Mouseling's Words: A Story About a Timid Mouse Finding Friendship in a Library for Kids

by Shutta Crum, Ryan O'Rourke (Illustrator)

In this lively introduction to the pleasure of words, a timid young mouse's first trip out of the nest becomes a reading adventure. Mouseling has grown up surrounded by words, scraps of paper torn from menus. Once he leaves the nest, he decides that discovering words is his mission in life and finds more words than he can count, spelling and sounding them out, thrilled by each one. The library offers a treasure trove of words, also a cat. When Mouseling realizes that the cat would rather know what's in the books than eat him for dinner, he starts reading aloud to the cat—the best gift he can give in exchange for the world of stories.

Genres: Picture Books, Cats, Books About Books, Childrens, Fiction, Words, Animals

32 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 5, 2017

About the author

Shutta Crum is bi-peninsular, spending half the year in Michigan and half the year in Florida. She is the author of three middle-grade novels and fifteen picture books, as well as many poems, magazine articles, and two poetry chapbooks for adults. Her books have made Bank Street College lists as well as state award lists. THUNDER-BOOMER! was an ALA and a Smithsonian Magazine “Notable Book” of the year. WHEN YOU GET HERE (poems for adults) won a gold Royal Palm Literary Award, (FL). She is also the author of two nearly wordless books MINE! and UH-OH! both published by Knopf. MINE! made the Texas 2X2 list and was a Crystal Kite Award winner for the illustrator Patrice Barton. Of MINE! the N. Y. Times said, “a delightful example of the drama and emotion that a nearly wordless book can convey.” In 2005 she was invited to read at the Easter Egg Roll at the White House. She is a retired librarian and now blogs regularly for the Florida Writers Association, writes a bimonthly column for the Fl. State Poetry Association magazine Of Poets & Poetry, and leads the Friday Follies writing group. In addition, she writes and publishes THE WORDSMITH’S PLAYGROUND, a monthly newsletter for writers. For more info: www.shutta.com

Reviews

[Anne V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This new picture book by Shutta Crum (Dozens of Cousins, The House in the Meadow) is a newfound treasure. Sweet and thoughtful, it tells the story of a word-loving mouse and an unnerving cat. Illustrations by Ryan O’Rourke (Alphabet Trains, Up! Up! Up! Skyscraper) are memorable and charming. This book not only will delight children, it will please parents eager to see their young ones grow into lifelong readers.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young mouse with a boundless appetite for words makes an unlikely friend.

[Juliana Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Mouseling loved the words that Aunt Tilly brought home from the restaurant. And when it was time to leave the nest, Little Mouseling was afraid to leave until Aunt Tilly told her the world was filled with words. So Little Mouseling goes forth to find new words and ends up in a library. She is delighted until she meets a cat. She tricks the cat serval times to escape, but once she was trapped she had to think of something new. It seemed the cat wanted something from her, so she read her a story and they became fast friends.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quiet building with stacks and rows of blocky things...could only be a library! But there's a cat! ...and a parallel to the story of "The Lion and the Mouse."
To this mouseling, he's found the perfect place to pursue his love of words.
Lots of fun words to expand youngsters' vocabulary: glanced, tickled, snatched, ducked under, journeyed, and phrases such as 'my heart danced with happiness,' and 'field of words.'
Full color illustrations are a bit simplistic, but adequately support the text.
This is a quirky story with an unexpected setting of a restaurant to jump start the action.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mouseling lives in a family whose favorite thing to do is to collect and read the words that Aunt Tillie collects from the Swashbuckler Restaurant. One day, though little Mouseling loves his home, he's told by his parents he must go out into the world and find a job. He's reluctant, but leaves and those adventures end in delight with a job in a library! The illustrations are cute, but the story seemed rather matter-of-fact and predictable.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is simply a very good STORYbook. A little mouse watches his siblings go out into the world to make lives for themselves. But this little mouseling doesn't want to leave home and the wonderful words his aunt has brought to him over the years. Eventually, however, he does leave home and he discovers a world full of wonderful words.

One of the things I loved about this book are all the little scraps of paper shown throughout the book that would engage a child to learn. Fabulous book.

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mouse doesn't want to grow up, but at his parents encouragement, he decided to go out into the world to get words, his favorite thing. He finds lots of words, but the cat almost gets him. He gives her a ball made of paper. Then he gives her paper soaked in milk. The cat returns the favor and opens a book, showing him all the words inside that he never knew were there. In payment, the mouse reads cat a story. They are friends.

[Kat Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you ever think about how words feel as you say them? How some are more delicious than others? How some words have sounds that linger and bounce off your cheeks? That you could discover a new word every day and still not know them all? Then MOUSELING'S WORDS are for you. A sweet story by Shutta Crum (a fellow Michigander!) about a mouse who is encouraged to go into the somewhat scary world, and an Aunt who reminds him that a world full of words is the best world of all.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings with this one because there is a LOT of text for a picture book and the parents are pretty detached (which is true for mice, but these are personified). However, the word love, library setting, and animal friendship offset much of that.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an adorable story for kids who like books, words, reading & cute little mice. It's a bit on the long side, so best for older preschoolers and elementary students.
Kids enjoyed and voted to give it 5 stars.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story of a mouse who goes out exploring to find new words.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute

[Rebecca Gomez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about twice as long as it should be, and while the story is kind of cute, the voice lacks personality.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun to see how words brought two unlikely characters together as friends.

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book! It's so cute! I love this little mouse and his quests for words!

[Inara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inara asked for more books about Mousling and his words.

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it but... So, three stars.

I liked the ending especially, but I think Duncan, the Story Dragon is a cuter one for friends that end up reading books together. I think this one was just a little long and "word-focused" for a picture book for story time. I can see a child reading it as they are learning to read words, but they spend a lot of time with the words and less on the adventure of the love of words in a place like the library. So, not bad but could have been better.

[Cyril · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story about the power of words.

[Nancy Messina · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun way to look at words! I am not sure if my daughter got it, but for an adult reader it was fun to read and I love how the story ends.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awww, super cute. A little mouse with a love for words finds his way in the world and makes a new friend.

[Moonkiszt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Featured in a grandma reads session.

Mouseling collects words. . . his whole family did, and they all left home. Finally he must venture out on his own, and he does. Out in that big world there are dangers. Especially one that keeps popping up, its long tail waving with lethal interest.

Or not. It was interest in the words and stories Mouseling delivered so well. Everyone needs a book reading buddy, right? Indeed.

[Bradley Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful picture book about the wonder of words and story. May even inspire you to collect your own words and write. The illustrations are a nice pairing for this story. (Makes me want to keep a jar of my favorite words.)

[Erin Buhr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a longer picture book, but a warm story about learning to read, bravely exploring the world and the magic of words.