksgiving Tale" by Judy Cox and Jeffrey Ebbeler is an adorable picture book for toddlers and beginning readers that has a deeper message for anyone who reads it.
While this book reminds readers to be thankful for even the little blessings, it is not preachy and never even states that Mouse was getting greedy. The story of each bit of the meal being added grows and grows until it all tumbles across the table and the dining room floor. The colorful illustrations fill the page and Mouse is as cute as can be with his striped turtleneck and horn-rimmed glasses.
"One is a Feast for Mouse: A Thanksgiving Tale" by Judy Cox and Jeffrey Ebbeler is an adorable picture book for toddlers and beginning readers that has a deeper message for anyone who reads it.
While this book reminds readers to be thankful for even the little blessings, it is not preachy and never even states that Mouse was getting greedy. The story of each bit of the meal being added grows and grows until it all tumbles across the table and the dining room floor. The colorful illustrations fill the page and Mouse is as cute as can be with his striped turtleneck and horn-rimmed glasses.
November 20, 2012
I've been searching for some quality Thanksgiving Season children's books ... because, I know this may sound hard to believe but, there aren't many choices. This one, though, may be a winner. It MAY be a winner. I bought my copy used through Amazon. When it arrived, my children gathered around my knee and we began to test it's pages. Being a used copy, I expected a little wear and tear, but cute little "Amy" simply wrote her name on the inside flap. The pages were perfectly crisp and clean...Good job, Amy! Your parents have clearly shown you the correct way to handle a book!
The story is quite cute (though slightly repetitive...I will allow for some of this in children's books) and the pictures are sweet. The story builds up to a climax as we worry about what will happen to this mouse when...
Augggggh! Bad Amy! Bad Amy! Why have you ripped out the final and most important page in this most promising book?
Until further notice, I have assumed the best ending and based my rating on how I think this book should end.
The story is quite cute (though slightly repetitive...I will allow for some of this in children's books) and the pictures are sweet. The story builds up to a climax as we worry about what will happen to this mouse when...
Augggggh! Bad Amy! Bad Amy! Why have you ripped out the final and most important page in this most promising book?
Until further notice, I have assumed the best ending and based my rating on how I think this book should end.
March 3, 2016
Finally got around to reading this Thanksgiving tale...more than a month after the holiday. Our girls weren't interested in reading this book - they thought it looked too 'babyish' for them and I kind of forgot about it until just now.
The narrative is humorous and has a cumulative build, adding each morsel of food to the list as the mouse spies it and puts it on top of the pile. The illustrations are cartoonish and fun, too. I liked the ending, although it was a bit predictable.
This book was featured as one of the selections for the November 2015: Thanksgiving discussion for the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
The narrative is humorous and has a cumulative build, adding each morsel of food to the list as the mouse spies it and puts it on top of the pile. The illustrations are cartoonish and fun, too. I liked the ending, although it was a bit predictable.
This book was featured as one of the selections for the November 2015: Thanksgiving discussion for the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
November 16, 2016
This is our favorite new find this year! It is the tale of a little mouse who quietly waits in his hidey-hole until the Thanksgiving meal is completed and everyone is either sleeping or playing. He sneaks onto the table and it happy to discover a few leftovers that he slowly collects in hopes of making a special feast for himself. He finds a: pea, cranberry, olive, carrot stick, mashed potatoes, gravy boat, pumpkin pie and turkey. My daughter loves the illustrations and hearing how the tiny mouse stacks the food that he gathers. I personally love the repetition and the descriptive vocabulary throughout the entire book. It also includes a great lesson on greed, not taking more that you need and being thankful and content for what you have.
October 17, 2014
A little mouse ventures forth to scrounge a lone pea from the table after Thanksgiving dinner. After all, he's little, and "one will be a feast for me." On the way back to his hole, though, his attention is snagged by first one, then another of the tempting leftovers. Each time he adds just one to his armload: "one is a feast for me." Of course, items add up quickly. I love the message of being satisfied with enough, rather than pursuing excess. The painted illustrations are warm and appealing. It's a solid Thanksgiving storytime choice. Somehow, though, it just doesn't hit that sweet-spot for me.
November 7, 2017
The title tells all in this story of a mouse whose eyes are bigger than his mouse hole.
November 24, 2018
Good Thanksgiving picture books are hard to find. Unfortunately wedged between two much more exciting holidays of Halloween and Christmas, Thanksgiving has become neglected. But this book by Judy Cox and illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler is great. This humorous tension driven story would be great read aloud. Parents can even incorporate having their children try balancing some items to experience the challenge Mouse faced. And the surprise ending shows that we always have something to be thankful for! A great book!
November 27, 2018
Such a cute little mouse who took more than he could really carry. My 5yo requests repeated readings of this book and seems to enjoy the illustrations and the big mess.
November 15, 2018
I have spent a lot of time looking for a picture book that really captures the spirit of Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday). This is my favorite book so far. It is a wholesome Thanksgiving day adventure tale for a little mouse who tries to take more than he needs and ends up running into a cat-astrophe. The illustrations are lovely and I enjoyed the family in the background snoozing after a Thanksgiving feast. Though the story is subdued children will be rooting for the mouse all the way. Thanksgiving books largely talk about the holiday historically or focus on turkeys running away from farmers. There aren't many that capture the spirit of being thankful for what we have rather than always wanting more, more, more in a fun, heartwarming way children can understand and enjoy.
The only thing that might not my rating down to a 4.75 is the last page. It shows the happy mouse enjoying his one pea feast, but he's alone. I understand why it ends that way (you can't share one pea between a whole family of mice) and it doesn't bother my 5 year-old, but to me Thanksgiving is about gratitude and being with those you love so I'm always a little sad at the last page.
The only thing that might not my rating down to a 4.75 is the last page. It shows the happy mouse enjoying his one pea feast, but he's alone. I understand why it ends that way (you can't share one pea between a whole family of mice) and it doesn't bother my 5 year-old, but to me Thanksgiving is about gratitude and being with those you love so I'm always a little sad at the last page.
November 22, 2018
Very cute children’s book that incorporates math and suspense! I enjoyed seeing mouse push his luck until his greed had negative consequences. My only issue is the depiction of Thanksgiving as an Anglo holiday. I know this is somewhat unavoidable due to the nature of the holiday, so while I would not read this to my children, I can appreciate it’s literary value.
November 21, 2018
A story which builds repetitive layers (similar to I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly). Cute Thanksgiving theme, but very simple. It was nice to read once.
November 16, 2018
A little mouse gets a bit greedy as he gathers his feast in this fun Thanksgiving story. I loved the illustrations, especially the fun perspectives. It was a hit with the first grade.
November 9, 2018
I read this book with a class of second graders and they thought it was really funny. Good thanksgiving book.
November 4, 2022
Ever wonder what happens after we've finished the holiday feast and are a little to full to clear off the table?
This is an incredibly cute little story that MUST be read right after you're done with your Thanksgiving plate. Who knows, maybe what you'll read about will be taking place right in the other room. *wink
Ages: 4 - 7
Cleanliness: nothing to note.
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This is an incredibly cute little story that MUST be read right after you're done with your Thanksgiving plate. Who knows, maybe what you'll read about will be taking place right in the other room. *wink
Ages: 4 - 7
Cleanliness: nothing to note.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
Want to read
October 19, 2011From Horn Book review: Overindulging at Thanksgiving is as much a part of the celebration as cornucopia centerpieces. For Mouse, though, feasting could end with more serious consequences than an overextended stomach. When Mouse creeps out from his “hidey-hole,” he spies the remnants of a Thanksgiving feast. He starts by picking up one “teensy-tiny, toothsome, green pea,” but soon he spies more goodies, and his pile grows. Bright acrylic paintings from multiple perspectives show Mouse, his large glasses not quite resting on his ears, juggling an increasingly unwieldy mountain of food. The repeated refrain (“One is a feast for me”) gets funnier as he takes “just one” cranberry, olive, and carrot stick, then a plate holding one scoop of mashed potatoes, etc. Mouse loses most of his feast when Cat wakes up, but nonetheless remembers to “give thanks” for what he manages to salvage — that single green pea. CHELSEY PHILPOT
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February 28, 2017One Is A Feast For A Mouse is about a mouse on Thanksgiving just looking for some leftovers. He was amazed by all the leftovers on the table, just one cranberry is enough. That was a feast for the little mouse. Then one olive, pea, carrot, scoop of mash potatoes, gravy boat, slice of pie and so on and so fourth until he had one of everything. The cat was watching mouse ran after causing mouse to drop everything waking everyone in the house. Cat got in trouble for making a mess and swept out the door while mouse enjoyed his pea.
I really enjoyed this book, the colors were great and the storyline was interesting. The pictures of the Thanksgiving dinner did make me a little hungry.
This book would be a fun class read before sending the students off on Thanksgiving Break. It could carry into a conversation about what they will eat or do on Thanksgiving just to see the diversity in the classroom. It would also be fun to talk about what the animals do p, if the students have any.
I really enjoyed this book, the colors were great and the storyline was interesting. The pictures of the Thanksgiving dinner did make me a little hungry.
This book would be a fun class read before sending the students off on Thanksgiving Break. It could carry into a conversation about what they will eat or do on Thanksgiving just to see the diversity in the classroom. It would also be fun to talk about what the animals do p, if the students have any.
July 3, 2008
This story has an adorable little mouse who finds a Thanksgiving feast after the humans have eaten, but when he gets greedy, he alerts the cat of the house. The mouse stacks every new food item he finds in a precarious tower of treats and every other page repeats what he finds like the 12 Days of Christmas chorus. In the end, he has to settle for one pea, but he is happy because it is a feast for him.
Ebbeler's illustrations are whimsical and fun, portraying multiple perspectives. The paintings are a combination of acrylic paint, pastels, and colored pencils and do a great job of showing shadow, scale, and motion. Two full page spreads near the middle of the story are the highlight of the book--one shows the mouse underneath his tower of food and the other opens to a wide panorama of the cats face with the mouse in the center of the frame.
A great book!
Ebbeler's illustrations are whimsical and fun, portraying multiple perspectives. The paintings are a combination of acrylic paint, pastels, and colored pencils and do a great job of showing shadow, scale, and motion. Two full page spreads near the middle of the story are the highlight of the book--one shows the mouse underneath his tower of food and the other opens to a wide panorama of the cats face with the mouse in the center of the frame.
A great book!
November 28, 2010
3.5 - This was a little tedious but really cute and that more than made up for it. The little mouse is just the cutest and there is a nice little lesson tucked in that makes for what could be great conversations at the end. The ending can lead right into the talk which is nice.
The little mouse in the story comes out after Thanksgiving dinner to see all the leftover food on the table. He decides to take one pea because, after all, one pea is a feast to a mouse. As he's leaving with hia pea he sees dish after dish after dish and he can't help himself. He starts stacking, stacking, stacking, food and dishes holding food all on top of his little pea.
When he's finally through and has everything he wants he starts home only to be faced with the cat.
In the end, the mouse ends up with one little pea, just what he needed.
The little mouse in the story comes out after Thanksgiving dinner to see all the leftover food on the table. He decides to take one pea because, after all, one pea is a feast to a mouse. As he's leaving with hia pea he sees dish after dish after dish and he can't help himself. He starts stacking, stacking, stacking, food and dishes holding food all on top of his little pea.
When he's finally through and has everything he wants he starts home only to be faced with the cat.
In the end, the mouse ends up with one little pea, just what he needed.
Read
November 27, 2011This is a holiday book that can be used to either teach how adjectives or descriptive words are used and to encourage students to use these in their writing. There is also a math element to it as the mouse starts off by picking one simple pea off of the table and starts to choose just ONE more thing, eventually stacking his figurative plate way to full (or high if you want to do measurments). With the measurement idea, the teacher could make a measurement chart in inches with cut out (labeled) pictures of each food item he gets. As the teacher reads the book, a child can have on of the food items and when their food item is mentioned in the story they can put their picture of the chart, stacking each one on top of the other. At the end, they will measure how high the mouse stacked his food! A good kindergarten or first grade activity.
August 19, 2010
One is a Feast for a Mouse: A Thanksgiving Tale subtlely tells us that we should be thankful for what we have, even if it is the little things in life. When mouse spots a solitary pea on the Thanksgiving table, he knows it is a feast for him. Yet, there are so many other treats just waiting in this bounty of left-overs! Just one more...just one more...and then, just one more until he realizes a very hungry cat has been watching him. Oh no!...mouse scampers off, triggering a chain event of disaster. Maybe one small pea is a feast, after all.
Used for "We Are Thankful" Storytime-November, 2010.
Used for "We Are Thankful" Storytime-November, 2010.
November 1, 2013
Mouse checks to make sure that everyone is sleeping (including the cat) before he goes to examine the leftovers from their Thanksgiving feast. He first sees a small pea and says "one will be a feast for me" but then he spots more food and becomes greedy and as he is about to head back to his home with tons of food that will be way more than enough the cat wakes up and finds him. So mouse runs back to his home.
This is a good story about all of the food that is normally present at Thanksgiving as well as a lesson on what can happen when you are greedy. It is a little long so it may not be good for really little kids but this might work for pre-k and up.
This is a good story about all of the food that is normally present at Thanksgiving as well as a lesson on what can happen when you are greedy. It is a little long so it may not be good for really little kids but this might work for pre-k and up.
November 23, 2011
Little adorable mouse ventures out of his "hidey hole" in the clock to find himself some dinner. First he eyes a small green pea and begins to return to his home. Along the way mouse keeps finding new items that will complement his meal. An olive here and some mashed potato's there. Each item is balanced upon the next. I wont spoil the ending for you. I would probably give this 2.5 stars for the illustrations and the authors message. I would have given it a straight three stars if it wasn't for the way the story ended.
January 19, 2011
A very endearing mouse needs just one pea from the remains of Thanksgiving dinner, but like we humans his eyes are bigger than what he can carry away from the table. As he balances his chosen morsels on his journey back to his home just what makes him loose his balance and have a feast with just one pea?
This is charming and good fun Thanksgiving picture books are few in number--this one is fun.
This is charming and good fun Thanksgiving picture books are few in number--this one is fun.
October 29, 2014
Perfect for Thanksgiving, this warm and humourous picture book gently reminds us to give thanks for the little things. The Thanksgiving feast is over. Leftover turkey and pumpkin pie litter the table. Mouse peeps out of his hidey-hole and spots a small green pea. the perfect feast for one mouse. Yes, one green pea, one red cranberry, one plate of mashed potatoes, and one roasted turkey, that should make a very fine feast for Mouse. But can he get it all back to his hidey-hole?
November 9, 2015
I love the illustrations in the book. And I think it is a gentle reminder to recognize what we have, not be greedy, and to give thanks if we have enough. We are too prone to have plenty and still want more, more, more. I recently saw a quote that I like: "Many people in the world live happily with less than you have." If mouse had been satisfied with one or two things, enough for a feast for himself, everyone would have had a happier ending, especially the poor cat.
November 27, 2019
11/18/2016 ** A perfect read-aloud for primary grades. I loved the perspective of the illustrations - an excellent look at the world from a mouse's point of view. I also appreciated the author's word choice - luscious, pirouetted, impaled...no talking down to young children in this book. Oh, and what child can't empathize with the cat - he got in trouble for reacting when it was the mouse who instigated issues. The second one gets caught, the first one gets off.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews