Mouse Mayhem

Mouse Mayhem written and illustrated by Wendy McKay-Taylor (Little Steps Publishing)

PB RRP $16.95

ISBN: 9781925117486

Reviewed by Anne Hamilton

First it was one mouse, creeping into the house -- then two, hiding in a boy’s shoes. Soon there were hundreds, thousands … springing out of the paddocks and looking for food and shelter. They nibble through everything—including plastic, newspaper, car wiring.

I’ve experienced a mouse plague on a farm, so I know how realistic this story is. However, to most people, it may seem outrageously exaggerated.

The watercolour illustrations are too cute by far to really portray the menace of mice in such overwhelming numbers. Young readers are much more likely to feel more sympathetic to the pesky critters that to the cat or people—and certainly feel uncomfortable with the solution to the problem. 

It’s the sort of book that would probably go well in country schools but is likely to be far less appreciated in the city.