There's a Mouse in My House [Paperback]

When Mom finds out that there's a mouse in the house, she goes ballistic. She wants her son to get rid of that rodent as quickly as possible! He plans to terminate the pesky varmint by squishing it with his shoe, but he's never come up against the likes of a storytelling mouse like Scheherazade, who tries to wangle a stay of execution from her rapt listener by regaling him with tales of her illustrious lineage. She's a mouse who is practically royal, descended from those nursery rhyme greats Hickory, Dickory, and Dock (who later became, Scheherazade reveals, the equally famous Three Blind Mice!). She's not just a stay-at-home fourth-generation Canadian mouse. She and her mother have travelled the world, visiting China, Italy, and Norway before trying to find a place to call home. And, between bits of cheese and sips of ginger ale, she convinces her new friend to let them stay in the house--in exchange for more stories, of course, and perhaps a piece of Gouda cheese. Sheree Fitch (author of There Were Monkeys in My Kitchen!, among others) has done it again, weaving a rollicking and rambunctious tale that is sure to delight young listeners. There's a Mouse in My House is a great comic turn full of the wonderfully wacky humour that Fitch's fans have come to love, but children will appreciate the poignancy of Scheherazade's tale as well. Illustrations by Leslie Watts add to the fun. (Ages 4 to 8) --Jeffrey Canton

PreSchool-Grade 2-Charming illustrations can't save this clunky tale. A boy's mother has told him to kill a mouse, while the mouse's mother has told her to ask if they may live in the house. The mouse, sensing her imminent demise, begs for "her last three wishes," which consist of cheese, soda, and a chance to tell her story. She then launches into an involved tale of her family history, a litany of dangers from cats, dogs, humans, and other predators. Finally, the boy relents, allowing the mouse and her mother to stay. Some clever touches do appear: the mouse says that her ancestors Hickory, Dickory, and Dock became the Three Blind Mice later in life, and she herself finally reveals that her name, befitting her situation, is Scheherazade. However, these touches are overwhelmed by the forced rhyme of the story: "'Oh, please,' I said. 'Give me a break/This is just a stall for time/Let's get this over quickly/Without reason, without rhyme.'" Watts's illustrations are appealing enough, particularly the doe-eyed charmer of a mouse with a big yellow bow on her head. However, the subpar story and the cruelty-to-animals aspect make this book easy to pass up.
Kathleen M. Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, Eldersburg, MD
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

There was a mouse in our house
I guess it came in from the cold

My mother go hysterical
(And SHE's thiry-six years old!)

In this charming, fun-to-read tale, a young boy must try to get rid of a mouse who has entered the family home. However, that may not be as easy as he thinks -- for this is no ordinary mouse. In order to avoid her certain demise, the mouse convinces the boy to grant her three wishes -- a glass of pop, some cheese, and a chance to tell her story. And tell it she does...

Sheree Fitch's amusing verse is brought to life by Elizabeth Watts' unforgettable illustrations. There's a Mouse in My House! has been chosen as one of the best books of the year by the Canadian Children's Book Centre.

Sheree Fitch is a poet, educator, journalist and playwright. A literacy activist, she has been giving readings of her work in schools and libraries for over 15 years. She lives in Halifax with her family. Her many books include Mabel Murple, There Were Monkeys in My Kitchen! and There's a Mouse in My House!.