The Best Family-Friendly Books About Mice

They fit in the palm of your hand, they’re sporty and low-maintenance, and they bond with you. Mice make wonderful pets. Naturally sociable, they enjoy having a littermate. They’re also incredibly intelligent! There’s plenty to learn about mice, especially if you plan to incorporate them into your family. It’s important to understand the different mouse breeds to select the perfect one for your home. Even if you are not interested in pet mice, there are still plenty of books about mice to further explore your interest in them.

In the list below, you discover some of the best family-friendly books about mice. The first is a comprehensive guide and the others are fiction stories you can read with your children. Some are classics while others share an inspiring message. If you have a love for mice, you are sure to appreciate the last book on this list. It’s a little different than the others but just as charming.

A-Z Animals Top Picks for Books About Mice

#1 Best Overall: Pet Mice – Your Pet Mouse Happy Care Guide by Ben Little

The best overall book about mice is Pet Mice – Your Pet Mouse Happy Care Guide by Ben Little.

If you have any interest in owning a mouse, you absolutely need a guide. This title is available in both paperback and Kindle formats. This is the type of must-read book you should have even before you bring your new little furry friend home. It covers everything that you need to know to keep your pet mouse both healthy and happy. Within the pages of this guide, you also discover a wide range of different mice breeds. This is excellent, especially if you haven’t chosen which type of mouse you would like to bring home.

The author is Ben Little and he’s passionate about mice. He covers of all of the critical details that make a huge difference. For example, he helps you choose a healthy mouse right from the very beginning. He also answers if you should get a male mouse or a female mouse (or if it’s better to have more than one!) Along with all of this preliminary information, you also get the care guide that helps you understand how to create the right home for your mouse, including the right temperature and lighting. You get tips on how to feed your mouse and he gives you warnings about everything you should avoid as well. Some of these are surprising.

The only drawback to this book is that the photographs are in black and white.

Pros and Cons of Pet Mice – Your Pet Mouse Happy Care Guide by Ben Little

Best Overall

Pet Mice - Your Pet Mouse Happy Care Guide

• 132 pages.
• A handy, go-to guide on mouse pet ownership.
• Covers a range of different mouse breeds.

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2. Best Christmas Tale: The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffmann (Author) and Alexander Ewing (Translator)

In our opinion, the best Christmas tale is The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffmann (Author) and Alexander Ewing (Translator).

This book is the new edition of this classic Christmas tale. The story actually served as inspiration for Tchaikovsky’s Christmas ballet. The author is E.T.A. Hoffmann. It’s available in Kindle, audiobook, and paperback formats. The story follows two children named Marie and Fritz. It’s Christmas Eve and they are eagerly awaiting their presents. Later in the story, the Mouse Queen and Mouse King are introduced.

Unfortunately, some customers reported that although this version is enjoyable some of the other versions are better.

Pros and Cons of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffmann (Author) and Alexander Ewing (Translator)

Best Christmas Tale

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King

• 108 pages.
• A newer edition of a classic tale.
• Based on the translation by Alexander Ewing.

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3. Best for Kids: Marathon Mouse by Amy Dixon

The best option for kids is Marathon Mouse by Amy Dixon.

This next book is great for kids between three and six years of age. You can download the Kindle version or pick up the hardcover format. The story follows Preston, a mouse living with his family underneath the Verrazano Bridge in New York City. Every year, there is a marathon that fills the streets with large crowds, lots of noise, and of course, very large shoes. Most of the mice in the area dread this day but not Preston. He has always dreamed of being a part of the race and joining all the other runners.

Although he does not have the support of his family, he is determined to follow through with his dream. He starts training hard and when it’s race day, he’s able to successfully cross the finish line. It is a great story for children because it teaches them how to set goals and follow through with action toward meeting them. They learn about the feeling of pride that comes with success. It’s not specific to kids who run; rather, this book offers a special underlying lesson as they celebrate along with this marathon mouse.

The only drawback to this book is that some customers reported that it took a long time to be shipped.

Pros and Cons of Marathon Mouse by Amy Dixon

Best for Kids

Marathon Mouse

• 32 pages.
• Recommended for children ages 3 through 6.
• A story about a mouse following his dream.

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4. Best Family-Friendly: Sam and Julia: Mouse Mansion 1 by Karina Content

If you’re looking for a family-friendly book then we recommend Sam and Julia: Mouse Mansion 1 by Karina Content.

This hardcover book follows Sam and Julia who are two mouse kids. They live in a huge house — the Mouse Mansion — that has lots of different levels. However, they are from two families. Each of their families has differences in both their cultural and religious upbringing. Despite these differences, Sam and Julia are fantastic friends, and this subsequently teaches children an important lesson. Each page in the book is complemented with beautifully detailed pictures which help to bring to story to life. The pictures are photographs of tiny furniture and little mice children in sweaters. The attention to detail is enchanting.

Pros and Cons of Sam and Julia: Mouse Mansion 1 by Karina Content

Best Family-Friendly

Sam and Julia: Mouse Mansion 1

• A story about friendship and togetherness, despite differences.
• Uses pictures of hand-crafted scenes of 3D mouse miniatures.
• A book in the world of The Mouse Mansion.

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5. Best for Pre-Teens: Delphine and the Dark Thread by Alyssa Moon

In our opinion, the best book for pre-teens is Delphine and the Dark Thread by Alyssa Moon.

This book is a sequel to Delphine and the Silver Needle. It’s a fun adventure novel that delivers plenty of action and beautifully intertwines magic. It’s perfect for kids aged between nine and 12. The book follows Delphine as she enters the dark woods looking for a self-proclaimed rat king. Her aim is to put an end to the awful war they’ve been enduring. The path along the dark woods is not easy. She encounters a lot of struggle. However, she starts (albeit recklessly) channelling all of the anger she feels into her magic. There is a part of herself that she is not facing but ultimately, it’s this part that holds the answer for how to defeat the rat king.

The only drawback to this book is that the interlude chapters have black backgrounds with white font which makes them difficult to read.

Pros and Cons of Delphine and the Dark Thread by Alyssa Moon

Best for Pre-Teens

Delphine and the Dark Thread

• 255 pages.
• Recommended for readers ages 8 through 12.
• The second book in a series of two books about Delphine.

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6. Best for Coloring: Nice Little Town: Adult Coloring Book by Tatiana Bogema (Stolova)

If you’re looking for a book to help you to destress then we recommend Nice Little Town: Adult Coloring Book by Tatiana Bogema (Stolova).

This book is an adult coloring book that takes you into a magical little world. You get to explore some mouse stories and fancy mouse houses. There are 25 gorgeous images with plenty of details for you to color and make your own. Each of the images is printed on one side and there’s a black color on the backside to prevent any bleedthrough. That means you can use different mediums including watercolor pencils, gel pens, and markers. Once you purchase this book, you can also join the Facebook community where members share their finished designs.

However, customers reported that alcohol-based markers bleed through the page more quickly so water-based markers may be best.

Pros and Cons of Nice Little Town: Adult Coloring Book by Tatiana Bogema (Stolova)

Best for Coloring

Nice Little Town: Adult Coloring Book

• 90 pages.
• Contains 25 images for coloring.
• The fifth book in the 12-book Nice Little Town series.

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Criteria: What to Look For in Books About Mice

The two broad categories when it comes to books about mice are fiction and nonfiction. The best overall book we picked for this list is a nonfiction book. It serves as a guide for people who are interested in bringing a pet mouse into their home. It’s very practical with a lot of factual information that helps to prepare you for bringing mice home and encourages you to become an informed pet parent. On the other hand, you have fiction books that incorporate mice as characters in a narrative. These types of books appeal to children and can make for a fun family read.

The third type of book you may consider is a coloring book. The one we selected highlights a town of mice and incorporates fantastical imagery of what mice may look like if they had their own small town to enjoy. These aren’t classified as either fiction or nonfiction because there is no text as much as there are illustrations to color in. These types of books complement other mouse books and can usually be gifted together. Ultimately, it’s important to consider if the mouse book you’re looking for has to serve a specific purpose or if it’s more for enjoyment.

What to Know About Having Mice as Pets

Mice make wonderful pets, even for beginners. This is a low-maintenance type of pet that has tons of personality and bonds with you over time. Ideally, they should have a littermate of the same sex. These are naturally very social creatures, and you can enjoy watching them as they play with each other in their homes. Keep in mind, however, that mice do have a shorter lifespan than most pets. They may live for only one to three years. They make great pets for people who have busy schedules and can’t tend to a pet full-time. So long as they have their littermate, they can be pretty self-sufficient.

Mice have a varied diet and can enjoy fruits and vegetables, greens, and even some meat products. Fresh hay also delivers fiber for mice and serves a second purpose because it allows them to build little nests and stay warm. Mice also always need access to water. You must be mindful not to overfeed mice because obesity can cause a slew of health problems. To house them, you need a secure cage. Mice are really clever with their escape attempts so you must ensure that the cage is completely secure and has a solid lid. Mice need a lot of ventilation though so make sure that the cage provides adequate airflow.

Their enclosure should have a little nest box so that they can make it their bed. They need to feel that sense of security and warmth to be healthy and happy. Inside their cage, you should also incorporate something for stimulation like empty toilet rolls, a mini hammock, and an exercise wheel. This gives them both the physical and mental stimulation they need to remain content in their environment. Another thing that’s important to know is that mice’s teeth never stop growing. Therefore, they need a little wooden block to help keep those teeth trimmed down!