The Church House Mouse

In this Christian activity book for children, debut author Mureen presents a simple sermon in the story of a wayward mouse.

Ralph enjoys attending church with his sisters and parents. During one sermon, the pastor speaks passionately about turning to God in times of trouble. Little does Ralph know that he will soon need this advice. After a conflict with his siblings, he runs away from home and follows his curious nose right into a cage trap. Although he is, at first, overcome with fear, he soon recalls the sermon and prays for God’s help. Through a series of miraculous and unexpected events, he finally finds his way back to the safety of his home and the love of his family. After the story, which takes up only about two-thirds of the book, the author provides extensive activities for both beginning and advanced readers. Some involve review questions about the story and word definitions, while others are more Christian-focused, such as a Bible-oriented word search. Also, it appears as if many of the illustrations have been intentionally left uncolored so that children may complete them. Naturally, this book will appeal mostly to Christian children, and their parents may especially be interested in the lesson it teaches and the engaging activities it offers. Although the anthropomorphism seems over-the-top at some points (for example, it’s difficult to imagine a mouse handling a miniature knife to cut a tiny cake), it allows for a creative story that wouldn’t be possible otherwise. The backmatter is extremely well-thought-out in its aim to be both entertaining and educational. However, the story questions seem overly rigid, as readers might come up with different, equally valid answers to the ones supplied. That said, the questions will certainly lead readers to a deeper understanding of the text and its Christian message.

A charming and engaging religious tale for kids.