Busy, Busy Mouse

by Virginia L. Kroll

Have a bath, work out, take the car for a spin . . . the busy, lovable mouse in this picture book has one long "To Do" list! But he can't even get started until the family he shares his house with goes to sleep. So he spends the day resting in his mouse hole waiting patiently for the night to come. When it finally does, and the family is tucked in bed, this little mouse goes on one busy adventure! A simple, rhyming text describes the family's busy day and peaceful night, while Fumi Kosaka's clever, playful illustrations let us know what the mouse is up to.

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

Paperback

About the author

Kroll has written numerous children's books since her career started in the mid-80's. Her first book was published in 1992. She started writing when she had her fourth child. Before that, she taught elementary school in Buffalo, NY. She also has written a number of books under the pseudonym Melrose Cooper to mask her tremendous output in so short a time.

Reviews

[Emily]

The favorite of each of our kids from the ages of 1-3. (My favorite because I watched Fumi illustrate it when we were roommies so long ago.) ;)

[Maddie Gerber]

I picked this book out because the mouse looked really cute in the front cover. I think this book would be great to teach about how animals have different schedules than we do. This shows the family and the mouse and what are they doing that time. I think this would be great for a science lesson and I want to use this book in my classroom.

[Sage]

I enjoyed how easy this book was to read! The font was nice and bold, with hsort words for children can be able to read it easily. Additionally, I loved how the book was illustrated, pictures were beautiful and showed the mouse and then the family doing different to almost similar things.

[Emma Goranov]

Ir was not that intriguing that my daughter meant it will be.

[Crystal]

Would work okay for a baby time but not really enough content for preschool storytime.

[Gustavus Cliffe]

It was a cute story. Didn't stick with me long, other than that the mouse's day is opposite to the kid's.

[Heidi-Marie]

I like the "switched" schedules for the humans and the mouse. I don't think toddlers would follow that part. But I do think they'll be able to follow along with what the humans are doing and that there are some actions I can pull from this to use in storytime. Perhaps in a lap-read an older toddler or younger preschooler will follow the book.

9/21/16 & 9/22/16 Used in toddler Mouse theme. I pointed out the switched schedules. I think it may have confused them. Possibly because they don't quite understand their schedule? Maybe if I had ignored the mouse and focused on what the humans were doing--since the text went with that? Plus, those actions are ones toddlers are familiar with. Well, maybe next time....

[Ariel Cummins]

A busy family goes through the actions of their day, playing and living together. Until they go to sleep, though, busy mouse can't even get started on his day!

Sweet, cartoon-y illustrations depict the family's actions on one side, and the mouse's actions on the facing page. They are bright and happy and the warm palette makes the book seem cheerful and cozy.

Although the short, snappily rhyming text would make this book perfect for toddlers, I'm not really 100% sure they would understand the contrast between the family and the mouse. Maybe for preschoolers?

[Sarah Kiesche]

Mouse lives on an opposite schedule from the family in his house. This is a great book for on target level reading in Kindergarten. Can be used at beginning of school year to discuss setting up a class schedule and order.

[Jan]

Simple rhyming book about the night-and-day lives of a mouse and the people who live in his house. The family is up and busy all day, but at night while the family sleeps, the mouse is busy. Search the pictures to find out what the mouse is doing while the people are awake! Cute for ages 3-6.

[Melissa Legacy]

An oldie but a goodie. Kids love to see what the mouse is doing while the people go about their day. Not too many words but lots to talk about from the illustrations. Great for a young group. A cute story that is great for an interactive story time.

[Katie]

A cute depiction, told mostly through illustrations, of the contrasting "day" being lived by a family and the mouse that lives in their house.
My favorite page is the mouse working out while the children get tucked in for bed.

[Patti]

Really fun little story about a mouse living in a family's house.

[Michele]

Cute story about a family and a little mouse going through their days.

[Lucia Augustin]

love it

[Mary]

A great book for promoting parent-child conversations. The contrasts between the mouse's schedule and the human family's schedule will give you lots to talk about!

[Ruth Ann]

Sparse, rhyming text and cute illustrations let us know what mouse is doing while the family is busy.

[Judy Carey Nevin]

I did the editing and approved the illustrator before I left, but the artwork wasn't available when I left Viking.