Seven Blind Mice

Interest Level: Pre-K - 3

Grade Level Equivalent: 3.3

Lexile® measure: 350L

DRA: 16

Guided Reading: I

Genre/Theme:

• Animal Stories
• Fables, Folk Tales and Myths

Topics:

• Understanding Self and Others

About This Book

Here is a creative spin-off of "The Blind Men and the Elephant," a classic that introduces young readers to the days of the week, ordinal and cardinal numbers, and ranges of color.

Based on an Indian fable, seven blind mice set out to discover the "Something" (an elephant) by the pond, only to learn that "knowing in part may make a fine tale, but wisdom comes from seeing the whole." Each mouse visits the "Something" on a different day of the week and imagines what it really looks like — only to return home with an incorrect description of the elephant's body parts. They see a cliff, a spear, a pillar, a snake, a rope — but it is only when the seventh mouse searches the whole "Something" that is able to "see" the elephant. Caldecott Medalist Lon Po Po uses collage, bright colors, and the contrast of black and white to complement the simple text.

Children ages four to eight will be engaged by the book's educational text and artistic flair. An eclectic elementary library resource.