Mary and the Mouse, the Mouse and Mary

Mighty mouse tale sure to tickle kids of all ages.

Author: Beverly Donofrio Illustrator: Barbara McClintock Pages: 32 Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Published Date: 08/28/2007 Genre: Fiction - Picture Book HC Price: $16.99 Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: 3-7 Read Aloud: 3+ Read Alone: 6+

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this is a story of a girl and a mouse that lead parallel lives. People who have no problem with the anthropomorphism of animals will appreciate the cuteness of the story and love the friendship that develops.

Families can talk about the parallel worlds of the girl and the mouse and the ways they follow one another and nearly intersect. They can also point out fun details that grace every page. Kids will recognize the furniture in the human household and be amazed at the clever little things the mice use to furnish their home in much the same way, like the egg carton sofa. What else do you see? Would you like having a mouse in your house? How is Mary a different sort of mouse?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Patricia Tauzer

With its soft yet vibrant colors, retro print style, and characters that look like throwbacks to the '40s or '50s, this book definitely has a classic look to it. But the story is a new one and is really quite unique and captivating.

To begin with, the title is not just Mary and the Mouse. No, cleverly and very much on purpose, it's called MARY AND THE MOUSE, THE MOUSE AND MARY. This is the story of a two-way relationship that grows and changes as it extends over two different generations.

Another clever thing about this book is the way the scenery changes as the characters grow up, move away, and then have families of their own. The look of the '50s gives way to the '60s, '70s, and so on. This is true of both Mary's world and the one occupied by the mouse, from the clothes they wear and the backpacks they carry to the posters on the walls of their rooms.

Readers of all ages will appreciate the detailed illustrations, which are rendered in pen and ink, watercolor and gouache. They will have fun finding all the parallels in the worlds of the little girl and mouse, and love the friendly curiosity that draws the two of them together.

From The Book

Every day Mary went to school down the street.
Every day the mouse went to school in the hollow of a tree.

Mary learned to draw and read,
to count and sing.
The mouse learned to do all the same things.

Plot Summary:

When Mary discovers that a mouse family lives in her house, she begins to drop her fork every night at dinner, just so she can wave to one little mouse girl who waves back. Both Mary and the mouse go about similar lives, go to school, grow up, and move on. They miss each other, but eventually share the same house again, when as adults, they each have a family, and Mary's daughter Maria takes her relationship with the mouse's daughter one step further.