Book Title: Mooneymouse
Author: Helen and Alf Evers
Publisher: Tip Top Elf / Rand McNally
Year Published: 1958
Availability: Click for an available copy from Amazon
My son’s picture book library consisted of almost 1000 books. I always enjoyed reading him Tip Top Elf and Golden Books. Mooneymouse was one of my favorites from Tip Top Elf.
Mooneymouse is a simple story, some might say a little too simple and a bit too didactic. The late 1950s seems to have been a time for major book publishers to allow their authors to teach life lessons to their readers. This is done in Mooneymouse with a lovable little daydreaming mouse which was wonderfully drawn by, I assume, Alf Evers.
Mooneymouse goes on adventures just like any little child might, but Mooneymouse has some struggles along the way. Most, if not all of his struggles happen because Mooneymouse daydreams a lot. He is told that dreaming should happen only at night. The basic plot of the book or lesson to be taught is that one should stay focused on the task at hand and leave the dreaming for later (bedtime in this case).
Some people might look at this book through today’s world and society and believe it’s saying to never dream. Instead, I think it’s saying there is a right time to dream and that focus and determination in completing one’s task is a good thing. Sometimes we tend to read too much into a book. I like to err on the side of simplicity and the simple times in which classics such as Mooneymouse were written. This book was written in 1958, not 2018. For those who aren’t math majors, this was 60 years ago. If you want to teach your child to be focused and to have concentration, this could teach such a lesson and the illustrations are just a joy to view. A warning for those who dislike the 1950s and those simpler times, Mooneymouse rushes home to the safety of his loving mother’s embrace after his troubles. She’s a stay at home mom. Oh my! : )
If you’ve read Mooneymouse to your children or grandchildren, we’d love to know your thoughts on this tale from Helen and Alf Evers.
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