Mr. Maxwell's Mouse

Reading this to the Littles was an interesting experience.

On the one hand, they enjoyed the voices I gave as I read it aloud, especially the soft-spoken, polite mouse about to be eaten. They also were excited to guess what would happen next, very certain that the little mouse would escape.

On the other hand, when I asked them if this was a book to keep in their library or to donate, it was voted "donate." One Little cited the appearance of blood as something she didn't like, the other Little didn't think it would be a book she'd honestly like to read again.

So, we put this book in the Donate Box, the first book I've given them to be put there. It was bound to happen one day. I'm rating it 3 stars because I think they did enjoy it but show more just not enough for a second read, which I too experience in a lot in my reading life. Once is sometimes enough. show less

The word that comes to my mind is macabre. The mouse reminds me of trickster heroes like Br'er Rabbit. The level of detail in the dialogue and in the pictures makes it clear that this isn't for little children, so the blood shouldn't come as too much of a shock. Spend a little time with it. Don't expect it to resemble [b:Mooncake|315851|Mooncake|Frank Asch|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173706955s/315851.jpg|2988976] at all. I found it intelligent and more than superficially provocative, and if it encourages kids to become vegetarians, more power to them and to Mother Earth.

This is a genuinely strange book. The art is a decadent, hyper-real update on deco, and isn't afraid of showing a drop of blood. The story is like a knowing take on Grimm, prodding at the civilised veneer which overlays brute savagery to form civilisation. There are flickers of dry comedy. It's a great story for kids, but unfortunately the prose itself feels padded; it's not that there are too many pages, but too many words on each page. Toying with his prey at great length is fun for Maxwell, but asks a lot of a kid's staying power. But this is an original, the dark obverse of Asch & Son's Baby Duck's New Friend.

I love love love this book. In fact, I am going to purchase a copy as soon as possible because I want to read it many more times. I love seeing cats in a "sophisticated" world and going through more advanced emotions, such as Mr. Maxwell not being able to kill the mouse on his own. I love the cleverness of the mouse and how it manipulates Mr. Maxwell, which led to his, and all of his mice friends, escapes. Although this book is a little weird, I loved it. I also thought the illustrations were amazing. The pictures really made the story more intense and intriguing. (Sorry, I am losing what I want to say as I am saying it).

This creeps me out so I have to give it one star fewer. Mr. Maxwell, a cat, goes to an upscale restaurant and orders a fresh mouse. It arrives on a piece of toast. Mr. Maxwell salts it and prepares to cut into it, when it engages him in what becomes a protracted negotiation to save its life. (I guess I'm using "it" here because I'm still so yucked out by the live mouse about to be speared by the fork)
Dark toned paintings in a 1920's style give this a rich background, and the cleverness of the mouse will engage readers in grades 2 and up. Good for persuasive mentor text

Mr. Maxwell is a cat who is going out to eat at his favorite restaurant. Because he is celebrating a special occasion, he doesn't get his usual meal and instead gets a live mouse to eat. Before Mr. Maxwell is able to eat, the mouse has a seemingly innocent conversation with him. The mouse gets into Mr. Maxwell's head and convinces him to cover his eyes when he eats him; and when he does, the mouse escapes. The mouse frees all the other mice in the restaurant, then proceeds to go to many other restaurants to free all the other mice from being eaten.

This dark tale is quite a departure from the "Moonbear" books and others that Frank Asch is known for. This story is of a cat who is about to eat a live mouse in a restaurant, and about their conversations together about it. Devin Asch, Frank Asch's son, is the illustrator, and these are very intricate, dark illustrations, quite a departure from Frank Asch's very colorful, simple paintings. It's an extremely delightful tale that will enchant children from elementary age on up, as well as adults.