Catt the cat is without a home or even a real name. After she is dumped in an alley, snarling dogs chase her straight through a hidden portal and into Sweet Meadows. Catt sees a mouse fall from the sky. He’s not just any mouse, he is wearing a vest and coat. * * *Simon Cheddar is a mouse with a plan. He’s also a collector. He likes to recycle, but he feels safer with full pockets. Simon wants to be a Superhero, so he enrolled at the Superhero School in Sweet Meadows. Today is his first class and he doesn’t want to miss a thing.* * *Outside Sweet Meadows, in Mouseville, Simon’s home is attacked by cats. Everyone suspects Catt, except Simon.Did she do it? Or, is she being set up? Find out in, With the Courage of a Mouse, The Superhero School series.
As the youngest child in a large family, Donna often felt invisible, and entertained herself by making up stories or friends to play with. She taught herself to read at an early age, and embraced the world of imagination: filled with Princes, in grand castles, and Fairy Godmothers, in Enchanted Forests.
Today, Donna is a grandmother, random-fact finder, and visionary––encouraging writers of all ages, to share their stories and imaginary friends. As a superhero-in-training, she believes everyone has a “superhero” side, ready to save the day.
She lives in California with her family and five cats, who inspire so many of her super characters. (Sadly, no mice like Simon or Ricky.)
Follow The Superhero School series at DonnaSagerCowan.com.
Booktasters provided a copy of the eBook in exchange for an honest review.
With the Courage of a Mouse (Superhero School #1) by Donna Sager Cowan and brilliantly illustrated by Diane J. Reid is a wonderful chapter book for the junior reader with a powerful message. Simon Cheddar is a courageous mouse and he befriends a homeless cat, Catt. This unusual friendship is so endearing. Their bond is undeniable. Each chapter has a revealing illustration that draws the reader into their world—a superhero school. The animals each have unique personalities. This well-written read moves quickly. With the Courage of a Mouse is truly a celebration of differences and unconditional acceptance. Looking forward to the next instalment in the Superhero School series.
Simon's courage is contagious!!! You'll want to be him as soon as you read about his awesome coat. He is resourceful to say the least! I love how the author paints the pictures. I want the stuffed animals to go along with the book because the characters are so lovable! The message behind the book is so timely for kids right now (for us all, really)! I bought three copies and I'm so excited to see the looks on the faces of the kids that get to read them! The illustrations are great as well in full color!
With the Courage of a Mouse by Donna Sager Cowan is a beautifully illustrated Kids book that is also good for read aloud to those who cannot read The pictures and the cover too is a visual delight The story is about friendship loyalty and belief in your friend even if the odds are against and helping in times of trouble and also teaches everyone to look past the physical appearance and diversity into the heart of the person or animal and also that anyone can be a superhero. The story is about Simon Cheddar a courageous and intelligent mouse who aspires to be a superhero despite his size who befriends a cat despite their differences and ages old enmity between the two h kinds and how they help each other and also others and become superheroes. It is a lovely story I had already read and loved the 2nd part "With the Curiosity of a cat" and so was interested in this book. A must read .
Simon and Catt make an unlikely team as they work together to find out who is responsible for the attack on the Mouse Village. Simon has been ousted, by his own grandmother! They are both attending Superhero School, but Catt has always felt on the fringe of everything. Since she does not have a home of her own, she is relying on Simon's help. But when he is in trouble, she wants to help him as much as she can.
This book was a fun read, and one that we enjoyed reading together. When it comes to finding your inner superhero, sometimes the answer might surprise you. Friendship is always important and Simon and Catt are going to discover so many things that they did not know about themselves in their quest to fulfill an assignment from the school.
"With the Courage of a Mouse" is an adventurous tale, that has relatable voices for children to connect themes of courage, and friendship to their own life. Facing the consequences of your actions is also an important lesson. It is a descriptive story with VERY funny dialogue, and a great use of vocabulary throughout. The unlikely friendship between "Catt" and Mouse, and a cast of other animal characters going to Super Hero School is sure to keep the reader on their toes! Each chapter has 1 simple illustration that adds to this imaginative plot. This chapter book is cleverly written and is appropriate for readers 4th grade and on. The book has 35 chapters, so it may take while to read depending on one's reading level but you will be entertained by the main character, Simon Cheddar, his world, and the adorable visuals incorporated into the book. I give it 5 stars!
If I were still teaching, I would recommend this chapter book to the school librarian. The characters are a delightful cast of animals. The main bad "guy" commits a crime that several good "guys" grapple to solve. They start to make headway when they decide to work as a team. Will the crime be solved and the perpetrators caught? Will there be a hero? And, if so, who? Read the book and find out!
This book was written for middle-schoolers but I think would be a good chapter-by-chapter book for teachers and parents of slightly younger students to read in class or at bedtime. There are plenty of lessons to discuss and characters/scenes to draw.
I read this delightful book to my daughter over the course of a week. It catches your attention straight away when Simon Cheddar (amazing name for a mouse!) escapes a hawk by clipping its talons with nail clippers. Shortly after he befriends a stray cat called Catt and they enrol in superhero school together. Catt is soon accused of a crime that she didn't commit. Simon and his friends are determined to solve the mystery of the true persons behind the crime and set out to prove Catt's innocence.
Although primarily a chapter book, the story is interspersed with delightful drawings at the start of each chapter.
The book covers the topics of exclusion and then acceptance regardless of your background, a positive message that I enjoyed relaying to my young daughter.
I utterly recommend this book and look forward to reading the next in the series.
This was a delightful book about courage. Escaping the other animals can be challenging for any mouse. Each page was filled with excitement about what would come next.
My 10 year old son and I read this book together - twice in a row. This is an amazingly fun adventure that is filled with pure heart and courage. It has mystery, adventure, definitely shows courage, and it has plenty of heart.
It was nice to read something I often tell my son in print. "Bravery is facing the things that scare you. But courage is putting others first." He was very excited to see it as well.
Simon and Catt, are a very unlikely pair of friends as Simon is a mouse and Catt is a, well, cat. They strike up a friendship in Superhero School and find themselves in quite the adventure. They work together alongside friends Patty and Freddy to help their community. 💗
We loved this story! Kid tested and mother approved wholeheartedly!
Donna S. Cowan has done an outstanding job creating this wonderful tale of animals with human qualities and actions. When I was a child, I loved to read stories where animals were characters. With the Courage of a Mouse: The Superhero School Series brought back so many memories of those good books. I was captured at the first sentence. Cowan made this great adventure even more enjoyable by forging friendships with unlikely characters and by creating this superhero school. Illustrations a lively and inviting. I highly recommend this book.
I fall for the cute illustrations at the first sight, but too bad it took me ages to finish the reading because life happens. IMHO, this book would suit the middle schoolers. The story offers animal characters, which is childlike, but with kinda complicated plot, and a lot of important themes to begin their transition to an adulthood world. The themes in the book include friendship, trust issue, prejudice, diversity, racism, anxiety, envy, social class, bullying, vandalism, and even redemption. I really enjoy reading this one 🤩
With the Courage of a Mouse is a delightful story for young people. Its anthropomorphic characters are lovable and will surely enchant young readers. The illustrations are really fun, too and add to the whimsical quality of the narrative. My only complaint is that the moral messages are a bit forced and conclusions are drawn for readers without leaving room for readers to draw their own. This approach undermines readers’ judgment and makes the narrative too didactic in parts. Overall, this is a lovely book and a very good choice for young chapter-book readers.
"Bravery is facing the things that scare you. But courage is putting others first. " This is an amazing book that gives several messages that children should learn at a very young age. Some of them are subtle but wonderfully integrated in the story's plot. The book shows how unlikely friendships (between Simon and Catt, a mouse and a cat) can be the greatest gift in one's life. I love the fact that the book celebrates the differences between several characters and shows that it's okay (even wonderful!) to be different. Unity and courage during difficult times are also one of the greatest virtues that children can learn early in their lives. I enjoyed every page in the book along with the simple yet inviting illustrations. I'm looking forward to reading other books in this series.
Cute story with mystery, adventure, courage, and plenty of heart. I especially like how the book defined the difference between bravery and courage. "Bravery is facing the things that scare you. But courage is putting others first." The main characters are Simon and Catt, an unlikely pair of friends as Simon is a mouse and Catt is a, well, cat. The two strike up a friendship and partnership in Superhero School and end up in an adventure that has them working together with best friends Patty and Freddy (a pig and a friend) to help their community. I very much enjoyed this story and plan to read other books in the series. I think this is a great story that most elementary and middle kids will enjoy.
Special thanks to #DonnaSagerCowan and #booksirens for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Donna Sager Cowan has given the world a beautiful and powerful book that will likely be a children’s classic in years to come. The lessons of life taught in its pages are important for all people... children and adults combined.
With the Courage of a Mouse: The Superhero School series is a whimsical tale of two unlikely friends: One, a very brave mouse named Simon Cheddar; the second, a finicky feline named Catt... a survivor trying to find her place in the world.
The duo join forces relying on their personal strengths to help one another achieve their dreams: a loving home for Catt and for Simon, finding courage in himself to face his fears.
This is a perfect chapter book for Elementary aged students and should be on the shelves of all libraries. The reader will love the personification of the cat and mouse superheroes who teach us all the true meaning of friendship.
My favorite quote from the book, “Bravery is facing the things that scare you. But courage is putting others first.”
I for one cannot wait for the release of the second book in this series!
-Alison Paul Klakowicz, Author of Mommy’s Big, Red Monster Truck
This is a delightful book for the Middle-Grade age group. Donna uses animals to embody and portray positive actions and affirmations for young people-such as resilience, courage, friendship, (including befriending those who are different), honesty, loyalty, and perseverance. The characters are great and easy to identify with. The plucky Simon Cheddar is a survivor and passes on knowledge and helpful advice to those who are around him. He is loyal, devoted and never gives up, even in the face of losing family members and friends. He stands by his new friend Catt when she is in terrible trouble. Patty the pig is an out-there character who also never gives up, determined to help wherever she can with her super-techno skills. She is ably assisted by Freddy the frog. This diverse group of friends finds themselves attending Superhero school, but the tutor is anonymous. Will they ever find out the identity of the one giving the lessons? Have they been thrust into real-life superhero work before they finish their schooling? Let the reader decide.
This book is so cute and will show your children to have courage, believe into theirseft and to their true friends.
This book take of a world where a mouse was taking by an eagle this mouse with all he courage and he's tricks in he's pocket to break free. As he full down back in the earth a cat named Catt waits for him but she not waiting to eat him she is there to save him.
Catt don't remember who she is because of an accident and the mouse named Simon try to help her to remember and for her bravery of saving him, he courage her to go to a superhero school and he was going with her.
This book is great for your children to show them to respect, courage, bravery and anyone can be a superhero too. You guys most pick this book up for that and with all the beautiful drawings.
I love that the author has written a book which allows children to believe they have everything inside of them to be a superhero...to have the courage to do the right thing even when obstacles stand in the way.
The theme of the book is wonderful and I like that it revolves around the friendship of a cat and a mouse; two unlikely characters who see beyond their differences as they not only learn to trust each other, they develop a bond in which they depend upon the other. Throughout the book we discover the qualities of each character that make their friendship unique.
I highly recommend this book for children of all ages.
As a massive fan of the anthropomorphic children’s literature, I am delighted with this book. Can a mouse be a superhero? Can a cat and mouse be friends? In this book, the answer is, "Why, sure!" The characters, albeit animals, will remind you people you know, both charming and vexing. The book’s message of inclusion, empowerment, and unity is suitable for and meaningful to young readers. Think Winnie the Pooh whimsy and Harriet the Spy action. You’ll find yourself chuckling one moment and biting your nails the next.
First let me say that the illustrations are super adorable! When I sat down to read the story, I anticipated it to be a simple children's book, but the depth of the universe and characters blew me away. This book is destined to be a number one story for both children and families. It should definitely be a movie. There was so much thought put into creating this endearing tale of friendship, courage, and what it means to be a true hero. Definitely recommending to my friends with young ones.
With the courage of a Mouse is such a great book it's well written and the illustrations are great! It's about friendship, trust, honor, duty, doing what's right and being the best you can be. It's a great read for the whole family!
I started reading it November 9th by November 11th I'm on chapter 6
With the courage of a Mouse is such a great book it's well written and the illustrations are great! It's about friendship, trust, honor, duty, doing what's right and being the best you can be. It's a great read for the whole family!
I started reading it November 6th by November 8th I'm on Chapter 6
I received this book from @booktasters for an honest review. This book is a lovely story of positivity, friendship and courage. Great for young readers. Sends a positive message for kids. Lovely illustrations as well. Good read all round. Thumbs up!
Witty and beautifully written. I highly recommend this book. I definitely see its potential as an animated film, like a modern take on the classic Tom and Jerry. Kids are going to love it!
With the Courage of a Mouse is more than a book for children. It's about the child in all of us. Be brave. Be bold. Be courageous. Let that be your story too.
📚Book : With the Courage of a Mouse (Superhero School #1) 📚
📝Author : Donna sager Cowan 📝
⭐️Rating- 4.8/5⭐️
My review📚
➡️This book is destined to be a number one story for both children and families. It should definitely be a movie.
➡️With the courage of a Mouse is such a great book it's well written and the illustrations are great!
➡️First let me say that the illustrations are super adorable! When I sat down to read the story, I anticipated it to be a simple children's book, but the depth of the universe and characters blew me away.
➡️It is an amazing story about a mouse, Simon cheddar who makes friends with cat named catt.
➡️It's about friendship, trust, honor, duty, doing what's right and being the best you can be. It's a great read for the whole family!
➡️In book two of the superhero school series Catt , Simon and their classmates have a school task named skydiving.
➡️Catt don't want to skydive. But when Simon's parachute doesn't open , she put her fears aside to save her friend.
➡️Catt and Simon discover the terrible plot after accidentally parachuting into the jungle. Their duo uncover a secret prison of animal hostages in the jungle and set out to rescue them all.
➡️There was so much thought put into creating this endearing tale of friendship, courage, and what it means to be a true hero. Definitely recommending to my friends with young ones.
➡️The story is all about loyalty courage and bravery. Catt and Simon are amazing pair of superheroes.
➡️I love that the author has written a book which allows children to believe they have everything inside of them to be a superhero...to have the courage to do the right thing even when obstacles stand in the way.
➡️The theme of the book is wonderful and I like that it revolves around the friendship of a cat and a mouse.
➡️Two unlikely characters who see beyond their differences as they not only learn to trust each other, they develop a bond in which they depend upon the other.
➡️Throughout the book we discover the qualities of each character that make their friendship unique.
➡️I highly recommend this book for children of all ages.
Through Booktasters, I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review...
I had so much fun reading this book! If I were still a kid, I think I would have enjoyed it even more but I really appreciated how this book's plot, made me feel like a kid all over again! The illustrations are really cute and the plot twists were amazingly clever!
***Spoilers***
Simon the mouse meets Catt and they befriend each other. He tells Catt about super hero school, and Catt, wanting to start fresh in this new town, decides to tag along to become a superhero too. In the documents the need to sign in super hero school, one of the rules is that they need to have a family to get accepted into the school (a legal guardian in case of an emergency) so they ask Mrs. G., a kind elderly cat, to adopt her.
Simon introduces Catt to his family and friends and tells them she got anmesia and forgot she's a cat.
He leaves Catt with them and a snake enters the village and goes for Simon's grandmother. Catt, uses her predatory instincts to defend the village and his grandmother from the snake. The mice get spooked and realize that she is a bigger threat to them than the snake ever was, so they shun her and Simon from ever entering the community again.
With the help of their friends, an attentive frog and tech-savvy pig, they get to the bottom of things and they discover that Catt was framed, and more than one creature was involved!
I really don't have anything bad to say about this book. The plot twists were fun to read and the characters were very different from one another and their "voices" each held their own within the story, they didn't overlap so much so that it was difficult to know who was speaking. I think a lot of people of all ages would have a blast reading such a cute and memorable kid's book.
This book touches on courage, friendship, and so much more valuable life lessons for kids.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
✒Simon Cheddar is a little mouse with huge aspirations. He fantasies about turning into a hero. In this way, normally, he should go to a hero school.
✒Fortunately, he has a tremendous measure of mental fortitude expected to do something like this. There is likewise Catt. She is a dismal, destitute feline who has been disregarded on the planet.
✒The occupants of Mouseville don't confide in Catt basically in light of the fact that she is a cat. However, our fearless mouse Simon Cheddar will show everybody the significance of incorporation, kinship, fortitude, and making the right decision.
✒With the Courage of a Mouse by Donna Sager Cowan is an adolescent part book. It works admirably of mixing profound points and important messages with short parts so youths won't become burnt out on perusing.
✒There are sufficient activity and experience minutes to keep youthful perusers intrigued. Furthermore, simultaneously, there is sufficient mind and humor to keep guardians engaged in the event that they decide to peruse with their kid. Going with the content is an assortment of cute outlines.
✒I especially love the one of a giraffe in a purple police uniform remaining close to a feline 'Needed' banner. I accept there is a wide age range that will appreciate both tuning in to and perusing for themselves this first book in the Superhero School Series.
✒ A book that begins with a little mouse provoking a bird of prey to have him for lunch will undoubtedly be an engaging perused worth returning to at various understanding levels. I anticipate seeing what creator Cowan concocts next in this captivating arrangement.
😍 It's a wonderful story about a rat, Simon Cheddar, who becomes friends with a cat called Cat. In this superhero school book series, there's a school assignment called skydiving is for Catt, Simon and their classmates. They find themselves on another journey once again. Catt manages to rescue Simon as Simon's parachute does not open up or respond when they go skydiving. However, they end up away from school in a desert and in the midst of a quest to help rescue other creatures.
😍 Such a beautiful book with a lot of illustrations which makes it much more attractive and good looking. Just loved the way, the author has penned down the story with such great and awesome life lesson’s messages. I’m completely impressed by this book and will surely bump into the second book super duper soon.
😍 The author did a wonderful job of balancing short chapters with deep subjects and valuable messages so that young people won't get bored of reading. The value of incorporation, kindship, strength, and making the right decision is perfectly demonstrated by Simon Cheddar.
😍 This book starts with a tiny mouse causing a bird of prey to have him for lunch will certainly be an entertaining pursue worth returning to at different stages of comprehension. In this captivating arrangement, I eagerly wish to see what the author has for us next.