Tag Archives: mice fiction

Cat Dog

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written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Mark Teague

Cat and Dog are hanging out and a mouse shows up. The ensuing chase ends with the mouse coming out of his mouse hole with…a violin? Each two page spread has a question about the scene on the recto and the next verso has the correct yes or no answer. This fun call-and-response story is sure to be a hit, with readers breathlessly turning the pages to see what will actually happen. This would be a great read-aloud as well. What a winning combination: Mem Fox with her witty word play and Mark Teague with his wonderfully expressive illustrations. Buy this for your library!

Cat Has a Plan by Laura Gehl and illustrated by Fred Blunt

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Cat and Dog each have plans and they involve a stuffed dinosaur and each other. There is some jealousy at play here as Cat and Dog take turns stealing a well-loved stuffed dinosaur from each other. Masks, traps, nets and sacks are used as they go back in forth in ownership of the dino. Finally, a plan goes awry and the poor stuffed dinosaur falls into Mouse’s hole. Mouse is thrilled with his new toy. Cat and dog are sad for a while, but quickly hatch a plan to work together. They realize that they can both act and with their masks, they stage a play to earn money to each buy a new stuffed dinosaur. Now, everyone (Mouse, Cat and Dog) are happy!

This Ready-to-Read early reader has about 100 words and those words are listed at the beginning of the book along with a note to adults and encouragement for the reader. At the end of the story, there are some simple questions to enhance learning, if necessary. Illustrations are bright and exuberant. This cute little book will start young students on their way to a future as readers. Recommended.