Stuart Little

Today's review is of Stuart Little written by E.B. White and illustrated by Garth Williams.

The Basics:

Published: First published in 1945

Length: 131 pages

Reading Level: Age 8-12 years (grades 3-7)

Synopsis:

"Stuart Little is no ordinary mouse. Born to a family of humans, he lives in New York City with his parents, his older brother George, and Snowbell the cat. Though he's shy and thoughtful, he's also a true lover of adventure.

Stuart's greatest adventure comes when his best friend, a beautiful little bird named Margalo, disappears from her nest. Determined to track her down, Stuart ventures away from home for the very first time in his life. He finds adventure aplenty. But will he find his friend?"

Our Ratings (out of 5 stars):

Guinevere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lindsay: ⭐⭐⭐

Guinevere's Thoughts:

"My favorite part was Stuart imagining all the things he would do with his canoe."

My Thoughts:

While I enjoy the premise of a story told from the vantage point of a small mouse, I don't feel that this book was the best choice to read with a 4 year old. From turning on lights and faucets, to shopping for doll-sized clothing and luggage, reading about the ways in which Stuart managed to live in a house and world full of normal-sized humans was charming, but it was heavy on 1940s lingo and boating terminology which made it feel a bit unrelatable for a modern child. The ending seems rushed, almost as though the author had just tired of writing the story and wanted to be done with it since the conclusion is left open-ended and ambiguous. If you are hoping to learn the answer to the question posed in the synopsis, you are entirely out of luck. Stuart's actions and demeanor are at times off-putting and I have other minor quibbles with the story that I won't delve into now, so as not to give away plot lines for those still interested in reading this book.

Read it or Leave it?:

Leave it. Unless you are reading to or buying for an older child, I would pass on this one. If you feel that my unpopular opinion must be way off base and you want to see for yourself, go pick up a copy at your local library or buy it to read at your leisure.

Do you have thoughts or opinions to share about this book? Let me know in the comments!