Cat & Mouse: A Delicious Tale

by Jiwon Oh

Cat loves Mouse.
Mouse loves Cat.
They are best friends. But when Cat receives a very special cookbook, she realizes that Mouse could be more than just her best friend. . . he could be LUNCH! What will Cat do?
What will Mouse do?
Find out in this delicious tail. . .oops, tale!

Genres: Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2003

Reviews

[Addyson Huneke]

This is the strangest book I've ever read. Perhaps Jill and Eustace should have started craving Puddleglum after seeing Marshwiggle in the giant cookbook? And why call it a "delicious" tale? Is the prospect of eating your friends delicious?

[Jill]

What a cute, quirky book! The story is a bit strange, but entertaining. It was a unique way to impart a lesson about doing what's right over doing what we want. I love the illustrations. I don't normally go for these computer graphic images but these are just so interesting and different.

[Peacegal]

This is an unusual book, featuring quirky, early-CGI illustrations. Cat and Mouse are best friends, but when Cat is given a cookbook featuring mouse recipes, she can't stop thinking about how she'd like to turn Mouse into a main dish. Knowing this is wrong, Cat runs away to the mountains, but her loyal friend finds her, brings her back home, and nurses her back to health. Cat learns that even her craving for minced mouse shouldn't supersede the care she has for her friend, and the odd couple regain their friendship.

Veg*n parents note: Veggie families will appreciate the message that no one wants to be eaten and we don't eat our friends. This would be a nice choice to share with veggie kids who feel pressured by omnivorous classmates or other peers. Veg parents may be disappointed that the characters don't share their friendship with the fish in their world--they are shown going fishing and eating from a plate with a whole fish on it.

[Amanda]

loved this as a kid!!

[Lauren]

This one was a special pick from our librarian for the illustrations alone (pay attention to the last page - you'll see the mouse imprinted into the cat's tan!). Overall a cute story about how a cat must overcome natural inclinations to eat the mouse and keep a friendship. Love that there are definitive Asian influences in the illustrations too.

[Kym]

Cat and Mouse are great friends, but then Cat gets a cookbook and finds out that mice are delicious. Lovely amount of tension as the two work it out. The illustrations are wonderful and have an Asian flair.

[Denise]

An excellent book about an enduring friendship in the face of adversity. I can read this book again and again with my little Sofie.

[Kayla]

Kind of a strange story about Cat having to resist the urge to eat her best friend, Mouse. Cute pictures, though.