Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse

Written by Leo Lionni

A real mouse envies a toy's charm, sparking an unexpected friendship.

5.0/7 Bookroo expert·4.2/5 Goodreads · 8,674 ratings

32 pages· 743 words· Est. 6 min read-aloud· 560L

$18.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

Alexander, a real mouse, envies the adored wind-up mouse, Willy. Chased and unloved, Alexander dreams of becoming like Willy. As their paths cross, a magical friendship unfolds, challenging what it means to be truly cherished. Can Alexander find his place in a world that favors the mechanical over the real? Discover the enchanting tale of friendship and self-discovery in this timeless fable.

From the publisher

The beloved Caldecott Honor Book and Christopher Award winner about two unlikely friends who see each other for who they are inside. Everyone loves Willy the wind-up mouse, while Alexander, the real mouse, is chased away with brooms and imperiled by mousetraps. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be loved and cuddled, thinks Alexander, and he wishes he could be a wind-up mouse, too. In this gentle fable about a real mouse and a mechanical one, Leo Lionni explores the magic of friendship. Originally published in 1969, the Caldecott Honor-winning Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse is sure to enchant a whole new generation of readers. A delicate fantasy about friendship, illustrated with bold, sumptuous collages.–The New York Times