nine: mouse noses on toast by daren king

Mouse Noses on Toast by Daren King,

review published in Allen & Unwin Teachers Reviews, 2007 online

Mouse Noses silly title grabbed us, rewarding us with an introduction to Paul Mouse and his wonderful assortment of friends. We met Sandra, the houseproud Christmas decoration, shaggy sheepdog Rowley Barker Hobbs, and the Tinby; a sort of monster, though smaller than a monster and a lot more fun to be around. What happens when they venture beyond their overgrown garden home? Paul Mouse has a cheese allergy; if he stood near a tasty cheddar his bottom would turn blue, the fur would fall out and his tail would curl up like a question mark. Paul is forced to sit on a cheddar chair early on, so spends the book running about trying to hide his bare blue bottom. But Mouse Noses is not all about Paul’s blue bottom, or about how he conquers his allergy. While treating themselves to a posh meal after Paul’s ordeal, the friends discover humans eating a prized dish – mouse noses on toast… with whiskers or without! The mouse population is horrified. The Tinby incites them to action. Mouse Noses to their middle primary classes and discuss political action, belief in a cause, friendship and conquering fears, or they may turn blue with laughter. Mouse Noses will leave readers feeling cheerful and triumphant. But will they eat mouse noses with whiskers, or without?

 

The promise of

These pocket-sized political activists, led by cowardly Larry, march across the restaurant floor chanting protest songs and waving cardboard signs proclaiming ‘Hands off our noses!’ Their crusade takes them to the Prime Minister and out of town to sabotage the Mouse Noses Abattoir. What happens there can only be revealed by reading right to the end. Despite my humanness I was cheering for the mouses! David Roberts’ delightfully whimsical line drawings complement King’s story perfectly. Teachers may read