Marshall The Courthouse Mouse by Peter W. Barnes
Illustrated by Cheryl Shaw Barnes
Genre: Children’s Book – the three branches of the federal system
Pages: Jacketed Hardcover
Date Published: September 11, 2012
Publisher: Little Patriot Press
As the presidential elections take center stage in the coming months and images of the Capitol, the White House and Supreme Court are beamed to millions of homes across the country, children are going to have questions about how our government works. Why not seize this opportunity to inspire a lifelong interest in politics and government?
To the rescue come bestselling authors Cheryl and Peter Barnes with three new books this September: Woodrow, the White House Mouse; House Mouse, Senate Mouse; and Marshall, the Courthouse Mouse (Little Patriot Press; Hardcovers; On Sale: September 10, 2012). Each one of the books is perfect for parents, grandparents, teachers, and librarians to teach children about how American government works.
With the presidential campaign in full swing, Woodrow, the White House Mouse is the perfect book for parents to help explain the role of our president. Continuing the story of Woodrow G. Washingtail as told in Woodrow for President: A Tail of Voting (Barnes, May 2012), Woodrow, the White House Mouse teaches how the executive office works. The story highlights life in the White House, the duties and responsibilities of the president, and why this elected office is so important to all Americans.
Featuring the “Squeaker of the House” and the Senate “Mouse-jority” Leader, the next book, House Mouse, Senate Mouse, is also tailor-made for this election year. The book not only teaches the inner workings of Congress, but it also teaches children how a bill gets passed and made into law. The story follows mouse students as they are assigned the task of writing to Congress to propose the establishment of a national cheese.
By listening to electoral debates and ads, children are sure to ask about the Supreme Court and its importance. Marshall, the Courthouse Mouse is a fun book featuring Chief Justice Marshall J. Mouse. Justice Marshall guides children through the duties of the judicial branch, the history of the Court, and how laws uphold our constitutional values.
Marshall, the Courthouse Mouse and Woodrow, the White House Mouse are at a guided reading level of N (3rd grade students), and House Mouse, Senate Mouse is at a guided reading level of O (3rd and 4th grade students).
These three books are “a mice way to learn about America,” and they will establish an enduring tradition to teach children about our civic traditions and spark participation in our government. Let Woodrow, Marshall, and the House and Senate Mice be their guides!
I am over the top excited about this new three book release from Little Patriot Press including a book for each branch of government. Always we love reading, and books that educate are even better. Learning about the government is not always fun (unless a field trip is involved) but I think these books have managed to do it! Peter Barnes and his illustrator wife Cheryl have an incredible find in their teamwork and I’m really delighted to have discovered these books.
Marshall The Courthouse Mouse is adorable. The illustrations are fantastic and fun with an interactive where’s the turtle feature that keep interest as well. The rhythm and rhyme of each and every page is attractive and pleasing to the ear. The concepts and vocabulary covered are great and can easily lead into a lesson on what’s what in the U.S. Supreme Court. The mouse characters and mouse law is adorable in my opinion and a great, if silly, example to show just what we mean on concepts that are often times larger than a budding learners understanding. I’m so happy with this book!
*Thanks to Little Patriot Press for providing a copy for review.*
Peter and Cheryl Barnes are the author/illustrator team behind many books featuring animal characters that teach children about history and government, including the bestselling House Mouse, Senate Mouse, which teaches how Congress makes our laws, and Woodrow the White House Mouse, about the White House and the job of the president.
Peter and Cheryl are also the award-winning publishers of the inspiring collection of poems, Heartsongs, written by Mattie Stepanek, an intuitive and bright 11-year-old boy diagnosed with a rare form of muscular dystrophy. The book became a bestseller and Mattie captured the hearts of America when he appeared on Oprah to discuss his life and the book. Heartsongs is one of a series of three poetry books written by Mattie.
Peter is a journalist and broadcaster who reports on public policy issues in Washington, D.C. Cheryl is an illustrator with a background in architecture. They live in Alexandria, Virginia, have two grown daughters, and are very proud grandparents of Tristan James Joyce.
