Mouse Soup An I CAN READ Book

by Arnold Lobel

A mouse convinces a weasel he needs the ingredients from several stories to make a tasty mouse soup.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Classics, Short Stories, Chapter Books

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Arnold Stark Lobel was a popular American author of children's books. Among his most popular books are those of the Frog and Toad series, and Mouse Soup, which won the Garden State Children's Book Award from the New Jersey Library Association.

Reviews

[Shawn Thrasher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't remember reading Arnold Lobel's Mouse Soup for the first time. The publication date is 1977, so it has to have been sometime around then. I vaguely remember having it on a record, one of those that *ding* when you have to turn the page.

I do not remember the last time I sat down and read the whole thing through. So probably since the first time in 1977? 1978? 1979?, I read Mouse Soup. It's a perfect book.

The story I remember most vividly from being a little kid reading it was "Bees and the Mud." I remember my little brother and I giggling over it, particularly "We like your ears, we like your nose, we like your whiskers..." It's still funny, but I think it must have been funny then because of the way it was read on the record.

"Two Large Stones" is an amazingly philosophical story, the kind of story that Arnold Lobel tells all the time. It's a sad sort of story too. Is Lobel telling us that if we wait long enough, we'll be happy with where we are at? That the grass is green on both sides of the hill? That birds are liars?

"The Crickets" is delightful, particularly the pictures of the heroine; she looks like a mouse version of Juliet. Next to "Bees in the Mud," this is my favorite, the other one I eventually want to try and read aloud to a group of kids.

"The Thorn Bush" is another one with sort of a philosophical, and also romantic, bent. Again, what is Lobel trying to say here? If "Bees" and "Crickets" are kind of funny but throwaway pieces, "Stones" and "Bush" are, in my opinion, trying to make us think. "Bush" is about the thorns of love, about not jumping to conclusions, about simple solutions, about being different, about aging: "I do not want to sit down," says the old lady. "I have been sitting down all my life. I love my thorn bush. I am crying because it is sick." Eventually, we all find something that makes us stop sitting down, that makes us want to make a difference in the world.

The mouse and soup portions at the beginning and end are delightful. Of course, the first chapter is the story of Scheherazade, in mini-mouse land. Mouse must tell stories to save his life. The end, where the weasel goes to gather stones, mud, crickets, and thorns is pure folktale, all Brer Rabbit and the briar patch.

The world is a cruel place, full of weasels that want to eat you. Stories can save us, as can a little trickery.

[Veronika Pizano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moje najobľúbenejšia Lobelovka. To, ako myš prekabáti lasicu je naozaj prefíkané. Najviac sa vždy bavíme pri cvrčkoch.

[cinnamon girl ୨୧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

these are lovely !

[smetchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever Mouse! Clever stories.

"Bees and Mud" is my favorite so far: A beehive lands on Mouse's head and he tells the Bees to fly away because he doesn't want a nest on his head. "Oh no!", they say. "We like your ears. We like your whiskers. We like your nose. This is a fine place for our nest!" Isn't that sweet? They want to stay because they like his ears. Mouse ears are the cutest!

[Moonkiszt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Featured in a grandma reads session.

Had the most fun with this ready to read book! Instead of me reading to my group, they took turns, youngest to oldest, reading the book to me! It was a delight. This is a book set up for reading practice (kinda reminded me of those old typing textbooks ffjfjf ffjfj . . .yeah, those. . . ) - reading for reading's sake, not particularly for a slick story. Although, the stories for putting in the soup . . .felt a little Scheherazade-y mixed with a typing text. . . or it just might be too late to review books. . .eh?

They are valiant readers, my men & one woman. A lucky grandma, am I. Yes. Bribes were involved.

[Scottsdale Public Library]

This is a set of beginning reader stories by the same author of "Frog and Toad", one of the very few books to win BOTH the Caldecott and Newberry Awards. It is full high frequency sight words that help children become proficient readers. It’s a classical feeling read has a charming plot and moral. Also check out "Little Bear" by Else Minarik.- Alexis S.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and silly stories. A big read-aloud hit in our house.

[Shiloah · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was fun reading an old childhood classic to my kids today. We love books and the experience of reading together.

[Roxana Truța · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un copil de doi ani să aibă răbdare să i-o citesc pe toată și apoi să se roage de noi să i-o citim din nou... e lucru rar. :)

[Chris - Quarter Press Editor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found a first edition of this at a thrift store a few weeks ago and picked it up because of how much I love Lobel's Frog and Toad series. However, when I sat down to read this one, I realized that it--too--was familiar. My adult self was transported to my kid self remembering the illustrations--the weasel full of bee stings, stuck in a mud pool--and living the stories.

Now, as an adult, I appreciated the straightforward story for kids to follow, and even more, that it was threaded with small tales that have wonderful meanings. The tale of the two stones is one of the best (I can't help but wonder if it was an inspiration for a short, stop-motion animated film about two rocks on a hillside, watching the world go by.)

It's a lovely book, and this was a wonderful find, one that I hope to read to my own little one--if and when they ever poke their head into the world.

[Maria Victoria Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historias muy graciosa contadas por un ratón con ínfulas de Sherezada, sus historia terminan salvandolo. Las ilustraciones se asemejan a las de los cuentos clásicos pero tienen un toque muy personal, llenas de encanto. A todos nos encanta un ratón lector.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

My five year old granddaughter loved this book! She then read it to me.

[The Voracious Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites.

[Esther Arrindell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bundel met verschillende verhalen van Lobel. Geen kikker en pad, maar een mug die de veerboot over een regenplas beheert en het varkentje Valentijn die boos wegloopt als de boerin zijn zalig zachte modder wegsopt.
Soms wat moralistisch (met name de verhalen aan het einde, waar ook nog eens heel duidelijk de morele les bij genoemd wordt), maar ook briljamt en grappig en met diepe lagen. Zo is het verhaal van de hele grote muis en de hele kleine muis (het eerste verhaal in de bundel) oppervlakkig gezien een verhaal over groot en klein, maar op een dieper niveau gaat het over dat je de wereld altijd bekijkt vanuit je eigen standpunt - en die is niet altijd gelijk aan die van een ander. Pas als je elkaar helpt (hele grote muis tilt hele kleine muis op), zie je hetzelfde.

[Beverly Hendricks]

Text-to-Teaching Connection

Mouse Soup by Arnold Lobel is a fun book for beginning readers. This beginning level chapter book introduces its readers to a mouse who fabricates a scheme to save his life. He tells the weasel four different stories to avoid the inevitable, becoming the main ingredient in his mouse soup. Mr. Lobel allows his characters to personify human characteristics which are fun for young readers. I would allow First grade students to write the story elements for their favorite chapter in the book and illustrate the chapter.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely take on the Stone Soup story, improved by the addition of an intrepid mouse who never loses his head.

[Sinem Gülen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very nostalgic and funny book. I adore this series. It was a book that I loved very much with its drawings, characters and retro look.

[Kona Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an adult who just discovered Arnold Lobel! I can't stop reading these!

[Rachel B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this audiobook with my nephews (ages 5 and 7) and we liked it okay. The story about the crickets making music while the mouse is trying to sleep was our favorite.

[Rachel Behrends · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute and clever reader that is enjoyable for small children. Works both as a storybook for very little ones or reading lessons for the young pupil. Contains several short stories (to keep lessons short to facilitate best effort and full attention) that come together in the end.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a mouse who was reading a book when he was caught by a weasel who wanted to make mouse soup. Before the weasel could put the mouse into his soup the mouse quickly convinced him that his soup would be extra good if he put stories into it as well. The mouse told four different stories to the weasel. The first story is called "Bees and the Mud." It is about bees nesting on the mouse's head and how he tricked them to get them to leave. The second story is called "Two Large Stones" and it is about two rocks wondering what is on the other side of the hill that they are on. The third story is called "The Crickets" and it is about a mouse who couldn't sleep because of the cricket's singing. Finally, he tells the story called "The Torn Bush" which is about a woman who was sad because her thorn bush was dying. All of these stories distract the weasel from cooking the mouse. The weasel asks the mouse how to actually add these stories to his mouse soup and the mouse informs him he needs to go out and collect these items. When the weasel does this the mouse escapes to go home and finish reading his book. I liked the ending because the mouse finishes reading his book the same time the reader finsigheds this one. I like how there are several different stories inside of one. This makes the book more interesting to read. This book is an "I can read" level two. It would be appropriate for grades k-2 depending on the student's reading level. There is a decent amount of text, but not a lot. The words in the book are fairly simple and should be able to be read by a student on their own. The illustrations on each page help to clarify what is happening on that page. This is especially helpful for the reader if they are unsure of a word or does not fully understand what they just read. By breaking up the text with the illustrations, reading a longer book seems less intimidating. The illustrations also make the book more entertaining and exciting to read.

[Jonny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this text villianizes a weasel, and teaches children that carnivorous animals are some how morally worse than herbivores, it still has a story that is challenging and complex. It teaches students a degree of reasoning and has a very good, motivated resolution. I recommend it, despite its flaws. It can be broken up in several parts, for readings over several evenings, too.

[Rayjan Koehler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice little set of stories for children.

The copy I am reading is dated 1977, and doesn't have an I Can Read cover, and the text 'Mouse Soup'' is green not yellow(don't know if this version is slightly different or if it doesn't matter.

It is a delightful read for new readers or even to an old reader like me! lol

I like the cleverness of the mouse in this book! :)

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hmmm... a favorite of mine for years. However, I read it aloud to my First graders today, and it was difficult for many to understand. Maybe better for slightly older kids.
Note - 2020-2021 this class was more impressed with the story.

[Jake]

We love this book! Mouse is so clever, and his stories are hilarious.

[Cosette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely. Made me laugh and put my daughter to sleep. All good.

[Elizabeth Dragina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ahhhhh!! Book your driving me crazy!! Get out of my face. O.O

I've read it so many times to my younger siblings now . . . it just got old. *facepalms*

[Pi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Po "Mysich bajeczkach" przyszedł czas na "Mysie przysmaki". Książeczka, jak jej poprzedniczka, krótka, pięknie wydana, lekka w treść i klimatycznie zilustrowana. Arnold Lobel po raz kolejny zabiera nas do małego, mysiego świata i tym razem pokazuje ich spryt i zadziwiającą zdolność wychodzenia z trudnych BA niebezpiecznych sytuacji bez szwanku.
Poznajemy mysz, która czyta sobie pod drzewem książkę, a tu nagle zjawia się okropnie głodna łasica i postanawia z niej zrobić zupę. Straszne! Cóż to biedactwo teraz pocznie. Myszka taka mała, a łasica taaaka duża. Lecz nie martwicie się bardzo, bo myszy, jak wiemy z pierwszej części, potrafią bajać. Nasza bohaterka opowiada więc łasicy cztery historie, które zupie mają dodać smaku. Trochę to trąci "Jasiem i Małgosią", ale tylko trochę i nie jest to zarzut.
Jedno mnie jednak zastanawia, a właściwie dwie rzeczy mnie zastanawiają. Dlaczego, u licha, zdecydowano się na tytuł "Mysie przysmaki", gdy w oryginale brzmi "Mysia zupa" i uważam, że o wiele, wiele lepiej pasuje. Po drugie, to nadęte hasełko na okładce (zarówno "Mysich bajeczek", jak i "Mysich przysmaków") "W przekładzie Wojciecha Manna. Słuchajcie, to są szalenie proste zdania, które przełożyłby uczeń pierwszej klasy (nie żartuję!) i nie jest to żadna ujma dla książki, bo one takie mają być, ale dla Manna już raczej brzmi to komicznie. Ewidentny zabieg marketingowy, który ma przyciągnąć konkretnego czytelnika. Cóż...
Lecz wróćmy do książeczki, bo ona jest przemiła i zabawna. Chyba nawet trochę bardziej podobała mi się od poprzedniczki. Uwielbiam w niej ilustracje! Są takie starodawne, pachną historią, mają w sobie magię minionych czasów. Pamiętajmy, że jest to prosty język, bo jest to skierowane do malutkiego czytelnika, który będzie je słuchał przed snem. One się naprawdę w takiej formie sprawdzają. Dzieci je lubią i dodatkowo poznajemy klasykę. POLECAM - drodzy rodzice, czytajcie dzieciom. Książeczki te również idealnie sprawdzą się na prezent, bo są zwyczajnie ŚLICZNE.
7.5/10
Wydawnictwo Literackie

[Daniel MacDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is exactly what a children's book should be. Easy to read aloud, interesting stories, and not too long. A weasel captures a mouse who is just trying to read a book. The weasel wants to make mouse soup out of the mouse, so he takes the mouse home and puts him in a cooking pot. But the mouse is able to trick the weasel by telling him some stories and telling him to put the "stories" in the soup, which buys time for the mouse to escape.

The highlight of this book is the thorn bush story, which offers an interesting twist. An old woman calls a policeman because there is a thorn bush in her chair. But instead of asking the policeman to take the thorn bush out, the old lady wants him to find a way to make the thorn bush grow again! Even though I was not expecting this "twist", my 3.5 yo got it instantly. The point is to take care of things that are suffering. As the old lady says to the policeman, "I have been sitting my whole life", so getting the thorn bush out of her chair is not the priority.

All 4 stories are great, though. The bees and the mud and the crickets stories are a little easier to comprehend, while the two stones story might be the most abstract. But the basic idea - that the bird is lying but the mouse is telling the truth - is still an important and easily-understood lesson.

Lobel is a true genius. These stories are so unbelievably "readable" to even a 3.5 yo but still contain enough "punch" to make kids come back to re-read them, unlike many other bland, basic stories written for kids these days.

The illustrations are also on point and always highlight the most crucial parts of the story.

[Cassie McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: A hungry weasel finds a mouse sitting under a tree, reading a book. "Ah!," said the weasel, "I am going to make mouse soup." "Oh!," said the mouse. "I am going to be mouse soup." But the clever mouse knows what to do. He tells the weasel that mouse soup won't taste good without stories in it — and proceeds to tell four silly tales. The first features a nest of too friendly bees and some mud. The second features two stones. The third is about loud crickets and the fourth about a thorn bush. These are the ingredients, the mouse explains finally, that the weasel must put in his soup. But when the weasel comes home from collecting them, he finds that the main ingredient — the mouse — has gone home to finish reading his book.

Evaluation: I thought that this was a very cute book and was easy to follow throughout. It was a very easy read and students would be able to understand what they were reading throughout the book. It also had very clear illustrations that could help the readers out if they got stuck on a word that they did not know.

Teaching Idea: I would have this in my class, but I am not sure if I would teach the book as a whole class unless I noticed that some students needed help with transitions. This is a great book that has transitions and adds on to each chapter. It also is a great book to teach problem and solution because a new problem arises in every chapter.