The Very Noisy Night

Little mouse #1

by Diana Hendry

Little Mouse can't sleep because of all the noises in and around his cozy little house: tap-tapping on the window, drip-dripping inside.

Little Mouse would feel a lot safer tucked into Big Mouse's bed. But Big Mouse doesn't want wriggly Little Mouse taking all the covers. What's a mouse to do?

This sweetly reassuring depiction of an all-too-familiar nighttime battle will enchant young readers, while parents will appreciate the witty text and detailed, expressive art.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Family, Storytime

Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Diana Hendry grew up by the sea and has worked as a journalist, English teacher and tutor in Creative Writing at the University of Bristol. Her poetry has won a number of awards including first prize in the 1996 Housman Society Competition. From 1997-1998 she was Writer in Residence at Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary. She lives in Edinburgh.

She has published more than thirty books for children, including Harvey Angell which won a Whitbread Award in 1991 and You Can't Kiss It Better, set in Edinburgh (2003). She also writes adult short stories, a number of which have been published in anthologies and read on Radio 4. Her collections of poetry for adults, Making Blue (1995) and Borderers (2001) are published by Peterloo, and Twelve Lilts: Psalms & Responses (2003) by Mariscat Press. With Tow Pow, in a series of poetic ‘challenges’ she has published Sparks! (2005, also Mariscat Press). A third full collection, Late love : and other whodunnits, was published in 2008. She has also published a collection of poems for children, No Homework Tomorrow (Glowworm, 2003)

Reviews

[Sarah Gerard]

Day 2- a picture book to read before bed.

My parents used to read this book to me all the time before I went to sleep so this seems the perfect choice for the challenge! The book is really special to me and reminds me of my childhood.

[Anjumanara]

This is a really sweet book about a fearful Little Mouse who shares a room with Big Mouse, listening to the various sounds of the quite night, howling of wind, hooting of an owl, tapping of branches and thinking instead that its ghosts, and other imaginary intruders. He asks Big Mouse if he can come to his bed but each time, the reluctant Big Mouse climbs out of his comfortable bed to reassure him that it’s not the case and thinks of a reason why Little Mouse cannot come to his bed. However, having done this for a number of times and finally when Little Mouse says he’s lonely the Big Mouse readily allows him to hop into bed. It’s a fantastic depiction of a young child’s fears ring true while Big Mouse’s patient explanations of comfort provide a forum through which children can safely explore their nighttime jitters.

Excellent book to initiate discussions about fears children may have and can be used in the foundation stage and key stage 1 incorporating PSHE to show acts of kindness,sharing and looking out for one another.

[Rose]

It's a very noisy night in the mouse household and little mouse is finding it hard to sleep so he wants to sleep with big mouse. But big mouse doesn't want to share with wiggly little mouse. Little mouse hears so many different scary noises in the night which big mouse points out to be nothing out of the ordinary. Will Little mouse ever get to sleep? Or perhaps more importantly will little mouse let big mouse sleep?

Jane Chapman accompanies this familiar and endearing story with some beautifully detailed illustrations which children will enjoy pointing things out in. The story is great to use with children aged from 3-6 years and uses some great language to introduce onomatopoeia to children and perhaps come up with their own. It could also be used for discussion about feelings and how you can affect others feelings.

[Debi Rutter]

This charming little story is all about a little mouse who gets scared at night by a succession of strange noises. The book follows a pattern which makes it easier for younger children to anticipate the outcomes. You could use this book for some PHSE topics such as bedtime routines, what makes us scared, caring for each other.
I liked it because Jane Chapman's illustrations are delightful, they help to fill out a minimal text, giving clues to the environment the mice live in.
Little mouse tries all night to get into big mouse's bed but to no avail, he keeps waking big mouse with tales of scary noises but big mouse never gives in. When big mouse finally gives in, thinking he will get some sleep, little mouse falls fast asleep and snores keeping big mouse awake anyway.

[Sara Hostos]

This was one of my favorite books as child. And now my 4 year old LOVES this book. She sees herself in little mouse and thinks it’s funny how little mouse keeps waking up big mouse. The art style and pictures are adorable and we can’t help but to laugh every time we read it. Definitely a fav, would recommend to anyone with children.

[Abby Peskin]

This book about a little mouse and big mouse presents a cute story about a mouse who is afraid of the sounds he hears at night. He keeps waking up big mouse, and big mouse keeps pointing out that what he’s actually hearing are normal nighttime noises, like the wind or trees hitting the sides of the house.

[Kimberly]

This is a very sweet story about Little Mouse, who cannot sleep due to a variety of noises in his house. Big Mouse will not let Little Mouse sleep in his bed due to cold paws, wriggling, etc. This is definitely a longer bedtime read but the illustrations are very charming.

[مصطفي سليمان]

في قصة مشابهة ليوم ما بوحة قرر أن ينام وكل شوية يخبط بنشوف معاناة الفأر مع محاولة النوم كل شوية يطلع ليه موقف مختلف مرة بومة
مرة شتاء مرة شخير لغاية ما في الآخر بيقدر ينام بنجاح
قصة لطيفة جدا والرسوم مبهرة للغاية

[Kristin Nelson]

A typical bedtime book. Little Mouse hears noises and wants to sleep in Big Mouse's bed.

[Dan Holland]

Lovely story of sounds of the night scaring a little mouse.

[Maggie Mattmiller]

I have a student who just wants to read and reread this one on repeat!

[Rachael Marsceau]

I don't think I've ever related more to a book as a parent. 😴

[Harrison Reeves]

Good story to calm the class down at the end of the day! Use different tones of voice to engage the class in this story.

[Victoria]

This book is great for learning patterns within language as it has lines that keep repeating. Great for interaction in a classroom as the children can join in.

[Mouse Cara]

The stars are for the joy of rememering reading this to my son every night, he is 20 now and I miss those days!

[Nichole]

This book is fine, nothing special. Might be good if you have a kid who won't stay in bed.

[Amy]

This was a favourite of mine when I was little but currently not a fan favourite with my son 😅🤣

[Addie]

So cute. 2 year old was really into this one (she sat on my lap and commented on what was happening in the story).

[Nichole Haselhuhn]

The Very Noisy Night
Hendry, Diana

Bookshelves: picture-books, fantasy-fiction, organization-trait, voice-trait, conventions-trait
Read: November 2017

Rating: 3.5

Description: Little Mouse, the main character we follow, feels scared when he lies in bed at night. From the sound of the wind, tapping branches, the hoot of an owl and all the bumps in the night, he struggles to fall asleep. Although he asks Big Mouse to come in his bed every time he gets scared, Big Mouse does not want to share his bed and is determined that Little Mouse should sleep alone. After being woken every single time Little Mouse is scared, Big Mouse eventually is so exhausted he lets Little Mouse in his bed and they both sleep soundly.

Genre Specific Characteristics: Story with a lot of imagination; a plot that is simple, clear and brief; illustrations portray the setting and establish a connection to the location, including time and place as well as creating a mood; the theme is related to a child’s understanding and helps them to deal with a problem situation; words are carefully selected to create vivid imagery and mood; elements of humor are mixed it to lighten the mood a little; animals that talk and act like people but still portray some traditional animal traits and setting.

Writing Traits
Idea: The character and plot of this story is easy for children to connect with and have an interest in as it is a common problem for most youth to be scared at night.
Organization: Development of a central theme is strong and meaningful, also a sense of anticipation is developed in the story.
Voice: n/a
Word Choice: The words are age appropriate, rich, colorful, as well as precise, and communicates in a way that moves and enlightens the reader.
Sentence Fluency: There is rhythm and flow in repetition of words in this text as well as a use of words in which readers are not stopped to decode meaning.
Conventions: There is a lot of punctuation in this book used properly, which would help support a better understanding of the function of punctuation in writing.
Presentation: The text is bold, black and free from distractions in an open and empty orange background on the pages, the text is also more similar of handwriting than of a font.

Classroom Integration: This would be a great text to share in a writing workshop as it has a great sense of idea, theme, and flow. It may be a great way for students to reflect on how to tell a story about a particular emotion they have such as fear, which is displayed in this storybook. It would also be a great book to keep in the classroom library as it has vivid imagery that draws students in and utilizes their imagination. It seems like a text that would be reread by students and thought provoking.

Other Comments: This text is appropriate for lower grades K-3, independent reading more so 2-3 as the ATOS level is 2.6.

[Terri Stuart]

Hendry, Diana. The Very Noisy Night (1999) In this adorable night time adventure little mouse lays in bed and hears all kinds of noises and misinterprets each one of them! The tap, tap of a branch on the window could be a burglar on the roof, the hoo-hoo of an owl could be a ghost, and the drip-drip of a leaky faucet a huge rain storm. Each time little mouse hears a sound he wakes up big mouse who he wants to sleep with. But little mouse is to wriggly and big mouse sends him back to his own bed each time. Little mouse continues to wake up big mouse who sends him back to bed until big mouse is so exhausted he relents and lets little mouse in bed with him. This is a sweet story about being afraid of the dark, but also a great read aloud. Ask your listener at the end what little mouse was afraid of and have them recall the events of the night. Target Audience: ages 2-8

[Bex B]

One of our favourite books, mr 2.5 has memorised the story and delights in filling the gaps!

A bonus too, as a co-sleeping family, it has also really helped to teach our son about different sleeping spaces - he’s just upgraded to his own bed (next to mummy’s side of course!) but he understands that if he wants to come into big mouses (our) bed, he can! It’s made the transition that much easier :)

Delightful story about a fearful little mouse who keeps hearing noises - “Sssh, what was that?!” - and is a great book to teach children that the noises you hear at night are usually harmless! It has a good repetitive dialogue which has helped our sons language skills, and the various sound effects which he loves joining in with - when the branch tap tap taps the window, that’s his cue to tap tap tap on our headboard!

Really recommend this for parents of toddlers to read at night. It ends with big mouse and little mouse sleeping snuggly in the same bed, and I always encourage bedtime books that end on a sleepy note, it seems to help settle little one by introducing the idea of sleep! 💤

[Candice]

Excellent story and enchanting illustrations. Little Mouse keeps hearing things at night, and he can't sleep, but wants to climb into bed with Big Mouse. Big Mouse patiently tells Little Mouse what he is hearing - the wind, a branch tapping on the window, an owl, a dripping faucet - and reiterates why he does not want Little Mouse in his bed. You know where Little Mouse will end up, don't you? A very good story for children who are a bit afraid of night noises. The pictures are absolutely wonderful. Lots of color and detail from the bright quilts to the headboard made of a playing card to the postage stamps used as pictures hanging on the walls.

[Jourdan Aanenson]

In this book it is a typical child and how he cannot fall asleep. The tiniest things scare him and this causes him to stay up all night. Little does the big mouse know that if he would of let little mouse sleep in his big right away they both would of been to bed a lot sooner. The pictures in this book were very broad. They showed the mouses house to be very cozy. All the things in their house were common household items they could of taken from the house owners. This book is a very cute tale of getting a child to fall asleep.

[Sarah]

A sweet story about a little mouse who is too fidgety to sleep. He hears all kinds of noises and needs constant reassurance that they are normal noises that don't require attention.

My son demands this book every night. And has for the past 5 months, ever since we got it. It is a very cute story. On every page, with every noise, Little Mouse asks to crawl into Big Mouse's bed and is turned down. This is definitely something little kids can relate to.

The pictures are well done. There are little bugs hiding on every page, and it is fun to try to find them.

[Zoraya Brown]

This book could be used to teach children about the emotion of being afraid. We could talk about all of the reasons that little mouse is afraid and have the children describe a time when they felt the same way and why. We would also discuss what they did during that time, as well as how their parents helped them through it. Even in the classroom environment, children are sometime afraid, so this book is a good way to relate to and address those fears.

[Sally]

My kids laughed and laughed when we read this book. Little mouse keeps hearing noises in the night, much to Big mouse's frustration. Loving and patient, they look to see that each noise is something ordinary and benign. This goes on all night, until dawn, when Little mouse finally falls asleep, in bed with Big mouse.

[Mrs. B]

This was one of the first books we bought my son. I just love the relationship between Big Mouse and Little Mouse ... and I can totally relate to explaining what's going on and the "What IF" questions Little Mouse asks. And (as today) being totally exhausted because MY "Little Mouse" got to sleep, and I am sleep deprived!

[Mary]

This is a cute story about two mice at night. One of them is very scared of the noises of the night, and the other does what he can to quell little mouse's fears. Ultimately, they get to sleep, but it is very late when they do!
This is a longer story, but could be helpful for a child who is having a hard time falling asleep at night because of the noises he/she hears.

[Jimmy Potkanowicz]

This book was an okay book. It was about a mouse who was afraid to sleep in his own bed because of the noises he heard. The parents of the mouse would not let him in his bed so they let him be afraid, which was a little weird. But in the end, he does end up sleeping in his parents bed but it was already morning. I do not think I would recommend this book.

[Shanon]

A darling book about two mice during a restless night. The smaller one can't sleep for numerous reasons and reminds me of my son when we're traveling. My kids have thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be sad when it returns to the library