Who knows the best way to be mad? Bear stomps. Hare hops. Bobcat screams. Mouse? He just can't get it right. But when he finds the way that works f...
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Feb 25, 2010
Abigail
rated it: 
"Mouse was mad. Hopping mad," begins Linda Urban's delightful tale of a little mouse struggling to find a way to express his feelings. Unfortunately, Hare happens along, and seeing Mouse's rather small hop, informs him that he looks ridiculous. Discovering that he cannot match Bear's earth-shaking stomp, Bobcat's echoing scream, or Hedgehog's smooth roll, Mouse becomes progressively more angry (and muddy, as his efforts land him in a succession of puddles). Finally, at the end of his r
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Jul 17, 2009
Tasha
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Mouse is hopping mad. Until Hare tells him he looks “ridiculous.” But when Mouse tries to hop like Hare, he tumbles into a mud puddle. Mouse is now even angrier. Stomping mad, in fact. Bear arrives and shows him how he should be stomping. But when Mouse tries, it doesn’t have the same earth shaking effects. In fact, it’s much more Mouse-shaking and Mouse falls into another mud puddle. Now Mouse is screaming mad. Bobcat tries to show Mouse how to really scream, but Mouse, you guessed it,
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May 20, 2009
Kate
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We love this book at my house. Though intended for the youngest readers, it kind of transcends age, so while it's perfect for a toddler, it's also one that my seven-year-old daughter giggles at every time we pick it up. She and I both love the playful language, the energy of anger and chaos and quiet, all in turn. Henry Cole's cuter-than-cute illustrations bring added life to Linda Urban's story of a mouse who can't even seem to get mad the right way, according to the other animals, until he fi
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Jan 27, 2010
Lisa
rated it:
This book is hilarious. The story and illustrations are both so funny, which is terrific when reading about a normally difficult emotion to express: anger.
I would have appreciated more about dealing with anger, rather than just how mouse ended up doing it, but I loved how it was shown that emotions are fleeting, that angry feelings won’t last. The illustrations couldn’t be more perfect for the story.
This is one book that can be thoroughly enjoyed by very young children a More...
I would have appreciated more about dealing with anger, rather than just how mouse ended up doing it, but I loved how it was shown that emotions are fleeting, that angry feelings won’t last. The illustrations couldn’t be more perfect for the story.
This is one book that can be thoroughly enjoyed by very young children a More...
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Mar 28, 2011
Gabe
rated it:
A good story for teaching anger management to very young people. The lessons are (a) tantruming makes things worse (b) calming down is powerful (flipping the power of shouting and stopping to being calm), and (c) reviews strategies to get calm: be still, take a breath. I changed the story to include teh mouse saying, "I'm mad."
You'll have to exagerate these points, but it makes for a lovely read. You can easily create actions for children to act out the story. I ended More...
You'll have to exagerate these points, but it makes for a lovely read. You can easily create actions for children to act out the story. I ended More...
Mar 14, 2009
Kelly
rated it:
Mouse begins the book mad and gets madder still when his efforts to express his anger are out-done by his friends: Hare hops better, Bear stomps harder, Bobcat screams louder, Hedgehog rolls around the on the ground better - and to top things off, Mouse keeps landing in mucky puddles. Eventually Mouse is so mad that all he can do is STAND very, very still - something he does better than anybody else.
The text is adorable and the illustrations even more so.
The text is adorable and the illustrations even more so.
Jan 19, 2010
Kathryn
rated it:
This book is a hoot! I absolutely loved it. The illustrations are SO expressive and charmingly humorous! Little Mouse is so MAD but he can't quite express his anger in a way he sees fit. Other animals try to show him how they express their anger, but poor Mouse can only give feeble imitations--which only makes him angrier! In the end, he is SO mad he expresses his anger in a way wholly his own, one that the other creatures totally admire. Highly recommended!
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May 26, 2009
The Library Lady
rated it:
Add this to When Sophie Gets Angry -- Really, Really Angryto your list of stories about anger control issues that don't do a "Berenstain Bears" bit and hit you over the head with the moral.
This is fun with a very subtle message and might even get a kid to laugh their way out of the angries!
This is fun with a very subtle message and might even get a kid to laugh their way out of the angries!
Dec 15, 2011
Robin
rated it: 
Mouse is mad, but has a hard time showing it. He can't hop like hare, or stomp so the groud shakes like Bear, or scream like the bobcat. It does turn out that he's better at standing still mad than anyone else, though they all try. By the time they are finished, Mouse has been still and breathing for a while . . . long enough that he's not angry anymore.
A cute book on handling anger, without feeling like a lesson book at all.
A cute book on handling anger, without feeling like a lesson book at all.
Aug 06, 2009
Mary
rated it:
Mouse is mad. Hopping mad, in fact. But, according to rabbit, his hopping is ridiculous. Rabbit shows him how to hop properly, and when mouse tries again, he lands in a mud puddle. This makes him even madder. STOMPING mad, in fact. But bear has an opinion about mouse’s stomping ability. One by one, the animals criticize mouse’s actions, making him more and more mad, until mouse finds a way to be mad that no one can top. Of course, the admiration he receives from the other animals cures h
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May 14, 2009
Bethany
rated it:
A very mad, very little, very cute mouse hops, stomps, screams, and rolls on the ground in anger as other animals look on and give pointers on how to improve his technique. Each attempt to hop farther, stomp more fiercly, scream louder, or roll faster lands him in a disgusting puddle of muck. In the end, Mouse discovers that his anger disappears when he stands perfectly, inimitably still.
I'm not sure what the message of this book is. "You'll be angry until you're better than More...
I'm not sure what the message of this book is. "You'll be angry until you're better than More...
Oct 21, 2011
Shannon
rated it:
This is a great book that deals with the angry, foot stoping, yelling screaming, flopping on the floor fits that most parents have been witness to.
The story flows smoothly and the illustrations are clear and colorful. Hearing each animal tell Mouse how to act if he is mad adds humor and warmth. Our 4 yr old really enjoys this book and very quickly recognized her own actions in parallel to Mouse's.
The story flows smoothly and the illustrations are clear and colorful. Hearing each animal tell Mouse how to act if he is mad adds humor and warmth. Our 4 yr old really enjoys this book and very quickly recognized her own actions in parallel to Mouse's.
Sep 03, 2011
Paula
rated it:
there is the repetition of the mouse falling in the mud, and the movements that the other animals make which can be done by the kids. A great story time book with wonderful illustrations and funny too!
Mouse struggles to find the right way to express his anger, modeling the behavior of Hare, Bear, Hedgehog, and Bobcat, only to discover that his own way may be the best way of all.
Mouse struggles to find the right way to express his anger, modeling the behavior of Hare, Bear, Hedgehog, and Bobcat, only to discover that his own way may be the best way of all.
Jul 08, 2010
Loren
rated it:
Since my 4 1/2 year old has moments of rage, this book was a hoot to read with her. She really could relate to the mouse and his feelings. Along the way she laughed at the side humor of mouse getting muddier with each progression. The illustrations evocative emotions well and all children can relate! A fun book about anger management, emotions, individuality and of course mice.
Jan 13, 2011
Becky
rated it:
Good book for dealing with anger. Mouse tries to be mad in the same way as the other animals, but fails (Bear: "Stomping, done right, should result in the shaking of trees and the rumbling of earth.") When Mouse finds his own particular way to express his anger, he feels better right away. Fun bonus on the endpapers: he's mad at the beginning, and glad at the end.
Sep 20, 2009
Kimbely
rated it:
This book is about a very angry little mouse. He is angry because other animals can do things better than he can. This book shows different emotions, and feelings. I would use the book to teach about shortcomings and strenghths. Each child will have different things that they are good at. I would teach them to control their anger and express it in a healthy way.
Dec 07, 2011
Susie
rated it:
I read a recommendation for this book by a librarian who had the students practice SOME of the behaviors in the book. The ending is just great. This would be a backdoor way to talk with kids about anger, what to do when you are mad, the mishaps that can occur when you're mad, and more. I'm looking forward to trying it out with a group of students.
Feb 17, 2010
Ann
rated it:
Okay, officially adorable!
This is a great little tale about how we express our feelings in different ways (Bear stomps his foot, Bobcat screams, etc. - but what does Mouse do?).
While, if I'm being *totally* picky I could say that I wanted a little better resolution at the end, but the story is still great and the adorableness completely makes up for it!
The moral I got from the story? That we all have different ways to express our emotions, and that one wa More...
This is a great little tale about how we express our feelings in different ways (Bear stomps his foot, Bobcat screams, etc. - but what does Mouse do?).
While, if I'm being *totally* picky I could say that I wanted a little better resolution at the end, but the story is still great and the adorableness completely makes up for it!
The moral I got from the story? That we all have different ways to express our emotions, and that one wa More...
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May 07, 2009
Miz Lizzie
rated it:
A very funny book about being mad. This would make a great read-aloud with audience participation. Mouse is mad but everyone else seems better at expressing anger until he stays very still and breathes ... and suddenly isn't mad anymore. Not a Buddhist book, but the sentiment about being still and breathing is all about mindfulness.
Aug 04, 2010
Sarah
rated it:
I think I've just had the sort of day where this book really appeals to me. Even though mouse could have looked madder, I totally understand the feeling of being so frustrated when you can't even be mad correctly. Next patron that crosses me is going to have to sit and listen to this story, right then and there.
Apr 13, 2011
Angela
rated it:
It's when mouse if rolling-around-on-the-ground mad that we had trouble copying all Mouse's moves at storytime. In any case, a lovely picture book. I'm a sucker for Henry Cole's illustrations and would read a repair manual if it was written by Linda Urban.
Recommended for ages 2-5 and the whole family.
Recommended for ages 2-5 and the whole family.
Jul 23, 2009
Joella
rated it:
This is an amazing book! The pictures are great, the story is brilliant, and mouse is perfect! Mouse is really mad, hopping mad. The only problem is that Hare is a better hopper...so mouse gets even madder. This is a great book to show what happens when someone gets angry (and happy again). Loved it!
Jun 04, 2009
Karla
rated it:
Mouse was mad. He was hopping mad, stomping mad, screaming mad, and rolling-around-on-the-ground mad, but he just couldn't express himself as well as the other animals. Until finally, he found his own way - and then he realized... he wasn't mad anymore! Cute book that all kids will be able to relate to.
Mar 22, 2009
babyhippoface
rated it:
If I could get my kids out of their angry fits with this kind of humor, I'd be a better mom. I love the way the animals just sort of butt in and try to correct Mouse, when they really have no idea what's going on. Henry Cole's illustrations are the perfect complement--cute, and full of expression.
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Jul 16, 2009
Valerie
rated it:
A longer read for the toddlers, but they enjoyed an impromptu follow-up movement that I called "Get your Mad ON" where we demonstrated all of mouse's mad feats and finished with broad smiles. Shortened book by clipping together pages about porcupine's rolling mad.
Mar 21, 2011
Devony
rated it:
My daughters ADORE this book! It's cute, fun, and funny, and it actually makes them not have so many tantrums! When they have tantrums, we'll say, "Are you screaming mad like mouse?" and they start giggling! It's so fun and such a joy to read!
Nov 16, 2010
We
rated it:
Some of the first grade classes voted to read this book. It's a great book to introduce ways and techniques to manage our anger. It provided examples of how to calm down using a fun to read story. Students were able to join in with repeated lines.
Aug 01, 2011
Jessica
rated it:
I absolutely loved this book. It is a very simple story to tell. Since I am a librarian, I use this book all the time for my 2 year olds. It is so much fun for children to act out the ways that Mouse shows his anger.
Apr 14, 2010
Edna
rated it:
Animal friends try to help Mouse act "mad" by teaching him all their techniques. Cute cartoony illustrations describe this innocent book where friends, including Mouse who, get caught up in the symptoms rather than the reason.
Jul 31, 2009
Kim
rated it:
Good for grumpy storytime. Mouse keeps falling into a mudhole when he tries to act like his friends and he gets madder and madder, but after his friends act like him, he is no longer angry. Pair with Grumpy Bird
