Dr. Donna's Review

THEMES & OTHER THINGS

This is an absolutely delightful telling of the wonderful book of the same name written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler.  The major difference between the book and the movie is that the story of the mouse is told to two young squirrels by their mother.  The movie is a story within a story.

The story of the adventure had by the happy little mouse as he walks through the woods in search of a nut will appeal to both boys and girls in the three to seven year age range.  Parents are encouraged to read the book with children before seeing the film. This will increase their enjoyment of the story and will also help them understand some of the more subtle points.  Reading the book in advance will also help to soften some of the scenes which might possibly frighten younger children.

TALKING POINTS
The story offers several opportunities for discussion.  Let’s take a look at some of the themes from the story:

• Little mouse encounters three different animals who all invite him to come to their homes to dine. But the truth is they all wish to eat him.  Little mouse is afraid but instead of acting afraid, he uses his wits to handle the situation.  When he tells each animal that he is meeting the Gruffalo at that very spot and then describes the scary characteristics of the Gruffalo, they each imagine what the Gruffalo looks like then run away.  Talk with children about the mouse’s strategy.  How would you describe his behavior? Is he smart? (Why?) Is he brave? (Why?) 

• After getting the three animals to run away, little mouse feels confident. Discuss the meaning of confident. How can we tell he feels confident?  What was it that made the mouse, one of the smallest animals in the forest, feel confident?  Ask children to think about what makes them feel confident.

• When little mouse actually meets the Gruffalo, his confidence shrivels.  Why?  What does he do to handle this new encounter?  (He outsmarts the Gruffalo by telling him that everyone in the forest is afraid of him e.g. afraid of the mouse.)

• Gruffalo follows the mouse through the forest and when they encounter the fox, the owl, and the snake, each of these animals runs away.  Why did they run away?  Was it because they were afraid of the mouse?

• We think the mouse was smart when he told each animal that he was meeting the Gruffalo. But was he telling the truth?  Discuss this point with children. Was the mouse telling a lie?  What do you think about the mouse saying something not true in order to save his own life?  Discuss these points with children and help them understand your perspective on the mouse’s behavior. Not all decisions are purely black or white. It helps children develop their own sense of moral behavior to consider the situations that are not clear-cut.

ACTIVITY IDEAS

• Encourage children to retell the story in their own words.  Retelling a story helps children develop memory for the sequence of events.  This will enhance their comprehension skills.

• Young children are very interested in monsters. Here are a few activity ideas that enable children to play through their fear of monsters:
• Get better acquainted with the Gruffalo and engage in word play.  The story is told in rhyming couplets.  Children enjoy playing with rhymes and such play helps their language development.  This passage occurs when the mouse encounters the Gruffalo. Read it to the children and discuss both the characteristics of the Gruffalo and the rhyming words in the passage.  Encourage children to draw their own Gruffalo pictures.

   But who is this creature with terrible claws
  And terrible teeth in his terrible jaws?
  He has knobbly knees and turned-out toes
  And a poisonous wart at the end of his nose.
  His eyes are orange, his tongue is black
  He has purple prickles all over his back
  “Oh help! Oh no! It’s the Gruffalo!”

• Make monster masks so children can play at being monsters.  Have children draw a monster face on a paper plate. Punch small holes on each side of the plate and insert strings that can be tied in the back of head.  Make up names for the monsters.  Make up the special roar of each monster.

This story lends itself to dramatization.  Put on a play about The Gruffalo. Invite members of the family or neighborhood children to participate. Encourage children who take on the different roles to think about the voice of their character.  How would the fox sound?  How would the fox’s voice be different from the owl or the snake’s voice?  Think about how each character would move. How would the mouse move? How would the Gruffalo move? Practice developing the special moves of each character. Put on a show for family and friends.

BOOK SUGGESTIONS

These books are recommended to encourage you to read to and with children about the themes from The Gruffalo

The Gruffalo
by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler – About outsmarting a monster

The Gruffalo’s Child
by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler – About the curiosity of children (even monster children)

Brave Irene
by William Steig – About being brave

I Need My Monster
by Amanda Noll and Howard McWilliam – About monsters

My Monster Mama Loves Me So
by Laura Leuck and Mark Buehner – About monsters

Pinky Promise by Vanita Braver – About telling the truth

Who Eats What? Food Chains and Food Webs
by Patricia Lauber and Holly Keller