A hermit knows the magic to change a small mouse into a cat, a dog, and a majestic tiger — and Marcia Brown's magical woodcuts bring this Indian fable to life with the mastery that won her her second Caldecott Medal.
As it changes from mouse, to cat, to dog, to tiger, a hermit's pet also becomes increasingly vain.
Anonymous
Posted May 1, 2007
This book is good about telling how to be happy with whom you are. This book is about a mouse that is taken in by a hermit and turned into other animals to protect it. However, it turns arrogant and the hermit turns him back into a mouse and tell him that he is the one who changed him from a mouse to a lion and can change him back, to go into the woods and live as a mouse. To teach the mouse a lesson about being happy with him, and what others do for you. Brown, Marcia. Once A Mouse. New York: Charles Scribner¿s Son, 1961.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.HMatthew
Posted June 2, 2012
Once A Mouse is a phenomenally illustrated picture book that tells an old indian fable. It is about a tiny little mouse who is turned into other animals by a hermit in order to keep it protected. The hermit turns the mouse into a beautiful lion but he is not grateful so the hermit turns him back, teaching him a lesson. These woodcut illustrations are breathtaking and the use of only a few simple colors highlight the storyline. Brown is one of the most famous children's illustrators. Her work has received three Caldecott Medal as well as six Caldecott Honor Illustrator. This book is a great conversation stater amongst younger kids. If you dig dee[ this book contains rich meaning about life, and good morals. I would recommend this book as a gateway for in-depth discussions in class. The book ends exactly how it began with the hermit contemplating "big and little....."
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 22, 2007
In my opinion this book won the medal on the detail of the pictures rather than on the colors used. The pictures are very detailed. They show animals which children love. I found the colors to be dull and boring. There was no pop. The dullness actually took away from the story in my opinion. The story is about a mouse that is taken in by a hermit and changed into other animals in order to protect itself from predators. The mouse becomes so arrogant and abusive to others, that the old hermit turns him back to a mouse to teach him a lesson. Brown was used to teaching lessons having been a high school teacher for three years in New York. She had wanted to be a doctor but coming from a family financially unable to send her to medical school she instead became a teacher. After three years of teaching she quit to pursue her dream of writing and illustrating children¿s books. She became the first person ever to have won the Caldecott three times. She is joined in this honor by only one other person, David Wiesner. Brown, Marcia. Once A Mouse. New York. Charles Scribner¿s Son, 1961. Reading Level 3.2
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 21, 2006
This book illustrates the importance of being happy with who you are, and the importance of being grateful. The animal in this book was unhappy with himself and kept changing himself into different types of animals looking for satisfaction. He went from a mouse to a tiger, soon forgetting who he really was at heart and becoming very ungrateful for what the hermit had done for him. This is shown in the following excerpt: ¿You are ungrateful! Go back to the forest and be a mouse again.¿ The age range for this particular reading is 5 to 8 years old. This book is good for the imagination and self-esteem of the child. I really enjoyed it. This book was written by Marcia Brown, who began writing and illustrating books several years after she graduated from New York State University in 1940. Marcia was born in 1918 and is still living today. Brown, Marcia. Once A Mouse¿ New York: Charles Scribner¿s Sons, 1961.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Overview
A hermit knows the magic to change a small mouse into a cat, a dog, and a majestic tiger — and Marcia Brown's magical woodcuts bring this Indian fable to life with the mastery that won her her second Caldecott Medal.
As it changes from mouse, to cat, to dog, to tiger, a hermit's pet also becomes increasingly vain.