Out, Mouse!

by Valerie L. Egar, Paul Collins (Narrator)

Mouse problems? Professor Dunderbutt advises writing a polite letter to the mice, suggesting a better place to live. If the first letter doesn't work, try again. And again. His method never fails. But...the two mice in Finn's cottage are fussy. They expect indoor plumbing. A library. Raisin scones. Finn searches the Irish countryside for a house that will please his unwelcome guests. He writes polite letters. Will the professor's advice work?

Based on an Irish folk belief, Out, Mouse! is a humorous early chapter book for children aged six to nine with the mice outsmarting Finn at every turn.

Genres: Audiobook, Animals, Childrens

1 pages, Audiobook

First published April 6, 2021

About the author

Valerie L. Egar is the creator of Snickertales® a collection of holiday picture books filled with warmth, humor and a touch of mischief.

Her books include Oh No! Reindeer Flu! and Runaway Elf, the story of Magnus, a restless North Pole elf who heads to Hollywood in search of something more -- and discovers what home means along the way.

Snickertales® brings classic holiday storytelling to a new generation, creating stories for young children and the families who read with them -- stories meant to become part of the holiday traditions children remember and return to year after year.

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

** AUDIO and PICTURE BOOK versions read and reviewed**
Out, Mouse! is a truly enjoyable children's book about an old man who is trying to get rid of two picky mice from his home.
This book has a stunning illustration on the cover but no illustrations inside which was rather disappointing but the story had great humour throughout.
The audio version has great narration and kept me engaged in the story.
The mice in this story are so much fun and I loved reading about their antics!
A really enjoyable listen and read sure to delight many many children.

[Shirin (unavailable) fictional men only · Rating 5 out of 5]

Published Date 12 May 2021
My review on 16 Jun 2021
Thanks to Netgalley, I have given an honest review of Out, Mouse! by Valerie L. Egar.

Out, Mouse! by Valerie L. Egar and performed by Paul Collins is a pleasant story about people who respect animals, all of them. So beautiful and fun.

Finn writes a polite letter to the mice asks them to leave. He tries to find them other better places to live. Well, I think Finn should know that as he cares about them, Mr and Mrs mouse cared about him.

Lovely story. I listened to this children's audiobook, narrator was great, and really enjoyed it! Now, I have become a children's fiction audiobook fan.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who would have thought mice could be so much fun?
Well I guess original Disney cartoons have Mickey and Minnie but not since I enjoyed the working mice singing “Cinderelly” in that Disney classic have I smiled so much as now. Mouse antics, their ingenuity and interactions with humans; this wonderful book which will delight any young child.
It is promoted with an audio release to help young readers grasp story telling and manage new words through repeated plays of this original tale.
While it lacks illustrations the cover is a work of art, a shame other drawings didn’t accompany the book.
Perhaps as a ‘make weight’, the author suggests asking the children to help create their own word pictures to show the mice in this story. This isn’t such a cop out as it sounds as there are suggestions made at the end of the story. Indeed without examples it isn’t difficult as the actual text teems with mind pictures, it is so creatively worked.
If it works and the book enters the world of our pre-school children then great but at this age words and pictures go so well together.
This offering although a beautifully crafted story is over on the word count and desperately short of well placed drawings.
Based on Irish folklore pointing to a cure all for mouse invasions this tale is worth telling. Magical in its reading and enchanting to listen to.
I hope the story takes hold and becomes established but with the absence of colour it may struggle to be heard.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute book for children where we follow the journey of a family of mice. I enjoyed this quick read and I feel like it definitely could have a deeper meaning to the book than children the age it is geared towards could see. While reading this book, a character keeps trying to find a better house for the family and the mother of the mice felt as if the place they were at was good enough for them. When reading that I felt like this could definitely be seen in an adult's day to day life because in some situations others try to improve our lives to something they see that could be better for us even if we are content where we are at. I definitely enjoyed this book and recommend it to anybody even though it is for children.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute story based on an Irish Belief that if you want to get rid of rodents, you just have to ask them politely to leave, in a letter. It is a fun story about two fussy mice living in Finn's Cottage. Finn tries to relocate the mice to several different spots, but they keep coming back. He eventually decides that maybe he needs to be the one to move. A cute story that made my grandson laugh out loud. We did a read/listen where he followed along with the text while listening to the story. At first he was disappointed that there were no "pictures", but when he got to the end, he changed his mind. The back pages included a page called "Did You Imagine Pictures As You Read The Story". We went through it again and talked about what we pictured on each page. Of course, his sister wanted to draw them. The audiobook was narrated by Paul Collins and I thought it was a perfect fit. He is a new narrator to me and even though I have now listened to this story several times, I have not tired of its reading. I definitely recommend this one to early readers. I can definitely see this one being used in a classroom art lesson. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you netgalley and the publishers for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Out, Mouse! is an entertaining and a lovely book about how how the protagonist tries to sell beautiful and classy locations to the mice through his letters as he isn't comfortable having any uninvited guests in his cottage.

Finn writes thoughtful letters to the choosy Mr and Mrs mouse who are currently living in his cottage and creating a mess of everything. Taking the advice from a book on how to get rid of mice he expects it to work. Each letter contains the location and reasons why the mice might love living there instead of living here with Finn. However Mr and Mrs mouse are never quite satisfied with any of these locations. They usually find one or two drawbacks from each of the shared locations.

Will Finn be able to find the right house that pleases the mice and in turn works in his favour?

This was such an amazing story narrated beautifully by Paul Collins. He did a great job in bringing out the emotions of every character. It was a short, fun book and I would definitely recommend it

[Nicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This audiobook was great fun, brilliantly performed by Paul Collins a new-to-me- narrator. Having had furry visitors earlier in the year, I really sympathised with Finn’s dilemma. I loved the way he wrote the letters trying to be polite and not nasty, so the mice wouldn’t feel like they were being thrown out onto the street. Finn cared about them even though he desperately wanted them gone, so he sent them to various other locations that he thought might be suitable for them to set up home. I enjoyed following the mice and Finn on their journeys to find the right resolution and enjoyed the ending a lot! I definitely recommend this audiobook for young listeners.
Thanks to NetGalley and Whistle Oak for my digital copy via the NetGalley App

[Lieke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny story about a man who doesn't understand why the mice don't like the other living opportunities he proposes to them.
I had to get used to the narrator in the first chapter and liked him after that.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Violeta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Digital ARC provided by Netgalley

Finn, an older man, lived in a tiny cottage where some unexpected guests moved in: some mice. A reference guide gave him a "Never fails" method to evict the unwelcome pests. All he needed to do was write a polite letter suggesting a better place for the mice to live.
This is such an imaginative story and I could not have enjoyed it more. The story line has an expected cuteness that appeals to young children and adults as well.

[Amal Dhouib · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I picked up this book, I was looking for a feel-good-and-short type of book and this was it for me.
The idea of the book is unusual and really fun to read. This book was even hilarious at times. I enjoyed seeing the mice and the old man trying to find a common ground where both sides are satisfied. I also adored the narration of the book. It definitely felt like my granda was telling me a bedtime story and that's the exact vibe of the book in my opinion.
I am forever grateful for Netgalley for the oppotunity and I am certainly willing to listen to more books by this narrator. I highly recommend this book for people who are looking for something light-hearted and obviously for children.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Recommendation
I wish moving mice were so easy! Lol. Cute story of a man trying to rid his house of two picky mice. Kids will enjoy it. It's an easy to read fiction book. 7 year olds and up will love this tale..
I received a Kindle arc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

[Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun story that successfully illustrates solving problems without violence. It’s an easy read for those new to chapter books and for bedtime stories. I just wish there were illustrations included since the cover is gorgeous!

This unbiased review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.

[Siân PJsAndBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mice always come in pairs and raise large families. You must act quickly! If you don't, you will soon have mice everywhere.

Old man Finn comes home after his morning walk to find mice in his home. He looks up how to get rid of the mice. Each day he writes a letter suggesting a better home for the mice and each day they investigate these new homes.

I enjoyed this short chapter book for children and particular enjoyed the ending. Valerie L. Egar uses descriptive language well but does not overload the reader. I would recommend this book to young readers.

[Fernanda W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun little story this was!

The book is very short and tells the story about a men who has a mice problem. He reads a book with a very unconventional way to get rid of the pests: write them letters with suggestions about nice places they could move into. It alternates between the perspective of the man and the mice, and this makes the dynamic between them so lighthearted and fun!

I imagine how fun it'd be read this in paper with children, with colorful artwork about the story, but the audiobook is an amazing experience on its own. The narrator did a marvelous job, they brought life and happiness to the tale, their accent is delightful to hear and the little changes he makes in pitch and entonation for different characters translates their personality perfectly. Amazing job, this is the best narration in audiobooks I've ever listened to.

This audiobook was provided by NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Out, Mouse! is a short and humorously appealing children's story by Valerie L. Egar. Released 6th April 2021 by Whistle Oak, it's 78 pages and is available in paperback, ebook, and audio formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is such a whimsical story with imagination and heart. There are very few characters and a simple story format which builds up to a funny ending with an ironic twist. It would make a superlative read-along book with lots of opportunities for funny voices and sound effects.

The audiobook version is expertly narrated by Paul Collins. The narrator has a pleasant and warm voice for narration and is easy to understand and listen to. The narration runs just over 35 minutes.

Five stars for both the audio and print versions. Well done and fun for all ages.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Carolyn Bragg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finn, an older gentleman, who lived somewhere within the subscription area of The Dublin Reporter, lived in a tiny cottage. He wasn't aware of it, but he made a rookie error. He set out his breakfast so it would be ready when he came back from his morning walk.

When he returned, a pair of mice had moved in, enjoyed his breakfast, and made a considerable mess.

A handy reference guide gave him a "Never fails" method to evict the unwelcome pests. All he needed to do was write a polite letter suggesting a better place for the mice to live! Genius!

Although the mice don't talk to Finn (of course), he could tell by the results of his first letter, that he had some hard-to-please rodents.

This book is charming and fun from beginning to end! Finn's efforts to tamp down his impatience while writing the letters is as funny as his efforts as a real estate agent.

If you don't laugh while reading this book, you have never tried to please a friend, a relative, a spouse, or a child, while trying to remain reasonable.

Out, Mouse! Would make a wonderful gift for children of any age (as a book to read aloud to them, or for them to read to you), for any adult looking for a place to live, or as a house-warming gift. It's a story to read over and over, and become a family or personal favorite!

I give this book three cheers, and 5/5 stars!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an e-copy of this book!
#OutMouse #Netgalley

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone should read children’s books, however old. It is the best way to connect with your inner child, rediscover how amazing children’s writing is and go off on an adventure.
I listened to ‘Out Mouse’ on audiobook. It is an absolute delight. This is the story of Finn who finds a pair of mice in his home. Finn wants the mice to leave and so seeks some advice about how to achieve this. The advice is to write the mice a letter. There follows a series of letters written by Finn to the mice as he suggests alternatives home to them.
This is a delightful comic and simple little story and it was narrated absolutely beautifully by Paul Collins who totally conjured up the character of Finn for me.
Having been a teacher I could imagine this book being a fantastic resource in the classroom - it has some beautiful messages about how we communicate with people, some great discussion on letter writing which would be fantastic for creative writing, and the kind of repetitive action that children adore.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and publisher for a digital copy of this delightful audiobook.

[Srivalli Rekha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out, Mouse! is a cute little book about an old man who writes letters to Mr. and Mrs. Mouse, asking them to go to a new home with better comforts. The book doesn’t have any illustrations. Rather, there are ideas at the end prompting readers to illustrate the book.

The story is sweet and funny. Mrs. Mouse sounded very much human, while Mr. Mouse played the dutiful husband. The book ends on the same funny note, leaving the readers with a chuckle and a smile. I wish there were at least a couple of illustrations. The story would have been elevated by them.
Nevertheless, the book will make a good bedtime story for kids.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Whistle Oak Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#OutMouse #NetGalley

[Yvette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out, Mouse! is Valerie L. Egar's charming chapter book for early readers, based on an Irish folk belief that if you ask politely, mice will leave your home. And on the advice of a Professor, Finn begins to write letters to the mouse family that have been enjoying his unwilling hospitality.

Phrased in the politest of terms, even when Finn feels far less than friendly, each letter suggests an alternative habitation. As he has described the benefits of the proposed new homes, the mice obligingly leave to explore each possibility. But they keep coming back to Finn, until the final letter where the events take a surprising turn.

This was a delightful listen, with narrator Paul Collins enhancing the story with his bright Irish inflection. Well paced and expressive, he brought the story to life with all of Finn's moods and the adventurous mishaps of the mice.

I'm so glad I impulsively downloaded this story as a Listen Now audiobook on NetGalley. It was the perfect "company" while working on a project, making the time fly by while keeping me smiling, and the narrator's voice brought comedic actor Ardal O'Hanlon to mind - never a bad thing, that.

An enjoyable read complimented by a cheerful narration, young readers and listeners are sure to be pleased by it - and adults, too! Recommended.

This review refers to a temporary digital audiobook I voluntarily read via NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This looked cute and is!

Finn discovers two little mice are sharing his home, eating his breakfast and chewy on the morning paper. He researches how to address the problem and decides to implement Professor Dunderbutt's advice to write a polite letter suggesting a better place for the mice. They go and explore the recommendation, but later in the day he finds them returned to his cottage. He tries other properties, with more room, more food sources, more amenities, better views, by the sea, in the country, in the city, in a lighthouse or a castle... Each time the mice investigate but return. What is it they want?

The professor becomes annoyed and frustrated but modifies his angry outbursts to continue to write polite letters. Can he convince them to move out? The result, especially the conclusion, is quite cute.

I wanted a quick read/listen and this fit the bill. I also downloaded the book (adobe digital edition) and like the short chapters perfect for sharing with children. It is also a light delight for adults to enjoy too. I easily recommend this to readers who are looking for a quick, humorous read/listen.

Audio Notes: Paul Collins does a lovely narration with a distinct accent that puts one in the modest setting. I think children would enjoy listening too and I would love to share this with my grandchildren.

Source: NetGalley 2021.

[Lghiggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Out, Mouse!, Finn, an elderly Irish man, has unwelcome visitors as a mice family makes themselves at home in his cottage. Finn takes advice from Professor Dunderbutt’s book and writes a series of kind letters to Mr. and Mrs. Mouse making suggestions of places they would probably prefer to live. Unfortunately for Finn, they always find something unsuitable about the places he suggests. I won’t spoil the ending, but I’ll say that it did make me smile.

I was referred to this book by blogging book reviewer Carla at Carla Loves to Read. She mentions in her review that she listened to the audio version while reading the printed text. I have been wanting to dip into the many audio versions of books currently offered. With an actor reading this with an Irish accent, this book seemed like the perfect one to begin my listening adventure. Although I will probably continue to prefer the written word, I did enjoy listening to this narration which was very well performed.

I would like to extend my thanks to NetGalley and to Whistle Oak for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Novel Obsession · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finn isn’t pleased when a pair of mice have move into his humble abode. In an attempt to persuade them to move, he leaves them a series of letters suggesting other places to live, explaining why each location would be better for them, along with everything that is wrong with his house. As the mice couple checks out each location, they always find something wrong. A barn has no fireplace or variety of food. A beach house is too far away from town. A castle is haunted. Eventually, as Finn writes his latest attempt, he realizes that the new location really is so much better and decides to move himself. If only he hadn’t left the letter behind for the mice to read!

Valerie L. Egar’s Out, Mouse! is a short book that will appeal to young children just beginning to listen to read aloud chapter books. You can sit down and read it in one 30-45 minute session. While simple, the story line has an expected cuteness that appeals to young children. The audio version of the book, read by Paul Collins, has a light Irish brogue, adding to the atmosphere of the storyline.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was provided by Whistle Oak. Originally posted at Novel Obsession

[Kayla C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out, Mouse! by Valerie L. Egar was an entertaining chapter book that had me laughing from start to finish. I loved how the chapters alternated between Finn’s point of view and the mice’s. It helped me understand both sides of the conflict and made the story all the more charming and humorous. Paul Collins did a spectacular job narrating this story, giving each character a distinct voice. He was easy to understand, his accent suited the work well, and the audio quality was perfect.

While it struck me that it was best to just sit back and enjoy this story, I can see how Out, Mouse! could be used to improve children’s analytical skills and manners. For example, parents, teachers, and other caregivers could open up discussions with children about the importance of considering others’ feelings and what certain characters should have done differently. In conclusion, if you’re looking for a fun story that those young and old can enjoy, I highly recommend Out, Mouse! by Valerie L. Egar.

(Disclaimer: I received a free review copy of the audiobook version of this work through NetGalley. All opinions in this review are my own and are honest and unbiased.)

[Christina Ensling · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Out, Mouse!” by Valerie L. Egar takes an old wives' tale and expands it into a charming early reader set in rural Ireland. As explained in the author’s note there is a folk belief that a surefire method of ridding your house of mice is to write the rodents a letter explaining why a different place is better suited to them. In this story, a bachelor named Finn writes a series of letters to the mice he sees scurrying around his humble house. After each letter we see Mr. and Mrs. Mouse’s reaction as they investigate each of his suggestions and find them lacking. Although Finn tries to be very courteous he grows increasingly impatient with his uninvited house guests. His recommendations for new homes get more creative, such as a local lighthouse or ancient castle. The ending manages to be both very satisfying and comical. In addition to the author’s note there is an invitation for young readers to share their own illustrations based on different scenes in the book. Teachers may find this book useful as a fun way to teach the parts of a letter in a writing lesson.

[Jane Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had the good fortune to receive a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. As a teacher it caught my attention because of the letter writing that happens continually throughout the story. I was looking for a fun way to introduce letter writing to my class. This was the perfect find. Professor Dunderbutt has mice in his house, actually a whole family of mice. He does not want to have mice in his house. He wants them gone. Based on an old Irish folktale that the mice will go away if asked politely the professor begins to leave letters for them. He continually asks them to leave and he offers suggestions of where they might find a comfortable home. Each time they explore the new home the find a problem and return. Professor Dunderbutt is very frustrated by this yet continues to write very thoughtful notes.


I recommend this book for the classroom as an inspiration for writing projects. Since it doesn't have many illustrations it provides an excellent opportunity to discuss the importance and fun of illustrations.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short, sweet tale with a lyrical narrator, and I believe it would be very appealing to young children. I was a little worried that many of my students wouldn’t understand because of the thick accent, but I think you quickly can become attuned to the words because the voice actor speaks so clearly and slowly and really enunciates. I volunteer in a first grade class sometimes, and I can see the kids giggling while listening, and then smacking their heads at the end. Because this is an audiobook, I would love to ask the kids to make illustrations that they think could accompany the story. I think they would enjoy it, and come up with some imaginative pictures! I would also love to ask them to write a final letter from Finn, after he realizes that the mice have followed him, or to draw his face when he sees them at the new house.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ALC in exchange for my honest opinions.

[Hayley Chow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super cute story of a man writing letters to the mice in his cottage of other places they might live. I listened to this audiobook with my five-year-old and really enjoyed this light, humorous story. I really liked the narrator's dialogue delivery, although the prose seemed a touch choppy. At 32 minutes, it was about the right length for my five-year-old's attention span and he seemed to easily follow the plot, laughing as the mice kept rejecting Finn's suggestions. It definitely made me smile as well!

My five-year-old's review is as follows: I enjoyed it some (as averse to: I didn't like it or I enjoyed it a whole lot), it was funny, almost like a movie. I asked him if there was anything he didn't like, and he said no. I would totally recommend this to any kids from the ages of 4-7. Thanks so much to IBPA and NetGalley for for the free ARC listen!

[Bookish Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sooo I got this book as an ARC to read to my three year old daughter as it’s listed underu children’s fiction. The book was very long for her attention span and didn’t have any pictures to keep her engaged. HOWEVER, even though my daughter probably stopped paying much attention after laughing so hard at the name ‘Professor Dunderbutt’, I kept reading the book and LOVED it for myself! I will definitely try it again with my daughter when she is older. There are prompts at the end of the story about imagining your own pictures and drawing them, so definitely stick to the 6-9 year age category… or maybe just 6 years+ because I greatly enjoyed it. I would still recommend it if you are looking to get it for a child because they will just grow into it! The story is that cute! I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this audio book today with my Granddaughter, she is 7. At first she wasn't too sure about listening and initially found the narrator a little hard to understand. She thought he spoke a little too fast. However once she was used to listening she really enjoyed the storyline. She wanted to write a letter to a mouse just in case there were any in her house. The story made her laugh and it was a joy to listen to it together.
I would highly recommend this audio , especially if you have a little one who is reluctant to read. This audio book about the old man Finn and the letters he writes to help mice move out of his house to somewhere better will really fire their imagination and its a great way to spend time enjoying a love of books together.
Thanks to #netgalley and #whistleoak or the #arc #valarieLEdgar #outmouse

[Lucy-Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful book for children & will suit several ages. As a picture book or audio book, toddlers will enjoy it but there are also longer words and more complex sentences which would make it good for slightly older children to read themselves. I can see it becoming a modern classic, sitting on bookshelves alongside the very hungry Caterpillar and the Gruffalo!
The concept of writing letters to mice will amuse children – and the way that Mr & Mrs Mouse respond to their new home suggestions will have children giggling!

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, with his Irish accent, was a good choice

Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of this book free via NetGalley. Whilst thanks go to the author & publisher for the opportunity to read it, all opinions are my own.
#OutMouse #NetGalley