Parents' Guide to

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

By Carrie Kingsley, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Mouse gets a cookie and lots of fun in sweet, silly story.

Book Laura Joffe Numeroff Picture Book 1985
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 3+

Based on 1 parent review

Jojo C.
Jojo C. Parent of 4-year-old
March 3, 2023
age 3+

Gentle and positive!

Positive and gentle! Mouse and his friends are always helpful and forgiving and encouraging. Also really imaginative and creative using day to day routine and items

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE starts with a simple cookie, then one thing leas to another as the mouse embarks on a whirlwind of more complicated activities around the house, exhausting itself and the child with cleaning and crafting and endless ideas. The mouse cleans up its messes and wants to help while also wanting to play, gets tired and needs a nap, and after lots of adventures, the sweet story wraps around to a cookie again at the end.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (2):

Fans of Laura Joffee Numeroff will be familiar with the formula and pacing of the story, and the mouse's activities and happy-go-lucky adventures continue to delight readers. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is also fun for those reading aloud, offering lots of places for a raised eyebrow or a giggle at the mouse's antics. There are lessons in being patient and in following the desire to create, and in taking responsibility for those activities. The ending, which fans of other Numeroff books will know is coming, still brings a smile and a chance to say the refrain aloud together.

Felicia Bond's engaging illustrations perfectly capture the playful, joyful spirit of this story and the other books in the If You Give... series.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what kind of responsibility the mouse takes for its activities in If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. What do you usually do after you make messes like these?

  • Do you think the child should let the mouse do everything it wants? Why or why not?

  • What other funny stories with animals have you read? What's fun about seeing an animal do things a human kid would do?

Book Details

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