The Story of the Jumping Mouse

The Story of the Jumping Mouse  

Author: John Steptoe  

Publisher: Harper Collins

Published Date: 1985

Number of pages: 36

Reading Level: 3rd-5th grade
Genre: Western
Caldecott Honor Books, Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration

This book is about a mouse and his journey to reach the far-off land. This journey will be challenging and he will need to seek help along the way. At the beginning of the story the mouse meets a frog who gives him magical powers to help him jump. This is how he gets his name Jumping Mouse. 

I would rate this book an ADVISABLE. I enjoyed this book and I feel that it would be a challenging book for readers. I thought it was interesting how the illustrator chose not use color in his images. I am not sure that this would be a popular book for the students to choose. I think that this book would serve a great purpose in teacher Native American history. I appreciated that the story did not give the ending away.

I would use this book while talking about Native American history. This is a Native American Legend and reveals several signs of the Native culture. I would read this book to the students to get them thinking about different aspects of Native culture. I would instruct students to construct a double journal entry. On one side of the paper I would have students list what they already know about Native culture. On the opposite side I would have them list things that they think relate to Native culture from the story.

Ratings

ESSENTIAL: It would be beneficial if the school library had at least one copy of this book. This is a book that students could find interest in, and also serves an educational purpose. This book may be challenging for the students, but it will help them grow academically and help them improve their education skills.

ADVISABLE: 'ESSESNTIAL' books are the most important and these books are next on the important list. These books are still beneficial to the students and could also be a popular genre, but it may lack in in the substance for educational purposes. The education purpose would focus more on students reading and comprehension, whereas an advisable book would be more for the enjoyment.

OPTIONAL: Books are interesting for the teachers and would follow the curriculum. This book would not support the students and their growth as readers. These books would help provide students with a variety of options, but they are not common or the most popular books.

NOT RECOMMENDED: These books would not be appropriate. The writing, theme, or plot should not be supported.