Of all the mice occupying the schoolhouse, only young Flora is interested in eavesdropping on the lessons taught to human children. Little by little, she begins to make sense out of the black scrawls in books. Realizing the benefits of education (which includes recognizing the word "poison" on a bag of pellets), Flora refuses to leave her place of study when her family decides to migrate to the field. Flora is lonely until a handsome white mouse named Buck enters the scene. But before long her family returns, in need of Flora's teaching. Both eager and reluctant readers will relish Flora's quest to become educated as well as her amusing exchanges with her scruffy, tailless father, Ragged Robin; her no-nonsense mother, Hyacinth; and fastidious, nearsighted Buck, all of whose traits are hilariously embellished in Fisher's imaginative illustrations. As always, King-Smith's lovable animal characters reveal truths about human nature. His rendition of Flora as a misunderstood scholar is as charming as his portrayal of Babe the gallant pig. Ages 7-10.

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Dick King-Smith loves animals -even this little mouse who learns to read, much to her families annoyance, and then becomes a great heroine.

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This book's author is Dick King-Smith, who wrote "Babe, the Gallant Pig" on which the movie "Babe" was based. Supposedly it is a children's book (ages 7-10), but I disagree with that. PBS does too, as it is not listed for these ages on the book's page.

The book's pretended aim is to encourage children how to read. I think the author really uses it to vent his interests in child violence, racism, sexism and casual sex.

Flora, the main character, is a young female mouse from a litter of 10. Her nine brothers and sisters are either poisoned, or killed and eaten by foxes, owls or weasels. While the author doesn't describe their deaths in detail, their deaths might traumatize young readers. Her mother's next litter of nine doesn't last long either. In fact, Flora, when seeing one of her brothers eating poison, doesn't even bother to warn him or even call 911. What does such callowness teach a child?

Flora's father is often depicted as an air-head. What will this teach young children about their fathers?

When Flora first sees Buck, an escaped pet mouse, she describes him as being a "ghastly, ghostly, white," instead of the better "grey brown" of her own race, As such, she exhibits racism. Yet they eventually become lovers without befit of clergy. By the end of the book Flora becomes pregnant. These are yet other inappropriate lessons for young readers.

However, I ached for Flora when Buck severely beats her father, leaving him permanently lamed. But then they all pass it off as a minor incident. Are we now teaching children that violence against others is to be tolerated?

This are the reasons I only gave it one star.

So I won't be posting my copy here. I'll dispose of it in another way, at the Small Free Library at the state park where I volunteer. But, as of today, there are 19 other copies posted on PBS.

(Hey, if you can't have occasional fun with a review...... )

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