Picture Book Review: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

Picture Book

Title: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

Author: Laura Numeroff

Publisher: HarperCollins

Copyright date: November 20, 1985

Number of Pages: 40

Awards: Alabama Children's Choice Book Award, K–1 (1986–87), California Young Reader Medal (1988), Colorado Children's Book Award (1988), Georgia Children’s Picture Story Book Award (1988), Nevada Young Readers’ Award (1988–89), Buckeye Children’s Book Award, K–2 (Ohio) (1989), Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award (1994), Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award (1994), Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Blue Chip Classic Award (1994)

Reading Level: Reader Jr. "I can do it"

Generally appropriate for 1st Grade to 3rd Grade. These books are appropriate for the fluent reader who is able to grasp and follow a simple story. The equal balance of text and white space creates an environment that won't intimidate a developing reader.

Lexile: 660L

Genre: Children’s Literature, Fiction, Fantasy

Summary:

This is a story about a boy and a mouse.  The mouse wants a cookie and when the boy gives him a cookie it leads to a long list of other things the mouse will want to have. The cause and effect pattern continues with the mouse continually asking the boy for more and more items after he has received the items he requests. At the end of the book when the mouse asks for another glass of milk, will he ask for a cookie or something else to go with it?
Academic Purpose:

The main elements of this book are making predictions and cause and effect relationships. The book begins by stating, "If you give a mouse a cookie," which then leads to, "he's going to ask for a glass of milk." This is the result of cause and effect, which simply is the reason something happens, and the effect is what happens as a result. The whole book demonstrates what happens when the mouse receives a cookie, milk, straw, napkin, etc. The book is a great way to teach young children about making predictions while reading a story.

Since learning about cause and effect relationships is a standard students need to learn and become proficient in, I would use this book in a cause and effect lesson. I would gather my students at the carpet and explain what cause and effect relationships are. Then, I would read the book to the students. Then, I would have the students play a cause and effect (Give a Mouse a Cookie) board game to practice the skills they just learned.

Rating System:

Categories:	5 Stars	3 Stars	1 Star	Comments
Style and Language	The book anticipates readers’ questions and uses great word choice for the age targeted. It has linear progression and communicates its point clearly.	The book follows a linear progression, with some unclear points. The word choice is okay.	The book is confusing as it doesn’t follow a linear progression at all. The vocabulary in the book is either too simple or too complex for the age group targeted.	This book uses great word choice for the age targeted. There is not many vocabulary words. The books style and language creates a great book for young readers, because of its repetition in words and predictability.   5 stars
Plot and Character Development	The plot is in depth and helps to create a picture in the reader’s mind. The plot is organized having a beginning, middle, and end. The character development is strong.	The plot is okay. The book is organized with a beginning, middle, and end. The characters are well developed.	The book is confusing and doesn’t have a clear beginning, middle, or end.	The plot is all about giving a mouse the things he requests. This book doesn’t really have a beginning, middle, or end. This book just has a series of events. The characters in this book, the mouse and the little boy, are very active and creative in the book. The characters keep the readers on their toes, because you never know what will come next. 3 stars
Interest	The book holds real life situations which draw the reader in. The word choice and story hold the reader’s attention. The book is suitable for the age group targeted.	The book holds little interest and draws the reader in sometimes. The book is suitable for the age group targeted.	The book is very boring and doesn’t hold the reader’s attention. The book is not suitable for the age group targeted.	This book is suitable for the age targeted.  It is a story that teaches responsibility, while providing humor at the same time. The illustrations along with the story, are very kid friendly and can easily hold a student’s attention along with get them thinking.   5 stars
Educational Value	The book is relatable to education. The book can be integrated into other content areas.	The book is relatable to education. The book may need further resources to help connect it to other content areas.	The book is not relatable to education whatsoever. The book is not appropriate to be integrated into other content areas.	This book is relatable to education. This book teaches the elements of cause and effect relationships and predictions.         5 star