The Tale of Two Bad Mice (1904)

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yes, I've read another Beatrix Potter book... My nieces and nephews are coming to stay for a while, so I'm pre-reading loads of children's books, just to be prepared. ( )

A beautiful example of Potter's sly wit. My father-in-law couldn't stop laughing when he read this to my 3yo, and I laughed aloud too in a couple of places. It was pretty funny to read that "there was no end to the rage and disappointment" of the mice, who went off on a destructive tear. Their antics were pretty funny as were the commentaries of the human beings who saw the evidence and wanted a policeman doll, or, more wisely, a mousetrap. ( )

Lacking in substance (even for Potter) and the moment that mousetrap appeared I think we were all hoping for a more Roald Dahl-ish ending but that's all made up for when you realise it's basically an episode of The Twilight Zone for kids. (And the illustrations are as beautiful as ever of course) ( )

This is a simplified story, originally published in a larger format for little children. Having a love of fictional mice, and dollhouses, this is an especial favorite story of mine. The mice have tempers, and are certainly naughty, but nice, too. As always, the illustrations tell half the story, or more, and the words compliment them. ( )