Books on mice are twice as nice as having houses full of mice: children’s books about mice

We have a mouse—or maybe we have mice—scampering through our house in broad daylight, without a care in the world, happy as can be. The traps are apparently no trouble to avoid, the treats in the traps are apparently not appealing at all, and every day I am able to get a little closer to this darling, stealthy little creature. But I can’t get close enough to catch him.

I would like to live in a mouse-free house one day. And I would like that day to come soon. But I am at peace with the fact that this situation seems to be beyond my control. Weeks ago we engaged professional help. My husband and I are on a first-name basis with our pest control man, who is baffled.

“I’ve never had a mouse I couldn’t catch,” he told me this week. He mentioned that his wife had suggested that maybe I was imagining seeing it.

“You don’t understand,” he told her. “She showed me a picture!”

I don’t know how to break it to him that I have more pictures.

And a video.

I’ve also started talking to the mouse, rather than yelling, “Eeeeeek! Go get your father!”

While we are sharing our space with at least one mouse, I find myself thinking of the many books where mice are portrayed beautifully, either as main or supporting characters.

I’ve captured a few favorites here—some mine and others recommended by friends and family. I’d love to hear yours.

Ralph S. Mouse, The Mouse and the Motorcycle, and Runaway Ralph

Mouse House by Rumer Godden

And who could forget Reepicheep in Prince Caspian and Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis?

Mouse Soup and Mouse Tales by Arnold Lobel

Frederick by Leo Lionni

The King, the Mice, and the Cheese (out of print, but so wonderful)

The “Mouse’s First” series by Lauren Thompson

What I really love is this poem that one of my sisters remembered. It’s lovely, and it makes me feel better about sharing my home with mice.

Goodness. Maybe mice books are like mice themselves. There are always more there than you realize. What am I missing? Have I overlooked one of your favorites? If we expanded to include rats, we’d have so many more!