The Barking Mouse

Plot Summary

Mamá, Papá, Sister, and Brother Ratón go for a picnic on a beautiful day. After a delicious lunch of medianoches and lemonade, Mamá and Papá smooch—eeewww!—and Brother and Sister must find something to do. And what could be more fun than teasing the cat behind the fence? But the fence isn't as high as they think! Faster than they can say, "Adios, Gato!" Brother and Sister are racing back to Mamá and Papá with the cat in pursuit. The brave Ratón family knows what to do—hide behind Mamá! But what will Mamá do?

Awards

Notable Book for a Global Society, International Reading Association

Reviews

"Sacre heard this story from his Cuban grandmother, and though there are other versions from other places, this one is especially sprightly....The amusing artwork features a family of big-eared mice, full of personality and love for one another; that mother and father certainly enjoy kissing! A welcome choice for kids who speak English, Spanish, or both." Booklist

Associated Keywords
hispanic, spanish, bilingual, mice, cats, cat, folktale, folk tale, folk lore