The Story of Jumping Mouse

The Story of Jumping Mouse
Synopsis
Learn the virtue of sacrifice through this poignant Native American folktale about a young mouse who embarks on a long and perilous journey to reach the wonderful land of legend. He faces many obstacles on his quest and sacrifices much to help others in need. But the mouse's compassion and faith in himself prove to be a source of great power—and bring him rewards even beyond his dreams.
  • Virtue
    VIRTUE
    Is this the way I want my child to think and act?
    Ratings are based on how much a book extols Islamic morality and espouses classical ideals.
  • Language
    LANGUAGE
    Is this the way I want my child to speak?
    Ratings are based on a book's vocabulary, cadence, and overall eloquence suited to age level.
  • Story
    STORY
    Does this story resonate with my child?
    Ratings are based on the integrity of plot structure, the depth of characters, the palpability of the book's conflict and resolution, and the lure of its setting.
  • Beauty
    BEAUTY
    Does this book develop my child's ability to recognize beauty?
    Ratings are based on aesthetics, linguistic beauty, poignancy, and how well a book embodies ihsan—harmonizing excellence.
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Mindful Muslim Review

You don’t burn out when you’re busy lighting each other up. This allegorical tale highlights the significance of the journey over the destination. As Mouse embarks on his journey to the “far away land” he meets both helpful creatures and destitute beings. The way others sacrifice for him, and in turn, his own sacrifice for others, help children understand the importance of our responsibility to each other. Along the way, Mouse gives a part of himself to those in need. At first, it seems his service to others is depleting, even crippling, him, but later we learn that in fact it is transforming him—an important lesson in the virtue of sacrificing selflessly for others. The story ends with Mouse transforming into an eagle, and we learn that the transformation itself, from a lowly creature into a majestic one, was ultimately the destination.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the wisest of all human beings, taught us that giving of ourselves never decreases our wealth, our time, our status, or our possessions. This book reinforces that message—the act of giving nourishes our souls and replenishes our ability to give more. Allah’s  blessings are boundless. We only limit them when we draw boundaries around our ability to give.

Ages: ,
Illustrator: John Steptoe
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 1989
Page Count: 40
ISBN13: 9780688087401
*This review applies only to ISBN number noted above.

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