I am repeating a post today for the first time ever. I posted this back in 2012. It’s one of my favorite books and so I’m going to share it with you again. If you haven’t read it, you must! I learned about this book when Sylvie Frank read it to us 2012 Rocky Mountain SCBWI conference. I loved her reading and have read this book over and over many times since.
One is a Feast for Mouse: A Thanksgiving Tale
Written by Judy Cox
Illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler
Holiday House 2008
Ages 4-8
Themes: Holidays, Thanksgiving
Synopsis: (from Kirkus) Mouse creeps out on Thanksgiving Day as the human family enjoys its post-prandial nap. He spots a pea on the uncleared table, and then a cranberry, then an olive, then a carrot stick…Thinking to himself, “One is a feast for me,” he soon amasses one of everything, until a tower of food teeters on its base of one pea. Ebbeler’s full-bleed, double-page spreads make the most of the humor made available by situation and scale—spot the bespectacled mouse dwarfed by his pile as he marches past Pilgrim salt-and-pepper shakers just his size. Greed goeth before a fall, however, in a slapstick climax children will relish.
Opening: After Thanksgiving dinner Mouse crept out of his hidey-hole and looked around. The house was quiet. Dad snoozed in his chair with his book. Mom dozed in front of the TV. Outside, the kids played football in the crisp yellow leaves. Cat curled up by the fire. He yawned and stretched his stripy tail. Then he closed his greeny eyes and went to sleep. Mouse scampered up the tablecloth. Thanksgiving leftovers were still on the table. So much to eat! Mouse saw a teensy-tiny, toothsome, green pea all by itself under a plate. Give thanks, he thought. One will be a feast for me.
View the adorable book trailer.
Resources: Resources on Holiday House website include activities for Language Arts and for Mathematics. Draw your favorite food activity on pages 24-25 of this activity guide. HERE is a link to some Thanksgiving activities.
Why I Like This Book: As I said, this book is charming. It is a humorous tale, with plenty of action, where readers will recognize Mouse’s temptation to be greedy and, in the end, his thankfulness for the little things. Judy Cox’s uses words that beg to be repeated such as catter-whumpus, toothsome, greeny, and stripy. Although I was too far away to see the illustrations when Sylvie read to us at the conference, I was completely engaged. After picking up a copy at my library, I was even more taken by the text when merged with the artwork. The illustrations by Jeffrey Ebbeler (who, also, illustrated some of our own Susanna Leonard Hill’s books) are from Mouse’s perspective. Your mood will be very Thanksgiving-y after reading this fun story!
Susanna Leonard Hill features Perfect Picture Book Friday on her blog. This is a wonderful resource if you are wondering what books to give as gifts, needing material for a lesson, or just looking for a great book to read. Here is a list of books by category. Each book listed has a link to a review, information about that book, and resources for activities. There is also an alphabetical list.
Glad you served this up again, since I missed the first round! Clever and adorable. :0)
Happy Thanksgiving Weekend to you and yours.
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When I was a kid I would have agreed that one pea was definitely enough! even for me…. this sounds like a fun book to share. Gotta find it.
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Hope your library has it, Sue! It is definitely fun and a good one to study. Really nice language!
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Oh, this looks wonderful! I will be checking this out pronto. I can’t believe that Thanksgiving is this Thursday! Happy Thanksgiving to you and thank you for the great suggestion!
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Happy Thanksgiving to you, too! Hope you get to read this one soon 🙂
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I’m pinning! I’m a sucker for books featuring mice:)
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Me too! Their so cute in PBs! Have you read A VISITOR FOR BEAR? It’s one of my all time faves!
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Oh, dear. After watching the trailer, I hope this story has a happy ending! 😀 I love the illustrations, and the alliteration. Would be fun to read aloud, I’m sure!
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It’s really cute and you’ll like the ending 🙂
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I’m so glad you relisted this. I thought I had added it to the links under my review but must have messed up. Perfect book choice!
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Thanks! I just love this book!
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Oh this does sound fun! thanks for the seconds on this book. 🙂
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Thanksgiving is all about “seconds”, Clar 😉
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So glad you got the j oke! So often my sense of humor isn’t gotten. 🙂
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Lovin’ the language – gotta read it!
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Do you remember Sylvie Frank reading it to us at the conference, Julie? I loved listening!
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That was my first conference, Penny. Some points shine, the rest is still a blur!
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Delightful book and such a great message at this time of year. And I adore Jeff’s illustrations. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting him a couple times out here in Cincinnati. Thanks for sharing Penny.
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Thanks for coming by Keila! I love his illustrations, too. He can sure bring the story 🙂
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The book sounds super cute. I’ll add it to my list. Wonderful review, Penny!
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It really is adorable, Robin. I hope you find it. Thanks for coming by 🙂
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Great trailer!!! I LOVE the music.
Thanks!
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I know! Isn’t it fun???
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Great choice! Love the trailer!
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It always makes a review come to life when you have a great trailer!
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I’m late to the party. Someone mentioned this is crit group today about Sylvie Frank’s presentation. I wrote it down. I wish there was a way to automatically linke the PPBF list to my library list. Hmm.
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I do it on Pinterest. I pin it on a Books I Want to Read board and then I look it up on my smart phone at the library. Works dandy!
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I am especially fond of this book because, in case you didn’t notice, it was illustrated by Jeff Ebbeler who illustrated Punxsutawney Phyllis and April Fool, Phyllis! It’s a very fun story, and perfect with Thanksgiving coming along! Thanks for adding it to our list 🙂
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Yes…I mentioned that in my post!!! I did notice.
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Sounds adorable! Love the cover!
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It’s awesome! I read it again today!
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Penny, this sound adorable and the mouse on the cover is just too cute! Thanks for sharing!
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It is very adorable. One I will read over and over again! Thanks for stopping by!
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Fun Thanksgiving books are hard to find. This one looks great. Love the illos too. Thanks for sharing, Penny!
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You’re welcome! I sooo enjoyed having it read aloud to me at the conference!!! I fell in love with it.
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I thought I recognized that illustrator. Thanks for this recommendation, Penny. I really need to beef up (or turkey up?) my Thanksgiving collection. And I love Holiday House books!
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I know….before I read the illustrator’s name I was thinking there was something familiar! Then *hits forehead* of course….Susanna’s Phyllis books!
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Cute book and trailer. What a fun read. Thanks!
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Thanks for dropping by Darshana! I’m thinking about buying this book…Eeekkk….I want them all!
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You had me at hidey-hole! But catter-whumpus? Off to la biblioteca for me!
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You went to spam!!! I think it was the foreign speak 🙂 But I got you out of that ol’ spammy folder! Thanks for stopping by. You will love the cute language.
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Such a fun and clever book. I loved watching the trailer. Great selection for the upcoming holidays.
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Thanks, Pat. Glad you enjoyed the trailer. This book teaches a great lesson in the cutest way.
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Looks like I really enjoyed this book. Sorry for the two submissions — didn’t think the first one took. You could delete one if you like.
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This looks great, Penny! We have tons of Halloween and Christmas books, but not many Thanksgiving ones. I’ll look for it.
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I know…it seems there aren’t as many of those. I think I’m going to do another one before Thanksgiving. I have one in mind.
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Love the trailer, Penny! This looks like such a fun book. I need to look for this at the library TODAY! Fantastic choice for pre-Turkey Day!
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I hope you found it! I’m sure it’s a very popular check out as we get closer to November.
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Isn’t that trailer awesome? It gives you a nice little preview of how awesome the book is. Glad your son enjoyed it!
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My son cracked up at that trailer, so cute! It sounds Adorable!
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