Lawrence Di Fiori

An adorable childhood favorite about a mouse who loves to drink tea and read on rainy days, which honestly explains a lot about the type of person I turned out to be. The depiction of friendship--the genuine acceptance of each other and unconditional help offered--warms my heart. The illustrations are wonderful.

Frankie Frog invites Muffin Mouse to come out and play, but it’s beginning to rain and the wind is blowing, so the little mouse stays inside her house, drinking strawberry tea and reading her favorite book. Suddenly the roof begins to leak and a strong wind makes the house shake. Then it blows Muffin’s house down.

Now Muffin needs a new home; Frankie and Muffin go to see Pack Rat Pete, hoping he will have something just right for the little mouse’s new home. Pete is anxious to help show more Muffin find a home. There’s a milk carton, but it’s too small. A big wooden box is too plain and a yellow rubber boot is too wobbly. Pete offers Muffin a blue bottle, but everyone could see inside. Is there no home for Muffin Mouse?

Suddenly Frankie Frog has an idea. He takes Muffin to the weeds near his house. What is Frankie’s idea? Will it help Muffin Mouse find a new home?

This colorfully-illustrated Golden Super Shape book is one of three Little Golden Books about Muffin Mouse; this one is in the shape of Muffin’s new house. Part of the Look-Look series, this adult-directed story has an early primary grade level, first and second grades.

Young readers will enjoy the story of Muffin’s search for a new house while parents will appreciate the positive problem-solving as well as the depiction of friendship exhibited between the animals and the way in which they happily help each other without hesitation.

Highly recommended. show less

It's a slow-moving story, but I like the retro feel and unusual storyline. The black-and-white illustrations work well. Di Diori also uses the word "repugnant." Not for every reader, but I like it.

Muffin Mouse was in her house drinking strawberry tea when her friend the frog came by to visit her. He had asked her if she wanted to go outside and play in the rain and wind. Muffin Mouse did not like to play in the rain and wind, so she decided to stay inside her home to finish her tea. All of sudden she felt a rain drop fall from the ceiling, she could also hear the wind get louder, and soon her house tumbled to the ground. Both frog and Muffin Mouse went looking for a new home for her. show more She went by Pack Rat Pete's home and did not find a new home to live in. Frog then realizes that there is tea pot near his home, so they went to look at it. Muffin Mouse fell in love with the new home and decided that it will never leak.Discuss, write, or draw the places Mouse
goes in the story.

Very cute book! I really like how the type of things we throw out as garbage can easily be used as a home. Classroom extension; have the students create a map of the story, complete with a map key using symbols of the places and also show them how to create maps of their school or classroom and mark all of the places where the school day takes them. show less