Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1349498 in Books
• Published on: 1993-10
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 43 pages

Customer Reviews

Little Mouse: The Little Mouse Who Lived With Henry David Thoreau
I am the author of the book - so you will say I am biased.
But in the back of the second edition of Little Mouse you will find coments by 3rd grade readers. I inclued 12 of hundreds of complimentary letters from children that read the book. My point is - this book was writen for children not adults - so for an adult to rate this book is irrelavant in my opionion. Childrens books need to be rated by children. If you wote a book for women - would you be interested in what men thoght about the book?
I will include only one comment that to me was the best:" Little Mouse was the best book we read so far and it will probably stay that way." Andren on page 46.
Bill Montague - the author

Too "teachy" for my taste
This children's story features Little Mouse, who lives at Walden Pond and has actual conversations (!) with Henry David Thoreau. The naturalist reveals and explains his most popular philosophies to her. He even takes her to Concord and shows her the town. Eventually Little Mouse meets Carpenter Mouse, and they make a home together. I guess we shouldn't be surprised at the relationship between Thoreau and Little Mouse. "Mice and people still get along very well. They are friends with each other today, just as in Mr. Thoreau's time."

Background information about Thoreau appears at the front of the book, along with the excerpt of the mouse episode from "Walden." The book concludes with photos and descriptions of the Emerson house, Concord Museum, and the cabin replica at Walden Pond.

At least two children's books have focused on this small tale from "Walden." "The Mouse and the Song" by Marilynne K. Roach is more subtle in its approach and is not as anthropomorphic as "Little Mouse." While Mr. Montague uses an interesting approach to introduce Thoreau's ideas to children, the text is just too "teachy." In more recent years, D.B. Johnson has created individual picture book stories to illustrate Henry's philosophies, and he succeeds at the task by showing, not telling. We can all learn from his example.