If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

Laura Numeroff created a delightful book with If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.

It all starts when the little boy in the book gives a mouse a cookie.  A nice gesture – which leads to some interesting consequences which include mirrors, scissors, drawing a picture… and some how it all leads back to where it started – with a cookie.

The story is fun, but it wouldn’t be a book without Felicia Bond’s illustrations. Her pictures are delightful and really help propel the story along.  At the end of the book, the little boy is obviously exhausted by all the demands the mouse puts on him.  (Which is a fun way to teach preschoolers about how to ask for things.  Several times I remember saying to my kids, especially at lunch time, “I feel like the boy in If You Give a Mouse a Cookie!” as I dramatically flopped onto a chair.  Then we’d practice saying “please” and “thank you” and waiting patiently for help.)

If Numeroff’s books aren’t in your library already, I’d highly recommend you adding them.  Even young children who cannot read will enjoy looking at the pictures and telling themselves the stories.

Other books in this series:

• If You Give a Pig a Pancake
  
• If You Give a Moose a Muffin
  
• If You Give a Pig a Party
  
• If You Give a Cat a Cupcake
  
• If You Take a Mouse to School
  
• If You Take a Mouse to the Movies