An inquisitive field mouse ventures from his nest for the first time and encounters various creatures—big and small, friend and foe—all while learning and teaching readers about the habitat of a meadow.
Wallace uses digital media to create photo-realistic spreads for his rhyming adventure. The focus is on one particularly charming mouse whose curiosity leads him to have informative conversations with the likes of a web-spinning spider, an industrious bee, a caterpillar beginning its transformation and a wise box turtle. “The mouse gave his attention to the turtle’s candid words, / Which warned the mouse of hidden snakes and predatory birds. / So far he was fond of all the dwellers in this ’hood, / That is until he came upon a patch of rotting wood….” In dramatic scenes, a sinuous snake and a fearsome owl come close to harming the little rodent. But there are tender, rosy-hued moments in which he shares a furry rabbit’s burrow and wondrous ones in which the mouse first discovers a group of fireflies. Most impressive is the perspective—always from the mouse’s big eyes. As the mouse’s adventures come to a close, the tiny creature meets up with another of his kind who promises friendship and perhaps a bit of romance at the close. . . . the book has undeniable child appeal. (notes, suggested activities) (Picture book. 5-8)
— Kirkus Reviews (January 15, 2014)
When March winds blow the first day of spring to your stoop, it is the perfect time to enjoy The Mouse and the Meadow with your child—especially those ages 4-10. Author-illustrator Chad Wallace has created a beautiful and engaging book detailing the adventures of a naive mouse as he encounters his fellow meadow dwellers—animal and insect alike. While they enjoy the lively tale, little readers are slyly introduced to concepts like the food chain, animal altruism, and metamorphosis.
Even pre-readers will be drawn into “The Meadow” by the free app, which can be installed on your iOS or Android tablet or smartphone. The app narrates the story, while enabling the pages to burst forth in 3-D. With a tap of the finger, the adorable characters move: the mouse takes off in a surprising scurry, the box turtle rears his head, and snoozing baby bunnies open their drowsy eyes. The whole family will be charmed by this fun, new way to enjoy story time.
— New York Parenting Magazine – Lisa Curtis (March 2014)
n this adventure-in-verse, an endearing little rodent sets out to explore his meadow world. Youngsters will learn about pollinating bees, chrysalis-spinning caterpillars and warren-dwelling rabbits, even as they thrill to the title character’s brushes with dangerous predators. Through skillful rendering, author/illustrator Chad Wallace creates a mouse and other animal characters that are both realistic and expressive: the snake is believably menacing, and the mother rabbit and her sleeping kits are gentle and snuggly. The art fully conveys a meadow ecosystem and invites the child reader to experience it as the mouse does, scampering through grass as tall as saplings, escaping owl talons the size of meat hooks and bathing in the wondrous glow of a single firefly. Fascinating back matter expands on the text and includes information on animal communication and altruism and nature-related activities. Scan the back-cover code to access the book’s pop-up app.
— Washington Parent – Mary Quattlebaum (April 2014)
Chad Wallace has created both an exciting, educational adventure and the endearing little critter with big brown eyes who is the adventurer. His little meadow mouse leaves “the comfort of his mother’s nest” to explore his teeming world from its “tangled reeds” to its “flowers, leaves, and weeds” to “a patch of rotting wood”. Along the way he talks to insects, mistakes a box turtle for a rock, is saved from a snake by a weasel, is comforted by a rabbit, and is rescued by an equally endearing little female mouse with whom he chats profoundly under a full moon, ending the book on a happy note and with a question mark.
Wallace has used this opportunity to transit into the world of electronic art. He created the illustrations digitally and prepared the book for both print and ebook production. In addition he helped create the amazing new pop-up app that Dawn Publications is offering to readers free. Loaded onto an Apple or Android mobile device the app (available at iTunes App Store, Amazon App Store, or Google Play) makes the book 3-D, with animation and narration. The magical experience made this jaded adult smile with delight. Even if your primary experience of nature is at DisneyWorld, you don’t want to miss this one.
— Retailing Insight – Anna Jedrziewski (March 5, 2014)
In a story told through rhyming text, a young mouse ventures forth into the meadow where he encounters friends and foes, including a honeybee, a caterpillar, a box turtle, a snake, and a great horned owl. The luminous illustrations are large, often allowing the intrepid adventurer and the creatures he encounters to be seen up close or at other times focusing on one part of an animal such as the snake’s fangs or the owl’s talons.
There is a lesson here about being ready for the challenges each day brings as well as an excellent introduction to the habitat and inhabitants of the meadow. Young readers will enjoy the book and the back matter that extends its content, making it a good choice for an elementary science class.
— ALA Reading Today Online – Barbara A. Ward (March 24, 2014)
I think this book would be a good book for a read aloud book. I would then put it in my book tubs to be independently read by the students. The fact pages at the end of the book could be used as reference material. I would recommend using this during whole group reading. This book covered many of
the common core standards. This text is a good example of a hybrid text that presents both factual information and fictional information. A lesson could be constructed around this idea. It would be a good read aloud but a teacher should take time to compare and contrast the literary features in the book.
My students enjoyed this book. They enjoyed seeing all of the adventures the mouse took. The pictures were outstanding and many students commented on the pictures in a positive way. My students were engaged during the whole group reading and were eager to learn more about the animals in the story. My students enjoyed this book. They enjoyed the illustrations and loved the animals interacting in the story.
— Learning Magazine Teacher’s Choice Award – Reviewer’s comments (Nov. 24, 2014)
Written and illustrated by Chad Wallace, The Mouse and the Meadow follows the journey of a curious young mouse, venturing afield for the very first time. Told in rhyme, the story describes the many animals who share the meadow; some friendly, others not. The illustrations are soft, lifelike, and appealing, while the science is accurate and informative. The book should find a ready audience among children aged 4 to 10. Of particular interest is the free pop-up app developed to go with the book. Simply download the app, hold a tablet or smart phone over the pages, and wait for the illustrations to appear as movable 3D images. On one page, for example, the snake on screen appears to pop out from a branch, while the mouse quickly darts out of sight. Charming and engaging, the book includes a wonderful description of the ecosystem of a meadow, how animals communicate and help one another, and even some activity ideas for the home or classroom. It is a deceptively sophisticated story, conveying a number of complex nature concepts in the guise of a simple tale about the coming-of-age of a mouse.
— Green Teacher Magazine – Ruie Chehak, School Librarian, Neil Armstrong and Peace River Elementary Schools, Port Charlotte FL (Fall 2014)
An adorable meadow mouse describes his new life in the meadow and the dangers and beauty he encounters. The rhyming text works well with the author’s large, detailed and realistic illustrations. Teachers who want science to come alive in their classrooms will relish this book. The Mouse and the Meadow contains a QR code that can be used with a tablet. Augmented Reality is an exciting technology that will only get better and better as designers create and discover more. I love that the reader can hear the story as they use the tablet to hover over the illustrations. If the student touches one of the animals on the screen, they all come alive on the page. I read the book and found it delightful. I scanned the QR code on the back of the book which takes the user to a short video that best shows how to hold the tablet above the book. This is an important step as the perspective becomes more alive when you hold it the right way. I then downloaded the pop-up app that makes everything so magical. My students were intrigued by the combination of technology and book melding together. . . . Teachers who are looking for a unique way to grab their students’ attention will appreciate this book and Augmented Reality. The potential for this technology is infinite and will appeal to our students who have grown up in the digital age. For those building electronic collections, this is a marvelous blend of the old and new. Teachers, students, and library media specialists will be thrilled to have this title and the Augmented Reality feature in their collection. This may be their first experience with Augmented Reality, but I am sure it will not be their last. Highly Recommended
— Library Media Connection – (October 2014)
Read aloud The Mouse and the Meadow in a study on habitats in a meadow. Discuss how the author shares information in a narrative way. Consider using The Mouse and the Meadow as a mentor text in writer’s workshop. After a study of habitats, ask students to write a narrative nonfiction piece emulating The Mouse and the Meadow.
Additionally, the language the author uses brings the story alive. Discuss how the author’s word choice helps develop the story while remaining true to the scientific concepts developed in the story.
Finally, Dawn Publications has created an interactive app to go along with the book. Download the app and watch the animals become 3-D as it reads aloud the story. It’s a pretty neat experience.
— Links To Literacy – Dawn Little (March 24, 2014)
Written and illustrated by Chad Wallace, is the perfect storybook that introduces the reader to the Meadow, its inhabitants, and their activities through the eyes of the baby mouse. Through this encounters with friends and foes, we come to understand the dynamics of the meadow and what it is like to live there. Illustrations drawn from a “mouse eye” view help us to understand just what it is like to be so small in such a big world. Notes at the end of the book further explain such topics as Animal Tall,Animal Altruism, meadow mice, Meadow Magic and explores vocabulary words, meadow games, and growing meadow plants. There is also an App that can be downloaded to make this book come alive before your eyes! If this book doesn’t get you ready for spring, then winter must have frozen your imagination and your enthusiasm.
— Western New York Family Magazine – Donna Phillips (April 2014)
Delightful rhyming verse accompanies gorgeous illustrations in this tale of a meadow mouse and his natural friends and enemies. A young mouse explores the meadow for the first time and finds a fascinating world. A spider spins a marvelous web. A honeybee gathers pollen. A caterpillar weaves a cocoon. The sudden appearance of a box turtle’s head startles the little rodent. But it’s the appearance of a snake that really has him frightened. Barely escaping, the mouse is aided first by a weasel then by a mother rabbit. As night falls, the mouse studies a firefly. He discovers new terror in the swooping of a great horned owl. He is saved by another mouse, who shows him where to hide.
As a read aloud, the lilting rhythm will hold children as young as four. For independent reading, second grade readers should be able to tackle the pages. The animal communication rings true. The illustrations are realistic and action-packed.
The last three pages of the book highlight many facts about the meadow animals, talk about other animal volumes available from the publisher, and give readers an idea of where to get more information. The publisher’s website, dawnpub.com, is rich in resources, including teacher guides. The pages also give a sample of reading activities, like hatching a cocoon and growing a miniature meadow.
— Grade Reading – Sue Poduska (December 2013)
Imagine you are a little meadow mouse out for a day of adventure. Your world is full of friends, dangers, and surprises at every turn. Tomorrow is another day but now you have a friend to share it with. This story is not only entertaining but good for vocabulary development, and the science concepts are accurately illustrated throughout.
— Liz Roy, retired teacher and member of the Izaak Walton League of America’s Environmental Education Committee (August 2013)
A curious young mouse boldly ventures into the meadow for the first time. He gets a crash course on life from friendly and unfriendly animals. This book is great for children to identify plants and animals and learn about there relationships with each other. The text will keep an older child entertained. The illustrations kept drawing my son back, I’m sure he will love this book when he is older. We worked on saying the names of animals and finding them.
It was interesting to view of life in the meadow at ground level. I liked that they covered night and day. I really liked the book and think my son will in a year or 2.
There is an interactive App available for this book, it is currently free. In order to use it you must have the book. You take your tablet and hold it over the book and the app reads you the story and you can move the mouse around the page. If you move the camera off the page you can hear the story but the beautiful 3-d image and movement bit are gone. My son loved it until he learned he had to hold the tablet still.
You can buy this on Amazon or through Dawn Publications. There are also activities you can print from Dawn Publications’ website.
— Cheshire Cat Looking Glass – Jenny C. (Feb. 27, 2014)
The Mouse and the Meadow is a lovely nature story for children about a cute and curious meadow mouse who ventures into the meadow for the first time. Never before leaving his mother’s nest, the mouse runs into all different types of excitement along the way. A jam-packed rhyming adventure, the book is easy and fun to read out loud. The artwork is gorgeous! A free Pop-Up Mouse and the Meadow App lets children view this book in Pop-Up mode and free downloads for activities based on this book are available on the Dawn activities page.
— An Angels Kiss – Jenny C. (Fall 2014)
In this story a young mouse ventures out on his own and finds out that nature can be both beautiful and dangerous when you are a mouse. The mouse makes his way through the meadow, meeting various animals along the way. What the mouse learns is that there are some animals that will be friendly to him, while others may bring danger.
This book gives children a good look at nature in the meadow, from the point of view of a mouse, who learns valuable life lessons along the way. While the mouse fears being in nature, because he may become lunch, a friendly animal teaches the mouse that there are many great things about the meadow, too.
There is nothing in this book that vegetarian parents would not want their child exposed to. In fact, it would make a great addition to their book collection. It focuses on nature, is beautifully illustrated, and offers additional educational information in the back, including a look at the idea of animals talking in children’s books. This is a nice book all the way around and one that parents and kids alike will enjoy.
— Vegbooks – Jacqueline Bodnar (April 4, 2014)
Do you know exactly what a meadow is and what kinds of animals live there? A young meadow mouse, also known as a meadow vole or field mouse, quickly comes of age as he sets out from home to explore his habitat, the meadow, which is a community of grasses and wildflowers, also called a prairie, grassland, or field. There he meets many remarkable creatures, such as a spider who spins a web to catch food; a honeybee collecting nectar and pollinating flowers; a monarch butterfly larva forming a chrysalis on a milkweed leaf; a wise old turtle who warns him about the dangers in the meadow; a kindly mother rabbit; and a firefly who really knows how to put on a show.
However, not all the meadow animals are friendly towards mice. Some, like the garter snake, the weasel, and the owl, would like to have him for lunch. Will he be eaten, or can he escape? The pleasant, rhyming text and stunning natural illustrations of The Mouse and the Meadow, all by Chad Wallace, introduce young people to the environment of the meadow not only with a story designed to appeal to children but also with scientific concepts which are entirely accurate. There are a couple of pages in the back with more information about the meadow and its inhabitants, along with some suggested learning activities. And for those who are into the latest technology, there is even an interactive pop-up app for the book. Did you know that weasels like to eat garter snakes too?
— Homeschool Book Review – Wayne Walker (March 1, 2014)
Today’s book is The Mouse and the Meadow, which was written and illustrated by Chad Wallace. I have to admit that this was my favorite. I think the main reason for this is because I feel like the author did a great job of writing the story in such a way that you can’t help but feel empathetic towards the mouse.
This is a “coming of age” tale about a small meadow mouse who sets out from his mother’s nest one day and learns about life in his greater meadow home on his own. you can probably guess, he meets many new friends and enemies along the way. Some of his friends include an old box turtle who warns him of the dangers of the field, a mother rabbit who is kind enough to offer him a warm, safe place to sleep, and even another mouse who helps him narrowly escape an attack from an owl! As mentioned, he learns the hard way about some of the dangers the meadow offers and has run-ins with snakes, weasles, and great horned owls.
As I mentioned in my last review, I am a fan of things that rhyme, so I was happy to see The Mouse and the Meadow was written with rhymes! This book is also suggested for children ages 4-10, but you should know by now that I think it’s never too early to start reading to your children! …Assuming you can get your child to sit still long enough to hear an entire story…Which I usually cannot. lol
As with the rest of the Dawn Publications books, there are further resources and activities to do with children/students at the end of the book. There is also a discussion on altruism in nature as well as how animals communicate with one another, which is actually pretty interesting, so be sure not to skip that! There will also be an interactive book app available on Dawn Pub’s website when the print book is released, so keep an eye open for that as well!
— Getting Green with Baby (December 7, 2013)
A young mouse quickly comes of age as he sets out to explore his meadow. There he meets many remarkable creatures. Spider has tangled intentions. Firefly really knows how to put on a show. Mother rabbit is kind. Turtle is wise. Others would have him for lunch! Fortunately, help arrives just in time.
This season, Dawn Publications has used Augmented Reality technology to make The Mouse and the Meadow not only a children’s book, but an interactive experience. Using your iPad, iPhone or Android with the book turns it into a 3D experience! Check out this cool new feature at dawnpub.com/apps/3dpopup/.
— Susan Heim On Parenting Blog, Chicken Soup for the Soul Editor (Feb. 19, 2014)
Told in rhyming verse, this is the story of a small (and awful cute) mouse who has left his mother’s nest for the very first time. It’s great big world out there in the meadow, with so many plants and animals to see. It can be a dangerous place for a little mouse, but there’s much to experience and learn. Along the way the little mouse discovers a spider, caterpillar, box turtle, rabbits and he even escapes from a scary snake who tries to eat him. But can the mouse’s special new friend help save him from the claws of a great horned owl?
A Pop Up App for 3D in “Augmented Reality”
Readers are invited to download a free Pop-Up App where 2D illustrations magically become 3D on the screens of mobile devices (iOS, Android Tablet or Smart Phone). The App also provides a narrated read aloud, and the entire experience awakens the senses, bringing excitement to the learning experience as characters spring to life. Check out the Free Pop Up App for this book here. There’s also a QR Code on the back cover of the book for you to scan.
Why You Should Read This Book
The great lengths that Chad Wallace went to just to create the electronic illustrations for The Mouse and the Meadow book and App are to be commended. There’s incredible detail in every image, and the illustrations help readers to better understand the challenges of a tiny mouse in a big meadow. The story itself teaches readers about becoming independent – taking chances to explore new things while also being cautious out there in the great big world. Since the illustrations are so accurate, children really get to know about the living creatures one would find in a real meadow. In the back of the book is a wonderful two-page spread with more detailed information about meadow mice and all the other animal creatures the little mouse met in the story. Combine this traditional book with the Interactive App, and you’ve got a terrific new high-tech learning experience for children everywhere.
Be sure to also check out all the downloadable activities for this book too.
— Smart Books for Smart Kids – Debbie Glade (Apr. 4, 2014)
Great lesson for little kids that many urban and suburban parents are not willing to take on – the fact that animals kill other animals, and the natural world is not an easy world to live in. The authors did a good job showing that the young mouse not only has to worry about what is on the ground, but what can come down from above—they really need to live in a three dimensional world. It also sends a message that young ones that venture away from home have a lot to learn before they can make it on their own. Great rhyming.
— The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk (September 2013)
Here’s a charming story that leads the reader through a meadow, experiencing the beauty of nature while dodging the dangers from meadow predators. The daily struggle to survive, coupled with an appreciation for the natural world, provide a dynamic underlying theme.
— Diana Dove, Environmental Educator, Dove Environmental Education (August 2013)
The Mouse and the Meadow is a terrific introduction for young readers to the inner workings of a meadow. Readers experience the meadow at “ground level” as they follow the young mouse’s explorations and learn about the relationships and interconnectedness of the plants and animals that live there. A very entertaining, informative, and enjoyable read!
— Mark Moran, teacher, Island Creek Elem. School, Alexandria, VA, and creator of “Study of Northern Virginia Ecology” website, www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology.htm (August 2013)
The Mouse and the Meadow written and illustrated by Chad Wallace is another fantastic book in Dawn Publications’ spring line-up. In this wonderful picture book, a little mouse heads out in the meadow on his own for the first time. He immediately encounters a variety of animals, both nice and not-so-nice, and learns a great deal about them and how to survive in nature.
Once again, I was blown away by this book. The artwork is amazing and that alone makes this book special. However, the story itself really makes this book a worthwhile addition to your child’s library. Not only is this book an entertaining coming-of-age tale for the small mouse, but it’s also extremely educational to the reader.
The little mouse meets a variety of animals including a caterpillar, an owl, a snake, fireflies, and much more; and he learns about the incredible things they can do. In rhyming text, the author gives an introduction into the roles of plants and animals in a meadow and how they all interact with each other.
As is the case with the other books I reviewed by Dawn Publication, the last few pages of this book are extremely valuable to the child whose curiosity is piqued with the mouse’s story. There are additional details about how animals communicate with each other as well as the ecosystem of a meadow.
And now for the really cool thing about The Mouse and the Meadow! There is a free pop-up app that brings the 2D pages of the beautiful book to life! The images in the book will “pop-up” in 3D on the screen of your movie device.
— Julie Peterson – Booking Mama (March 2014)
The Mouse and the Meadow – Saw the comments about the fact that the animals talk to each other. But this book gets away with it in that is shows predator/prey as well as symbiotic relationships—it is explained really well in the back. Good reminder for educators to point this out to students. Pictures are mesmerizing and the popup app looks like a really cool addition—I imagine kids will enjoy those 3-D images. Again a lot of text but it flows nicely with the rhyming verses.
— Linda Hauser, Shawnee National Forest (February 2014)
