Walsh, Ellen Stoll.  (1991).  Mouse Count.  NY:  Harcourt Brace.

(Recommend the Big Book version)

Reading Connection:  a story without words

Writing Connection:  writing sentences to tell a story using picture context clues

Musical Connection:  using classical music to tell a story

Art Connection:  exploring primary colors

Positive Character Traits & Values:  design / order; art / beauty; community; self-preservation; creativity

Mouse Paint is a story about three creative white mice who discover that mixing the primary colors of red, yellow, and blue paints makes for some interesting and new color combinations.  The mice portray community and self-preservation as they learn that being all white colored is not so bad—especially when the cat is looking for them!

            A unique way to present this story is to “read” the story to children without words.  Use the classical musical piece titled, the “William Tell Overture” by Rossini to accompany the telling of the story (about 3 minutes of the musical piece will match the flow of the story). Cover the words on the pages with a sentence strip.  Turn the pages of the story to match the flow of the music.  This will take some practice on your part to be effective. Children learn to use the picture context clues to tell the story while listening to the musical flow of the overture as accompaniment. 

            As a large group, children share in the actual writing of sentences to tell the story. Using easel sized paper, record children’s sentences for each picture.  Once refined, the teacher prints the children’s story on sentence strips.  Next, attach the sentence strips with paper clips or binder clips to each corresponding page.  Children enjoy reading their version of the story.  The “William Tell Overture” music is often requested to be played while the children are reading their story.  At this point, the musical piece really serves as background music and probably will not match the flow of the story.

            As a final reading / writing connection, children can read how the author put together her words and pictures to tell the story.  Compare the two stories for likenesses and differences.

            An integrated art activity that encourages exploration of the primary colors of red, yellow, and blue will help children understand the positive character traits and values of design / order and art / beauty.  Children create their own three-dimensional white mouse using various art mediums.  White socks become the body of the mouse.  Mice are stuffed with poly-fill and then stitched together.  Felt pieces, cotton balls, leather scraps, yarn, and string may be glued to the mouse body.

            Set out pie pans containing red, yellow, and blue tempera paint puddles. First, children roll their mouse into one of the colors. Next, children choose one other color to explore by dipping, twirling, circling, or rolling their mouse in to create a new color.  Hang mice on a classroom clothesline to dry.  Mice may be used to talk about a color wheel; to retell the story using props; or to “move” and “dance” to the “William Tell Overture.”