The Most Famous Literary Mice Pests

 

The Most Famous Literary Mice Pests

In this blog we look at some of the most famous mice from books and determine their status as pests, pets, or other.  

Stuart Little

Book – Stuart Little

Author – E.B. White

About the Mouse – Created in 1945, Stuart Little was E.B. White’s first book and one of the first children’s novels to feature an anthropomorphized mouse as the main protagonist. Stuart is raised as the second child in a human family with an active New York City lifestyle.

Pest Status – As the Little parents are said to love Stuart just as much as their first and human son, George, it is safe to say that Stuart would not be qualified as a pest. It may also seem weird to classify him as a pet as well due to his active acceptance and participation in the family. However, many pets today have highly active family-life and are treated as family as they are dressed in clothing, given gifts, and even show up in family portraits. So, with this in mind, we consider Stuart’s status as a pet/family member.

 

 

Despereaux Tilling

Book – The Tale of Despereaux

Author – Kate DiCamillo

About the Mouse – Poor little Despereaux is the only mouse in his litter to survive and, to make matters even harder for him, he has a set of peculiarities, including being very small but with massively oversized ears, that make growing up very difficult. But soon, Despereaux begins to explore the wide world around him, falls in love, escapes a terrifying dungeon, and valiantly rescues a human princess.

Pest Status – While Despereaux may have started out his life as a mouse that would be considered a ‘pest,’ his incredible heroic feats earn him the status of “other,” more specifically, a hero.

 

 

 

Bruce

Book – If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

Author – Laura Joffe Numeroff

About the Mouse – This book is often used to teach young children cause and effect. With each action from the child in the book, comes a new reaction/request from the mouse. “If you give a mouse a cookie, he’s going to ask for a glass of milk. When you give him the milk, he’ll probably ask you for a straw…” This pattern goes on and on throughout the book and the fun story became so popular that it lead to a mini-series of similar books including If You Take a Mouse to School and If You Give a Moose a Muffin.

Pest Status – Bruce may wear overalls and be able to talk, but his actions are nothing short of pestering, earning him the status of pest.

 

 

 

Matthias the Warrior

Book – Redwall

Author – Brian Jacques

About the Mouse – Matthias lives in Redwall Abbey, but when it is suddenly attacked by the  ruthless Cluny the Scourage, Redwall embarks on a quest to locate a legendary weapon to defeat Cluny’s horde and restore Redwall.

Pest Status – Similar to Desperaux, the actions of Matthias earn him the title of “hero” instead of a classification as a pest… although, he is quite a pest to the antagonist.

 

 

Ralph S. Mouse

Book – The Mouse & the Motorcycle

Author – Beverly Cleary

About the Mouse – Ralph lives in the Mountain View Inn with his family but is very interested in the world outside of the old inn walls. While there, he and his family scavenge for crumbs as sustenance and sneakily go through the items that guests bring through the hotel.

Pest Status – While Ralph does end up riding a toy motorcycle and going on some exciting adventures, he and his family are very clearly pests in the Mountain View Inn.

 

 

Citations

If you give a mouse a cookie…you teach cause and effect (no date) Scholastic. Available at: https://www.scholastic.com/parents/books-and-reading/raise-a-reader-blog/if-you-give-mouse-cookie-cause-effect-examples.html (Accessed: December 27, 2021).

The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary (Paperback) (no date) Scholastic Book Clubs. Available at: https://clubs.scholastic.com/the-mouse-and-the-motorcycle/9780590687331-rco-us.html?cgid=6_1&rrec=true (Accessed: December 27, 2021).

Stuart Little by E. B. White (Paperback) (no date) Scholastic Book Clubs. Available at: https://clubs.scholastic.com/stuart-little/9780590406208-rco-us.html?cgid=6_1 (Accessed: December 27, 2021).

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (Paperback) (no date) Scholastic Book Clubs. Available at: https://clubs.scholastic.com/the-tale-of-despereaux/9780439701679-rco-us.html?cpid=res637762328868634277&cpos=0&cst=the+tale+of+de&csubtype=Product&ctype=Visual&kcid=9780439701679-rco-us (Accessed: December 27, 2021).