The Illinois School Library Media Association Presents

Mice and Beans

Read About the Book

Ryan, Pam Muñoz. Mice and Beans; illus. by Joe Cepeda. New York: Random House, 2000.

In this rhythmic cumulative tale Rosa Maria spends the week getting ready for her granddaughter's birthday party and trying to avoid attracting mice--unaware that the mice in her walls are preparing for a party of their own.

1 v. (unpaged): col. ill. ; 29 cm. ISBN: 0439183030; LCCN: 00-58379. Picture Book. Dewey: [E] / RL: 3.2, (Follett), 3.6 (AR).

Read Aloud, Read Along

For Teachers and Librarians

Pam Munoz Ryan has written fiction and nonfiction for all ages and reading ability at the elementary level. An apt choice for an author study when you have students whose reading skills span a wide range. Listed below are books ranging from first to earlly fifth grade reading levels. Others of her books are higher.

Ryan, Pam Munoz. Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride. Scholastic Press, 1999. (-Fic-) RL 4.0

Ryan, Pam Munoz. A Box of Friends. Gingham Dog Press, 2003. (-E-) RL 3.2

Ryan, Pam Munoz. The Crayon Counting Book. Charlesbridge, c1996. (513.2) RL 4.2

Ryan, Pam Munoz. Hello Ocean.
Talewinds, c2001. (-E-) RL 1.3.

Ryan, Pam Munoz. Mud is Cake. Hyperion Books For Children, c2002. (-E-) RL 3.7

Ryan, Pam Munoz. One Hundred is a Family. Hyperion Paperbacks for Children, 1996. (-E-) RL 2.4

Ryan, Pam Munoz. A Pinky is a Baby Mouse, and other Baby Animal Names. Hyperion Paperbacks for Children, 1999, c1997. (591) RL 3.5

Ryan, Pam Munoz. Riding Freedom. Scholastic Press, 1998. (-Fic-) RL 4.8

Ryan, Pam Munoz. When Marian Sang : the True Recital of Marian Anderson the Voice of a Century. Scholastic Press, 2002. (782.1) RL 4.6.

Read About the Author & Illustrator

Author: Pam Munoz Ryan (Read a Biographical Sketch)

Illustrator: Joe Cepeda (Read a Biographical Sketch on Mr. Cepeda's website)

Read an interview with Joe Cepeda

Mr. Cepeda received a 2002 ALA Pura Beltre' Honor Award and the Recognition of Merit Award for 2000 from The George G. Stone Center for Children's Books. In addition to his illustrative work, Mr. Cepeda is sought after as a public speaker to schools and other groups. His original artwork can be viewed at Every Picture Tells a Story in Los Angeles. Mr. Cepeda is a member of the Graphic Artist's Guild. He currently lives in Southern California with his wife and son.

Read Alone

For Students

Party Animals

For some reason when we think of mice, we like to think of them having parties, as attested by the tales listed here. Some familiar mice characters are in party mode.

Cousins, Lucy. Maisy Dresses Up. Candlewick Press, 1999. (-E-) RL 2.2 Maisy the mouse makes a very special costume for Tallulah's costume party.

Henkes, Kevin. Julius's Candy Corn. HarperFestival, c2003. (-E-) RL 2.2 Julius is so impatient for his Halloween party to begin, that he counts and eats the candy corn on top of the cupcakes. Board Book.

Willard, Nancy. The Mouse, the Cat, and Grandmother's Hat. Little, Brown, c2003. (-E-) RL 2.8. A mouse hiding under Grandmother's hat causes quite a commotion at her surprise birthday party.

Wells, Rosemary. The Secret Birthday. Hyperion Books for Children, c2002. (-E-) RL 2.8 Noisy Nora finds a surprising new site for her birthday party when her mother will not let her invite all of her classmates to her house because it is too small.