The Barking Mouse

Last updated Monday, January 5, 2004

Author: Antonio Sacre
Illustrator: Alfredo Aguirre
Date of Publication: 2003
ISBN: 0807505714
Grade Level: 2nd
Date(s) Used: January 2004

Synopsis: 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?

Discussion topics:

• What languages do you or others know? How does that help? How does it not help?
• What other sounds would have confused the cat?
• Describe a time when knowing another language came in handy.

Craft ideas:

• Make a small Spanish-English dictionary with the words you know, and decorate
• Make cat and mouse finger puppets to reenact the story
• Make mouse ears and attach to a headbands

*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions. You can use them, but you don’t have to use them. You can expand upon them, or add your own twist. Remember, though, that the focus of your time should not be on the development and execution of a craft; the focus should be on the read-aloud and the enjoyment of the book!