Frankel Mouse
Odo Hirsch
Ron Brooks

Allen & Unwin 2000

158pp. pbk

186508249X

 

 

“Frankel Mouse” is about four mice that live at all different train stations.  Everything is normal until one particular mouse comes to visit and causes a lot of trouble.  I think the book would appeal to about 8-11 year olds and probably more to girls than it would boys.  I found the words easy to read; I could understand the story and it has a good size print. 

The way the author writes and which words he uses certainly make the book more exciting.  I would say that “Frankel Mouse” is a read alone sort of book.  Odo Hirsch has successfully drawn me into the story.  I didn’t want to put the book down.  I could see in my head the little mice and their homes.  I found that I was worried that the characters would get into trouble, I liked it so much.  But I was a bit disappointed with end. I thought he could have finished it on a more positive note. 

The illustrations were done by Ron Brooks.  I believe that the pictures really help you understand what the author wants the characters to look like.  They show you how the characters are feeling just as well as the words do.  In this book the pictures are just great! 

I wouldn’t mind receiving this book as a gift, though it is not the book I would normally choose.  I really enjoyed it.

Kate 11 Vic.

 

Frankel Mouse is a great animal adventure story written by Odo Hirsch who also wrote the Hazel Green stories.

It is about a smart, hard working mouse, Frankel who, with his fat and lazy friend Berrel, leave their home at a train station called Swiss Cottage in order to find more food. They are in search of delicious pastry crumbs. A series of exciting events follows where the two friends meet up with other mice, become lost and eventually find their way back home with a huge, tasty bagel.

This book is easy to read, is funny and full of action so you want to keep reading. All the mice’s personalities are different and Ron Brook’s cute drawings add to the story and characters. It is suitable for good readers from Year 3 and up.

Bridie, 9 years, rural NSW

 
The characters are Frankel Mouse, Berrel, Michael and Cousin Ruthie. Frankel Mouse and the gang have lots of adventures together at the train station
called Swiss Cottage. They live happily on a ledge near the track until one
day, they run out of food and decide to move. They want to find a new home but they are afraid to go outside their home onto the streets because they might be killed.The book is good for all ages. It is easy to read and has lots of good pictures. I really enjoyed this book.

Louey 10yrs rural Victoria

 
The characters are Frankel Mouse, Berrel, Cousin Ruthie and Michael. Frankel and his family live in Swiss Cottage Station, London underneath a platform.

Frankel and his family are looking for a new house. Frankel makes a suggestion that they move to Baker St where they will have millions of crumbs. What would you do if you were a mouse? Stay at the train station or go where there are millions of crumbs?

Read the book to find out what Frankel did!

The size of the print was good and the cover has a cute picture of two mice. The illustrations in the book were very good. I had to keep on reading - I couldn't put this book down! It was really exciting.

Fred 11yrs rural Victoria

 
The characters are Frankel Mouse, Berrel, Michael and Cousin Ruthie. Frankel Mouse and the gang live at a train station called Swiss Cottage until they can't find enough food to eat. They move to Baker St where they think there will be millions of crumbs. When they get there they find Michael.

When Frankel is sick and Berrel doesn't want to go out to find any crumbs, Michael goes. He is scared out of his wits by Cousin Ruthie when she jumps out of a bush at him, but he takes her home and she ends up staying too.

I think this book is suited to children from 9-13yrs. It is easy to read although some words could be improved. The print was quite small and this would make the book difficult for some children. The cover was quite adventurous looking and I liked the illustrations through the book. It is an exciting book - I especially liked the adventures they went on. It is certainly a book that is hard to put down!

Anita 12 yrs rural Victoria