It is easy to see why the tiny mouse is such a popular story character for children. Its large bright eyes, delicate tail, cute round ears and soft fur are so attractive and endearing. But more than this, the diminutive mouse shares one or two more human characteristics. Its little paws are very like hands, so it is able to hold its food up to its mouth. It is inquisitive and busy, finding, fetching and carrying food, which it then hides and stores. Mice are also very sociable and live in family groups.
The Tiny Mouse – famous illustrations
The mouse has been a popular animal for characterisation in children’s fiction for over a century. Beatrix Potter kept both tame and wild mice as pets, and wrote several stories about them. Her beautiful illustrations are still as popular as when they were first published in the early 1900s. In 1928, Mickey Mouse was created by Walt Disney. This tiny mouse became one of the most famous and popular cartoon characters in the world. A more serious story about a small mouse which then became well known, is ‘The Mouse and his Child‘. This was written by Russell Hoban and published in 1967. It was then made into a film ten years later. During the 1980s, Jill Barklem wrote a series of stories about the mice of Brambly Hedge. Her wonderful illustrated books became a publishing phenomenon and they are still considered to be classics today.
Under Cover
The Goldcrest Gallery children’s greeting card collection includes several vintage designs which feature illustrations of mice. ‘Under Cover‘ has a vignette design with two little mice taking shelter from the rain under a leaf. They have been blackberrying and their minute basket is just big enough for two blackberries. The large scale flowers and grass show how small the mice are in comparison. They are dressed in quaint, old fashioned clothes.
The Tiny Mouse in Children’s Story Cards
In our Story Card, ‘Let’s Pretend‘, a family of mice are busy playing at dressing up. They are hunting through boxes in the attic to find special clothes to wear. The attic is full of interesting details which children enjoy. On the back of this Story Card there is an illustrated rhyme showing the mice marching to music. ‘Shopping‘ and ‘Hide and Seek‘ also have attractive watercolour paintings of little mice. See our articles about these lovely illustrated Story Cards on our News page.
Children’s Picture Books
Two of our original children’s picture books have mice characters in the stories. ‘Water Vole’s Diary‘ has charming vintage-style illustrations, and a dramatic story about a rescue on the river. ‘Bed and Breakfast‘ is a humorous story told in comic rhyme, with witty illustrations and amusing mice characters. Goldcrest Gallery’s vintage Story Cards and picture books for children are a delight – perfect for a birthday or a special treat!