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The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse
A town mouse and a country mouse exchange visits and discover each is suited to his own home.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 10, 1984
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 13, 2019
I always love stumbling across unfamiliar retellings of old favorites, and Linda Bryan Cauley's The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse - the fourth version of this classic Aesopian fable I have read for my recent Aesop project, following upon the editions done by Jan Brett, Janet Stevens, and Carol Jones - is no exception!
The story of two mouse cousins, one rural and one urban, who try life as the "other half" lives it, and decide to stick with what they know, is ably retold here. Cauley's appealing illustrations (watercolor?), have a cute "Brambly Hedge" style to them, that complements the narrative. All in all, a solid adaptation of this favorite fable, recommended to all young Aesop lovers!
The story of two mouse cousins, one rural and one urban, who try life as the "other half" lives it, and decide to stick with what they know, is ably retold here. Cauley's appealing illustrations (watercolor?), have a cute "Brambly Hedge" style to them, that complements the narrative. All in all, a solid adaptation of this favorite fable, recommended to all young Aesop lovers!
May 13, 2021
"The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse"
Have you ever been really tempted by something, something that seemed so wonderful that it was too good to be true? Well, the world can be full of temptations, those temptations can lure you in, especially if you really want it. But those temptations can be dangerous. In the story, “The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse” by Aesop, the Country Mouse was tempted by the description of the city the Town Mouse gave him, so the Country Mouse ended up going to the city and got in a lot of danger. The character’s learn that it’s better to be happy with what you have, instead of risking everything for more. The Country Mouse shows this through being happy with her simple lifestyle, also the characters did risk everything for more and ended up getting into a lot of danger, and most of all, when the Country Mouse realized she didn’t need a bunch of spectacular things to be happy.
One example of the characters learning that it’s better to be happy with what you have, instead of risking everything for more is in the beginning of the story when the Country Mouse showed she was happy with her simple lifestyle. The text states, “Country Mouse greeted him warmly and sat him down to a great feast of corn and hazelnuts and berries” the Town Mouse was not impressed with the plain country food, but the Country Mouse didn’t seem to notice. Also, after lunch the Country Mouse proudly showed the Town Mouse around the fields and the woods, but the Town Mouse thought it was dull and ordinary. The author used the craft technique inner thinking to show that the Town Mouse was disgusted by the plain country food, and when he said the country was dull and ordinary. This shows that even if someone else doesn’t like something, doesn’t mean you can’t like it, the Country Mouse was happy, and loved her simple lifestyle.
Another example where the characters learn that it’s better to be happy with what you have instead of risking everything for more, is when they did risk everything for more and ended up in a lot of danger. For example, the Town Mouse showed the Country Mouse into the dining hall, where there were a bunch of leftovers, just as they started digging in, the house cat leaped onto the table and started chasing the mice! The text states, “they only just made it too, darting down the tablecloth and running helter-skelter across the carpet toward the mouse house in the baseboard.” which proves that the mice were in danger. The Town Mouse was trying to convince the Country Mouse that it was safe to go out now, and that the cat wouldn’t be there. Once the Country Mouse was convinced, they left the little hole in the baseboard, and the Town Mouse was right, the cat didn’t come back, but the dog did! The dog was barking and bounding at them, sending them scampering back into their hole for safety. The mice were so frightened they didn’t come back out until the following morning. As you can see, even if something sounds great, there could be risks involved.
The final example of the character’s learning that it’s better to be happy with what you have instead of risking everything for more, is when the Country Mouse realized her country life was a better choice, and that she would be happy and grateful with her life in the country. The Country Mouse stated, “I’m off. You may have all the goodies a mouse could ever want in your town house, but I’m going back to the country for the quiet life”. The Country Mouse told the Town Mouse she was never coming back to the town again. She returned home where she was safe and could enjoy her simple lifestyle. This shows that you shouldn’t go off putting yourself in danger just because you want more, you should stay where you have everything you need and where you are safe.
As you can see the characters learn that it’s better to be happy with what you have instead of risking everything for more. The Country Mouse proved this by being happy with her simple lifestyle, also when the characters did risk everything for more and ended up in a lot of danger, and most of all when the Country Mouse realized she didn’t need a bunch of fancy things to be happy. I know I will be grateful for everything I have after reading this book, and to never go off and leave everything without knowing the risks involved. From now on you should always consider the risks involved in something before you go off and do it, you might be putting you or someone else in danger.
May 13, 2010
This author/illustrator does a fine job retelling this tale originally from Aesop.
Mouse cousins, who visit one another, first city to country then the country to the city, find that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. They each end up preferring the way they’ve been living. This story shows both the pros and cons of country vs. city living according to the specific circumstances of these two mice, and makes the mice sympathetic and interesting creatures. Here the mice were appealing and the dogs scared me, just as they did the mice, probably the first book that has managed to do that.
I really enjoyed the illustrations. I love how each picture has soft edges and doesn’t appear on entire pages but seems to fit in just right. The colors and style are pretty and child friendly. The animals, settings, and particularly the food look enticing.
It’s a sweet little story, nothing earth shattering, but lovely and entertaining.
I keep going back & forth giving 3 then 4 then 3 then 4 stars. I do wish I could assign 3 1/2 stars!
Mouse cousins, who visit one another, first city to country then the country to the city, find that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. They each end up preferring the way they’ve been living. This story shows both the pros and cons of country vs. city living according to the specific circumstances of these two mice, and makes the mice sympathetic and interesting creatures. Here the mice were appealing and the dogs scared me, just as they did the mice, probably the first book that has managed to do that.
I really enjoyed the illustrations. I love how each picture has soft edges and doesn’t appear on entire pages but seems to fit in just right. The colors and style are pretty and child friendly. The animals, settings, and particularly the food look enticing.
It’s a sweet little story, nothing earth shattering, but lovely and entertaining.
I keep going back & forth giving 3 then 4 then 3 then 4 stars. I do wish I could assign 3 1/2 stars!
September 23, 2014
This story shows children that it's a great thing to be proud of where you come from, and to love what you have. The two mice visit one another's homes and find that they are most comfortable in their own homes. The thing that I love most about this story is that the mice make an attempt to try and embrace another lifestyle. They don't shoot down the idea of moving elsewhere without giving it a try, and even when they come to a mutual agreement that the other lifestyle isn't for them, they don't let their difference of opinion separate them or destroy their relationship with one another. I think this book would be fabulous to use for reinforcing how important it is that we respect one another's differences and unique lifestyles.
March 20, 2018
"Goodbye," said the country mouse, "You do, indeed, live in a plentiful city, but I am going home where I can enjoy my dinner in peace."
March 2, 2022
Folksy illustrations. Country = peace and quiet and healthy food. Town = hectic, little excitement.
March 25, 2025
A fine telling of this story!
December 10, 2012
Genre: Traditional
Title: The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse
Summary: This classic children’s tale is the story of two little mouse cousins who come from different worlds. In this version the savvy city mouse pays a visit to the country only to become disappointed with his cousin’s meager life style.
a) Area for comment: theme
Critique:
b) The strength of this story is its “ there’s no place like home” theme. This message is presented almost immediately as the town mouse thinks to himself about how small the country mouse’s cottage is
c) The first few pages illustrate the town mouse’s disappointment in his lodging, “ The Town Mouse thought it was all rather small and cramped…” As the story progresses, the country mouse later visits the city; he also expresses his desire to return to his comfortable county life. Later, the tale reads that he found the fast paced city life so frightening,” that he wished he could be home again in the cornfield…”
Curriculum connection: This book could be used in an elementary reading class to help teach children about similarities and differences and how they don’t have to change who they are to be accepted.
Title: The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse
Summary: This classic children’s tale is the story of two little mouse cousins who come from different worlds. In this version the savvy city mouse pays a visit to the country only to become disappointed with his cousin’s meager life style.
a) Area for comment: theme
Critique:
b) The strength of this story is its “ there’s no place like home” theme. This message is presented almost immediately as the town mouse thinks to himself about how small the country mouse’s cottage is
c) The first few pages illustrate the town mouse’s disappointment in his lodging, “ The Town Mouse thought it was all rather small and cramped…” As the story progresses, the country mouse later visits the city; he also expresses his desire to return to his comfortable county life. Later, the tale reads that he found the fast paced city life so frightening,” that he wished he could be home again in the cornfield…”
Curriculum connection: This book could be used in an elementary reading class to help teach children about similarities and differences and how they don’t have to change who they are to be accepted.
July 7, 2013
I came across this book while looking for traditional tales. I chose it, because I had never heard or read it before. The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse was a cute little read. It was about two friends from different sides of town. A mouse from the town and talks the country mouse into coming along and enough the "city life", long-story -short the country mouse does not enjoy the cite life and cannot wait to get back to his country life. It is cute story about missing home. The illustration were okay, nothing fancy. I feel like this book would be great for students to use their imagination of what they think "The City" feels, smells and, sounds like. And than use their imagination about what they think "The Country" feels, smells, and sounds like. It would be great for a great book to use for compare and contract City Life vs. Country Life.
Although, this was not my favorite traditional tale, I would recommend. It had a powerful and cute message about, you can go away, but will more than likely miss home. "There is no place like your home".
Although, this was not my favorite traditional tale, I would recommend. It had a powerful and cute message about, you can go away, but will more than likely miss home. "There is no place like your home".
September 12, 2013
The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse is about two mice who are brought to each other's different living environments but in the end they both prefer where they are from. While one mouse is from the country where everything is just little scraps and the other is from town and has very exquisite taste and has a very upscale living environment. This fable teaches children that it is ok to explore outside of your environment but in the end it is ok to just find comfort in where you are from. I probably would not recommend this to children even though it is a classic because the lesson in this story is not exactly helpful with day to day life.
February 7, 2010
one of my absolute favorite childrens books
July 14, 2018
The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse
Cauley, Lorinda Bryan
a good story
a retelling of the old story about learning to accept where you are and what you value.
January 16, 2013
This was one of my favourite stories as a young child. I liked the contrast between the characters, and how they reacted to challenges they were presented with.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews