A Mouse Told His Mother
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Books |
A Mouse Told His Mother is a 1997 children's picture book authored by Bethany Roberts with illustrations by Maryjane Begin. The narrative centers on a young mouse whose mother encourages him to go to sleep, while he envisions various imaginative escapades, earning widespread praise from critics.
Plot
The story features a young mouse who boasts about his nocturnal adventures, yet each time his mother gently redirects him toward bedtime by proposing other important activities. The book contains eleven double-page spreads, each beginning with the titular phrase and portraying creative, fanciful scenes. The tale concludes with the mouse gliding through star-filled skies via parachute, leaving his mother both puzzled and wishing him "Sweet dreams. And good night."
Background
Published nearly a year prior to Valentine Mice!, another of Roberts' works featuring mouse protagonists and a sequel to her 1995 title Halloween Mice!, this book continues her exploration of similar themes. Illustrator Maryjane Begin operates out of Providence, Rhode Island.
Thematic analysis
Peter F. Neumeyer from The Boston Globe regarded A Mouse Told His Mother as a counterpart to Helen Cooper’s 1997 book The Boy Who Wouldn't Go to Bed, noting that both stories share a central theme of a child resisting bedtime while embarking on imaginative journeys.
Release and reception
First announced in July 1996, A Mouse Told His Mother was released by Little, Brown in April 1997 and received critical acclaim. Publishers Weekly commended it as "an enchanting picture book...[featuring] Roberts's succinct prose" that pairs seamlessly with Begin's intricate and expansive illustrations, drawing readers into the young mouse’s imaginative realm. Both the Worcester Telegram & Gazette and Stephanie Loer of The Boston Globe emphasized the captivating large-format artwork. Loer summarized the book as "a top-tier bedtime story... rich in fantasy, enjoyment, and adventure, ultimately succeeding in soothing children to sleep."
Reviews from Kirkus Reviews and the journal Language Arts noted the conversational interplay between mother and son, reminiscent of Margaret Wise Brown’s classic The Runaway Bunny. Both Publishers Weekly and Christy Norris writing for the School Library Journal highlighted the book’s effective use of repetitive phrasing described as "skillful" and "soothing."
Ilene Cooper of Booklist shared these favorable opinions, as did Norris: "Charming... thoughtful and beautifully illustrated... Begin’s artwork skillfully merges the mouse’s fantasies with his reality. For example, when he imagines piloting an airplane, his patchwork quilt transforms into the landscape below."