Once a Mouse By: Marcia Brown

Once a Mouse  By: Marcia Brown

Charles Scribner & Son;  New York

Copy right: 1961

            This is an award winning illustrated book. There is so much detail in each and every picture, they are wonderful visually.  The story is of a mouse who is turned into other animals by a hermit to protect itself.  This really is a story about being happy with whom you are. Because the mouse was so unhappy with himself he changed from one animal to the next forgetting who he really was. Eventually the hermit sends the mouse back to the forest as a mouse because he was so ungrateful for the gift he had given him. This book seems to be written for kindergarten to second grade students.  It really does teach a lesson in accepting yourself for who you are and you are at your best when you are being yourself. 

            The text to text connection I made was from the book “the absolutely true story of a part time Indian”. Both stories had characters who wrestled with accepting their selves.  While it’s true that one is a boy and one is a mouse, the insecurity is universal.  Text to self connections would be easy for all students to find.  I personally have grappled with self esteem issues as I am sure many other have.  Text to world connection is the universal theme of people all over not being content with who and what they are.