Summary: A tiny mouse is relaxing while reading a book when a weasel catches him. The weasel decides to make the mouse into mouse soup. The mouse convinces the weasel that if he has stories to add to his soup it will taste much better. The weasel agrees to hear the mouse's four stories. The mouse tells stories about bees and mud, stones, crickets and a thorn bush. When the stories are finished, the weasel is ready to continue the creation of his mouse soup. The mouse convinces the weasel that he must collect the items from the stories to add to his soup. Much to the weasel's dismay, he runs into a lot of problems trying to accomplish this task. See how the mouse outsmarts the weasel when you read Mouse Soup at your local library.
Citation:
Lobel, A. (1977). Mouse Soup. New York, NY: HarperCollins.
My Impression: Arnold Lobel has a way of drawing readers into his stories while rooting for the character in trouble. Through creative pictures, Lobel adds to the scenery of the words within the story. Children can be fully engaged while they cheer for the safety of the little mouse. This is a must read for a variety of ages.
Professional Reviews:
School Library Journal
"K-Gr 3-A little mouse reads a story aloud to himself under a tree when a weasel comes along and asks how the story ends. The mouse runs away, but is caught by the weasel and taken to his home to become mouse soup. The mouse suggests that stories are a necessary ingredient and relates the four stories that cause the weasel to rethink his soup. Lobel's drawings have their won charming appeal to add to the story."
Bixler, B. (1993, March 1). [Review of the book Mouse soup, by A. Lobel].
Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com
All Readers
"Mouse Soup is another wonderful children's story by Arnold Lobel. For any 1st to 3rd grader learning to read, this book will allow the child to feel confident and very successful!
Four stories are presented by the mouse, who was captured by the weasel for his mouse soup. The mouse tells the weasel that his soup will not taste good unless he puts stories into the soup. One plain old mouse will not a soup make! The stories are: Bees and the Mud, Two Large Stones, The Crickets, and The Thorn Bush. After the mouse has finished his delightful stories, the weasel cannot comprehend how he will get the stories into the soup! Mouse instructs him to find bees, two large stones, crickets and a thorn bush. Not very smart, weasel dashes out of the house to find the items and mouse escapes to the warmth and comfort of his home, a great meal and a good book!
The stories told by mouse are entertaining, lively and a hoot! They will keep the little reader guessing and wanting to know what is going to happen! The illustrations are entertaining and really help to contribute to the charm of the story!
A true delight! I love Arnold Lobel's books for children!!"
Pavluvcik, J. (2010, February 10). [Review of the book Mouse soup, by A. Lobel].
Retrieved from http://www.allreaders.com
Uses within the Library:
1. Reading Timeline: Have students create a reading timeline of the story collaboratively. Review parts of the story and discuss story "ingredients" such as plot, beginning, middle and ending.
2. Musical Chairs: Have each student draw a picture of a scene from the story. Place chairs in a circle and put a picture from the story under each chair. As the music starts, children circle around until the music stops. Once the music stops, the child left standing must choose a picture from under a chair and try to tell others what they scene represents. Repeat until only one chair is left to declare a winner. Display the students' pictures on a special display highlighting the book for others.
Book Cover: Book cover courtesy of the Mansfield Public Library.
Retrieved from http://www.mansfield-tx.gov/departments/library/
No comments:
Post a Comment