Cover of The Mousehole Cat
The Mousehole Cat
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Responsibility 5th & 6th Grade
By Antonia Barber

Book Guide

The Mousehole Cat

A story that explores responsibility and opens a conversation with your child.

★★★★★ Loved by families
Read the Guiding Questions Find this book →
♥ This book teaches: Responsibility. owning your choices and their consequences.

Before, During & After Reading

Guiding Questions for Parents.

Definition: doing what needs to be done with sincerity and without resistance or complaining.  In short: Do what needs to be done. Summary: In the headlands of England is a fishing village named “Mowzel” renamed “Mousehole” by its inhabitants because the narrow entrance in the stone wall that protects the town from the vast ocean resembles a small mousehole.  One of the characters in this story is a cat named Mowzer, who lives in that village and is portrayed with human characteristics, such as the ability to think as a human. Her owner, fisherman Tom, is playfully referred to as Mowzer’s “pet.” The villain in this tale is the Great Storm-Cat, a gale with persistent howling winds and rain, that destroys boats outside of the Mousehole. The Great Storm-Cat prevents the villagers from fishing, and they all suffer from hunger until Tom and Mowzer take a risk and go out to sea. The heroic pair returns to the grateful village with their mouth-watering, plentiful catch after a lot of drama on the open sea, in which Mowzer “tames” the Great Storm-Cat.   Lesson Objectives:
  1. Students will be inspired to do something to recognize heroes who risk their lives for the sake of others. 
  2. Teachers can guide students in a discussion about real heroes, and help them to do something to recognize individuals who risk their lives such as veterans, first responders, and essential workers. 
  Guiding Questions: 
  1. Describe the setting for this story.
  2. Is the story fiction or factual? Explain your answer.  
  3. How did the harbor get the name “Mousehole”? 
  4. The villagers have very little food to eat, why? 
  5. Why did Tom feel he should be the one to take the risk to go out in the storm? 
  6. Why is the storm compared to a cat playing with its prey? 
  7. How does Mowzer tame the Great Storm-Cat?
  8. What would have happened to the villagers if no one volunteered to go fishing? 
  9. Have you ever read a book, seen a movie, or know someone who takes a risk to save the lives of others? What happened? 
  10. Do you know some heroes who live in your city? Is there something you could do for them to show your appreciation? 
  11. Pick your favorite superhero. How would you describe the difference between that person and real people who risk their lives?
 
🌿   Virtue Connection: Responsibility means owning what is yours, including your choices.

About the Story.

This guide is part of the Values & Virtues library, a free collection of 400+ book guides and activities organized around 12 core virtues for children from pre-K to 6th grade. Each guide includes Guiding Questions designed to open a real conversation with your child in 10 minutes or less.

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