Full Mouse, Empty Mouse: A Tale of Food and Feelings

by Brian Boyd (Illustrator)

Two mice, who are siblings, eat either too much or too little in response to their emotions, but find that expressing their feelings to their parents can help them with their eating problems, with information for parents on eating disorders in young children.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books

40 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2007

About the author

Brian David Boyd is a University Distinguished Professor at the University of Auckland and a preeminent scholar best known for his definitive work on Vladimir Nabokov. After earning his PhD from the University of Toronto, Boyd was invited by Véra Nabokov to catalogue her husband's archives, leading to his award-winning, two-volume biography, The Russian Years and The American Years. His scholarship on Nabokov remains prolific, encompassing numerous edited volumes, verse translations, and the digital project AdaOnline. Beyond his expertise in Russian literature, Boyd is a pioneer in the field of "biopoetics," exploring the intersections of literature, evolution, and cognition. His landmark book, On the Origin of Stories, argues that storytelling is a biological adaptation rooted in play, applying evolutionary criticism to works ranging from Homer to Dr. Seuss. A versatile intellectual, he has also tackled the biography of philosopher Karl Popper and co-curated major exhibitions on the origins of art. In 2020, his contributions to the humanities were recognized with the Rutherford Medal, the Royal Society Te Apārangi’s highest honor.

Reviews

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very cute book with a great message about how to deal with feelings in ways other than with food. Story is good for young kids. It’s engaging and it told in rhyme form. In the pages after the story there is a very helpful note to parents and there are also discussion questions that parents can use to help them talk with their kids after reading the story.

When I was reading the story, I was thinking 4 stars, but the information at the end elevates this book to 5 stars.