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Bless This Mouse
by
A church mouse is no ordinary mouse, and Hildegarde—the Mouse Mistress of Saint Bartholemew’s—is no ordinary mouse leader. It falls to her to keep all the church mice safe and out of sight.
But when a few parishioners report mouse sightings, Hildegarde and the rest of the church mice must face a most dreadful consequence: the Great X. To complicate things, a ceremony called ...more
But when a few parishioners report mouse sightings, Hildegarde and the rest of the church mice must face a most dreadful consequence: the Great X. To complicate things, a ceremony called ...more
Hardcover, 160 pages
Published
March 21st 2011
by HMH Books for Young Readers
(first published January 1st 2011)
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Community Reviews
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Start your review of Bless This Mouse
Mar 30, 2013
Jennifer
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-middle-grade-fiction
Review:
The reader for this sweet, yet slyly funny, tale about mice trying to survive the Great X at their church home is perfect. She does a lovely job with the various mice voices.
A fun listen. Even my four year-old enjoyed it - although I did have to explain to him what an exterminator does and why the mice were so nervous about one coming. There was also quite a bit of church-related vocabulary that needed some explanation for him as well (sacristy, narthex, etc.). However, he understood the ...more
The reader for this sweet, yet slyly funny, tale about mice trying to survive the Great X at their church home is perfect. She does a lovely job with the various mice voices.
A fun listen. Even my four year-old enjoyed it - although I did have to explain to him what an exterminator does and why the mice were so nervous about one coming. There was also quite a bit of church-related vocabulary that needed some explanation for him as well (sacristy, narthex, etc.). However, he understood the ...more
Slight, but cute and mostly 'feel-good.' I like that Father Murphy has a habit of expressing his thoughts as if he's talking to whatever he's thinking about.... I don't like the ridiculous shirts the mice wear. Again with leaving animals' bottoms bare... and in most other ways these are mice, not stand-ins for ppl... so really the clothing has no point at all. I also don't like that Millicent gets blamed for "incessant reproduction" but no mention is made of the absentee father....
...more
I can hardly believe this book is by Lois Lowry. Even considering its difference in genre, it does not at all live up to her superb books such as Number the Stars or The Giver.
In part, it simply suffers from a weak premise: church mice trying to avoid exterminators and the cats sure to be present at the annual Blessing of the Pets on St. Francis' feast day. There isn't much plot material to work with. The characters are neither terribly likable nor terribly memorable. I am also turned off by mi ...more
In part, it simply suffers from a weak premise: church mice trying to avoid exterminators and the cats sure to be present at the annual Blessing of the Pets on St. Francis' feast day. There isn't much plot material to work with. The characters are neither terribly likable nor terribly memorable. I am also turned off by mi ...more
Pros:
*It was kinda fun thinking about what it's like to be the size of a mouse and go about life in a human world trying to remain unseen.
*I liked how they used their tails to turn pages in the phone book; that was very resourceful.
*We learned new terms about the parts of a big church since it is different from what we experience at church.
*The very ending was cute.
Cons:
*Hildegard is crotchety and strict and never lightens up. She is fussy and anxious and negative. It is not fun to read about h ...more
*It was kinda fun thinking about what it's like to be the size of a mouse and go about life in a human world trying to remain unseen.
*I liked how they used their tails to turn pages in the phone book; that was very resourceful.
*We learned new terms about the parts of a big church since it is different from what we experience at church.
*The very ending was cute.
Cons:
*Hildegard is crotchety and strict and never lightens up. She is fussy and anxious and negative. It is not fun to read about h ...more
My family started this as an audio book recently. We like everything we've ready by Lois Lowry until this one. I keep an open mind (for the most part) but we decided to stop it and not finish the book. At what point did we decide to stop? It wasn't at the beginning when the protagonist, Hildegarde, is trying to stop the mice from reproducing (which can instantly bring up questions from kids and while I know this story is about mice, they are mice with names that talk which makes it not as harmle
...more
Book Basics
Title: Bless This Mouse
Author: Lois Lowry
Expected publication: March 21st 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Format Read: Net Galley ARC e-book
What made me keep turning the page?
• It was a quick, light hearted read
• Lessons of forgiveness and teamwork were learned throughout the book
• The story and characters were charming
Any complaints?
• Not as much action as I would like
Recommendation:
• Late Elementary School students, early middle school students
• Would be a great read aloud to yo ...more
Title: Bless This Mouse
Author: Lois Lowry
Expected publication: March 21st 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Format Read: Net Galley ARC e-book
What made me keep turning the page?
• It was a quick, light hearted read
• Lessons of forgiveness and teamwork were learned throughout the book
• The story and characters were charming
Any complaints?
• Not as much action as I would like
Recommendation:
• Late Elementary School students, early middle school students
• Would be a great read aloud to yo ...more
Lois Lowry just does it for me, and Bless This Mouse was no exception. Her writing is, as always, humorous, lovely, and humbling all at once. This is really such a cute book, pick it up for your kids if you're able and give it a read yourself, you won't be disappointed.
...more
I really enjoyed reading this. It was such a delightful little story.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a mouse? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a church? This book will answer both questions. Hildegarde is the Mouse Mistress in charge of over 200 mice that live at St. Bartholomew's. She is very CONFIDENT in her role as a COMMUNICATOR and main CARER for the group. There are times that she must THINK about how to save her friends, especially since they over heard that they will be "exterminated" or the BIG X will happen, as
...more
A very short and sweet animal story for grades 3 and up. Mouse Mistress Hildegarde leads an extraordinary group of church mice at St. Bartholemew's. But their well-being is threatened when parishioners start to report mouse sightings, and an extermination is called for. How will Hildegarde keep her clan safe? Again, this was a quick read with not much in the way of depth, but full of sweetness, heart, and enjoyable characters. Hildegarde and her mice companions are cute--and kids who enjoy anima
...more
What a sweet, sweet story. The audio version was wonderful with many great mousy voices.
There is a lot of harder vocabulary in this short, sweet read, perhaps making it a better read aloud. A lot of vocabulary is connected to Christian church terms, practices, and traditions - readers may need support with this.
There is a lot of harder vocabulary in this short, sweet read, perhaps making it a better read aloud. A lot of vocabulary is connected to Christian church terms, practices, and traditions - readers may need support with this.
One of my favorite books of all time. Lois Lowry showcases our world through the stunning lens of a tight-knit community of church mice whose greatest enemy - The Great X - threatens to topple their world again. However, with their brave, sharp-witted, and loyal Mouse Mistress Hildegarde in the lead, these mice might have more of a chance than you might think.
Not quite the same caliber as The Giver or Number The Stars, but Lois Lowry did a good job with this book too. Very fun ending, though I thought it was peculiar that they could actually talk to each other at the end.
Mar 02, 2011
Luke
marked it as to-read
Dane will see this...
Such a fun and adorable book! I thoroughly enjoyed it.
What is this even?! This is a children’s book by Lois Lowry? I don’t believe it. This is utter garbage.
1. This entire book is based on the concept of population control. The story begins with a mother mouse being scolded for giving birth yet again. - “Such bad timing!” “Babies in general were best avoided.” “That irresponsible little Millicent has reproduced again.” “I am commanding you to stop this incessant reproduction!”
“...with their capacity - the same capacity that Hildegarde was trying ...more
1. This entire book is based on the concept of population control. The story begins with a mother mouse being scolded for giving birth yet again. - “Such bad timing!” “Babies in general were best avoided.” “That irresponsible little Millicent has reproduced again.” “I am commanding you to stop this incessant reproduction!”
“...with their capacity - the same capacity that Hildegarde was trying ...more
I like stories about church mice -- I grew up with an old title that I can't remember -- And I absolutely love the REDWALL series so this one caught my attention.
Sorry....I almost deleted this one...but then I thought I needed to respond. I didn't get far because I came across a specific passage and then closed the book and walked away.
(bottom of page 5 - page 6)
...Of course it was Roderick who had told her. "That irresponsible little Millicent has reproduced again," he announced in his arrogant ...more
Sorry....I almost deleted this one...but then I thought I needed to respond. I didn't get far because I came across a specific passage and then closed the book and walked away.
(bottom of page 5 - page 6)
...Of course it was Roderick who had told her. "That irresponsible little Millicent has reproduced again," he announced in his arrogant ...more
This book proves that any random little idea can be crafted into a story, with the quality and result left up to the author. I am a great fan of Lowry, and of stories that come from the most unexpected places. However, I found this book confusing. By the title, cover illustration, blurb, and author history, I expected this to be a book for young children. Unfortunately, it was not quite as young and innocent as I had expected. I thought it ok as an audiobook, helping me pass time in my art studi
...more
This is a really cute story about a bunch of mice that live in a church. Hildegarde is the Mouse Mistress, meaning she basically is the head of all the mice (over 200 of them!) Lucretia is another mouse but one that wants to take over the Mouse Mistress position.
Despite Hildegarde's best efforts the fact that there are a bunch of mice in the church leads to THE GREAT X, a mouse-genocide program! It's up to her to somehow get all the mice to safety, get them back into the church safely and avoid ...more
Despite Hildegarde's best efforts the fact that there are a bunch of mice in the church leads to THE GREAT X, a mouse-genocide program! It's up to her to somehow get all the mice to safety, get them back into the church safely and avoid ...more
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a mouse? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a church? This book will answer both questions. Hildegarde is the Mouse Mistress in charge of over 200 mice that live at St. Bartholomew's. She is very CONFIDENT in her role as a COMMUNICATOR and main CARER for the group. There are times that she must THINK about how to save her friends, especially since they over heard that they will be "exterminated" or the BIG X will happen, as
...more
This wasn't my favorite story but it did grow on me by the last two chapters. I just thought the characters could be so much more endearing and not so flat. If I read that Hildegarde "glared" at a mouse one more time... But I have to write this without the boys here because they loved it.
Noah: I like that Harvey keeps saying stuff. I like that Hildegarde put the gum drop on her head. And last is I like the whole book.
William: I like when Father Murphy's eyes widened when Hildegarde said 219 mice ...more
Noah: I like that Harvey keeps saying stuff. I like that Hildegarde put the gum drop on her head. And last is I like the whole book.
William: I like when Father Murphy's eyes widened when Hildegarde said 219 mice ...more
Cute, light, fluffy read that was enjoyable to listen to on drives and doing yard work. Took longer to read because I didn't get to it till it was almost due, and then it was due and I had to be on hold again. But the narrator was fun--one children might enjoy listening to. The book does make me feel awful about all the things we do to get rid of mice. But that doesn't mean I want any in my home! Fun to see their personalities. The ending seemed a bit sudden and unexpected to me, but still made
...more
This book was adorable in every way. The church mice characters are very sweet, and the problems they face are equal parts cute and surprisingly dark. Hildegarde as a character is charming, witty and incredibly clever, and the most interesting part is that she isn't your typical young, attractive protagonist. She's not human either, but I think more female book protagonists could stand to vary in age instead of just "in their prime".
The ending was just too pure. The only thing I didn't care for ...more
The ending was just too pure. The only thing I didn't care for ...more
Jun 18, 2018
Pink
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
magical-realism,
animals,
kids-books,
middle-grade,
fantasy,
random-read,
audiobooks,
short-books,
religion,
romance
A large clan of church mice has been detected by the people that go there and Hildegarde, their wise leader, must keep them safe from what they know as the Great X.
This was a cute little story that I would recommend to anyone. (view spoiler) ...more
This was a cute little story that I would recommend to anyone. (view spoiler) ...more
I know this book was written on a child's level, my younger grandchildren will enjoy it. I am reading it for a challenge I am having with my daughter. A Reading Bingo Challenge. The square says to read a book with a non-human narrator. This book is told by a church mouse her name is Hildegarde. she is the Mouse Mistress of Saint Bartholemew’s. It falls on her to keep the other church mice safe and out of sight.
This story is a delightful read and would make a great movie. I am glad I found it and ...more
This story is a delightful read and would make a great movie. I am glad I found it and ...more
This adorable story is about a large number of church mice who realize they are in danger when an exterminator is called by the priest. It is almost the day for the special service to bless pets, and the mice must be especially careful not to be seen because there will be many cats. Such a cute story of community, family, rivalry for leadership, bravery, humour, cleverness, and even a surprise ending. Very interesting.
This delightful little children’s book is a short read that tells a life or death story of a community of mice that live within the walls of Saint Bartholemew’s church. Lessons of positive leadership, the challenges of competition, the character quality of compassion, and the bravery involved in teamwork are all themes in this short narrative created by the author.
A very different offering from Lois Lowry but well crafted as usual. Smart and a little funny. This started as a read aloud with N but both agreed that reading multiple chapters at a time individually made this more interesting.
Bless this mouse is a very comical book, about church mice who have to stay under radar, the mice can not be seen by the members and staff of the church. The books presents a description of a community of mice and how through thick and thin they always stick together!
It was an okay book. There were references to population control which seemed out of place in this type of book. The characters were rather flat and the ending abrupt. But there were some cute scenes and and my children enjoyed it as a read aloud.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Static & Round Character - Hildegarde | 1 | 1 | Nov 10, 2015 11:11AM |
Readers also enjoyed
Taken from Lowry's website:
"I’ve always felt that I was fortunate to have been born the middle child of three. My older sister, Helen, was very much like our mother: gentle, family-oriented, eager to please. Little brother Jon was the only boy and had interests that he shared with Dad; together they were always working on electric trains and erector sets; and later, when Jon was older, they always ...more
"I’ve always felt that I was fortunate to have been born the middle child of three. My older sister, Helen, was very much like our mother: gentle, family-oriented, eager to please. Little brother Jon was the only boy and had interests that he shared with Dad; together they were always working on electric trains and erector sets; and later, when Jon was older, they always ...more
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