The Mouse and the Apple

ABOUT THE BOOK
FAMILY ACTIVITIES

Written and illustrated by Stephen Butler, Publisher: Keter

Mouse is sitting expectantly under a tree where a fine, ripe apple hangs. One by one hen, goose, goat and cow come up to look at the apple, and each tries to make it fall. Their efforts fail and so they all go home, but mouse’s patience is rewarded.

Family Activities

Little children lack patience. It is hard for them to wait and they want things “at once”! Their ability to postpone gratification is related to their developmental age. We, as adults, can be an example for them, which will help them learn the importance of patience to get what they want.

Video

Dear Parents,

We share with you some thoughts for activities with your children regarding the book.

Family Activities

You can go over the book with your children and enjoy looking at its illustrations.
Can you spot the apple on every page? Some of the objects and animals remain constant, while others change position. Which are constant? Which are in motion?
It is hard for some children to wait until parents finish their tasks, or to wait until play time comes. We can help the children to wait, by using an analog clock with hands. If the children know in advance when their “waiting time” will end, it will help them increase their ability to wait.
Have you noticed that the mouse is smiling almost throughout the book? How do you think it feels while waiting patiently?
We all lose our patience at times, waiting on line at the cashier, or getting stuck in traffic. You may like to share an experience with your child in which you finally made it after having waited for something for a long time. What 'gift' did you get at the end of the long wait?
You can choose a toy you have, that is from the story, and illustrate what happened to it in the story in front of family and friends.
Let ‘s make an apple pie! Recipe: 3 cups of flour 1 cup of yogurt 2 eggs 200 gr of margarine without salt 1.5 cups of sugar 5 grated apples 1 Teaspoon of cinnamon powder The procedure: Make a whole in the middle of the flour and place one beaten egg. Add sugar, yogurt, and melted margarine. Mix them all together until it becomes doughy and leave it in the fridge for half an hour. Divide the dough in half. Flatten one-half into a disk, add the grated apple with cinnamon. Then flatten the other half on the top. Brush the surface of the dough with a beaten egg and bake it. Enjoy!

المربّية العزيزة،

يرى فأرٌ تفّاحة ريّانة على شجرة، ويقرّر أن ينتظر بصبرٍ حتّى تسقط. كذلك ينتظر أصدقاؤه، ثم ييأسون ويذهبون. هذه حكايةٌ عن الصّبر وثماره الحلوة.

يستصعب الأطفال في هذا العمر الانتظار، سواء انتظار أن يقضي الأهل حاجتهم الآنية، أو الانتظار في دورٍ في الدّكّان أو في عيادة الطّبيب. وعلى الرّغم من أنّ قدرة الأطفال على الانتظار تنمو مع تقدّمهم في العمر، إلاّ أنّها أيضًا نتاج تربية، وترتبط بتذويت قيمٍ أخلاقيّة، مثل احترام الغير، ووقته ومساحته.