The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse
Two mice visit one another and discover that different places offer different comforts and worries.
A story to read together
The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse
Take your time. Let the story unfold.
A country mouse invited a cousin from town to visit. The country mouse lived near a quiet meadow, where the air smelled of grass and the nights were peaceful. The town mouse arrived with stories about bright streets and busy markets.
A peaceful country meal
The cousins shared seeds, berries and a little bread. The town mouse enjoyed the quiet but thought the meal was plain. The country mouse liked the food and the calm evening.
A busy town
In town, the cousins found a table covered with delicious food. Just as they began to eat, a door opened and footsteps came near. The mice hurried into a crack in the wall.
Different comforts
The town mouse was used to the noise and knew where to hide. The country mouse missed the open meadow and the quiet meal they had shared.
Choosing what feels like home
The cousins said goodbye kindly. The country mouse returned to the meadow, and the town mouse visited again when the streets were calm.
The end
After the final page
There is no single right answer. Invite young readers to notice, wonder and imagine.
What does each mouse enjoy about the other’s home?
Which place would you choose, and why?
What did each mouse enjoy, and what made the other home uncomfortable?
Make something: Make a two-column picture chart: “Country Mouse likes…” and “Town Mouse likes…” Add one thing both cousins enjoy.
