Town Mouse Country Mouse is part of our Starts With a Story Collection, which includes more than 550 picture book companions based on high quality children’s literature that support you in delivering highly-engaging interactive read alouds with follow up activities. Learn more about this children’s book below! - Jodi and the Starts With a Story Team
Â
SUMMARY
"Town Mouse Country Mouse" by Jan Brett is a delightful retelling of the classic fable. The story follows two cousins, Town Mouse and Country Mouse, who decide to visit each other's homes. Town Mouse enjoys the luxury and abundance of the city, while Country Mouse finds comfort in the simplicity of rural life. However, they soon realize that their respective environments pose dangers and discomforts they hadn't anticipated. Through Jan Brett's intricate illustrations and engaging storytelling, young readers learn valuable lessons about gratitude, contentment, and appreciating one's own circumstances. In the end, the cousins come to appreciate the beauty of their own homes and embrace the different lifestyles they lead, understanding that there is value in both town and country living.
 USE THIS BOOK TO TEACH:
Our read aloud lesson plans for this picture book come with reading comprehension questions (with sample student responses), 30 writing prompts, teaching ideas for grammar skills, social emotional learning discussion ideas, and more. Check out our list below to get a sneak peek at some of the skills this resource teaches.
- Encourage students to use their summarizing and retelling strategies.
- Discuss the different characters in the story and analyze their thoughts and actions.
- Analyze the setting of this book. Discuss where and when it takes place.
- Practice comparing and contrasting after you read the book.
- Use examples from the book to teach a lesson on punctuation.
- Introduce and practice using shades of meaning.
- Discuss strengths and challenges related to the story and student’s own lives.
NO-PREP PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES:
If you are looking for “ready to go” activities for the first day of school, be sure to check out the book companion. With it you’ll receive all of the following resources to align with this specific book:
- comprehension questions
- 30Â writing prompts with themed paper
- vocabulary activities
- word study print & go activities
- ideas for grammar lessons with focus sentence printables
- social emotional learning discussion topics
- graphic organizers to target specific comprehension skills and strategies
This book is a must have for your school or classroom library. Your students are going to love completing these activities for the book and you will be impressed with how much they learn. You will want to read this book to your class every year.
GET THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES
ADDITIONAL BOOK SUGGESTIONS
You and your students will love the similar books listed below, which can all be found in our free picture book list.
- Hedgie's Surprise by Jan Brett
- Mossy by Jan Brett
- Trouble with Trolls by Jan Brett
TRY OUT A SAMPLE COMPANION
It's hard to explain how amazing the Starts with a Story book companions are because there is just so much goodness included in each one. It's best if you experience using one for yourself. Sign up below & we'll send you an entire book companion to try out for FREE!
