What do you think?
Rate this book
Two Mice
One house, two mice, three cookies . . . and the adventure begins. In gorgeously illustrated spreads and two-word phrases, this picture book takes two mice through their exciting and eventful day. Funny, lively, and easy to follow, the book offers the youngest readers the chance to count from one to three and back again.
Sergio Ruzzier's illustrations display his signature quirky, colorful, and slightly surreal view of characters and settings, and the text is a minimalist gem. It's a perfect book to share one-on-one with a young child and a lovely lead-up to bedtime.
Sergio Ruzzier's illustrations display his signature quirky, colorful, and slightly surreal view of characters and settings, and the text is a minimalist gem. It's a perfect book to share one-on-one with a young child and a lovely lead-up to bedtime.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2015
1 person is currently reading
145 people want to read
About the author
Sergio Ruzzier
75 books104 followersWebsite and blog: http://www.ruzzier.com
Sergio Ruzzier was born in Milan, Italy, in 1966.
He began his career as an illustrator in 1986.
In 1995 he moved to New York City, where he’s been creating pictures and stories for national and international magazines and book publishers.
His work has been awarded by American Illustration, The Society of Illustrators, Communication Arts, and The Society of Publication Designers.
He won the Parents' Choice Gold Medal for “The Room of Wonders” and for his illustrations for “Why Mole Shouted."
He was a recipient of the 2011 Sendak Fellowship.
Sergio Ruzzier was born in Milan, Italy, in 1966.
He began his career as an illustrator in 1986.
In 1995 he moved to New York City, where he’s been creating pictures and stories for national and international magazines and book publishers.
His work has been awarded by American Illustration, The Society of Illustrators, Communication Arts, and The Society of Publication Designers.
He won the Parents' Choice Gold Medal for “The Room of Wonders” and for his illustrations for “Why Mole Shouted."
He was a recipient of the 2011 Sendak Fellowship.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
May 25, 2021
Ruzzier manages to convey a fun story using very few words, most of them the numbers one, two, and three. Join the hijinks as two little mice have a grand, and occasionally harrowing, adventure.
November 13, 2015
This is a deceptively simple counting book that counts down from three, then back up. What Sergio Ruzzier manages to do is tell a story about two mice who go on an adventure which leads them to discover the beauty of friendship and home. The illustrations are adorable, and the plot is creative and unique. The basic, minimal vocabulary makes this a perfect book for a beginning independent reader.
March 3, 2016
I'm not sure I can put into words what is so wonderful about this l'il book. And maybe that's the point. It's the lack of words and the illustrations that say so much more than words can about the relationship between the mice, who could be friends, relatives, roommates, or lovers. There is drama, and humor, adventure and angst. And all of it is communicated with simple numbers.
January 28, 2015
A simple and simply lovely book. A sort-o- counting (well, one to three and back again) book and a tiny adventure story too. Absolutely charming.
October 29, 2015
This is Ruzzier's best, yet.
October 13, 2015
Count from one to three and back down to one again in this funny picture book. Three cookies don’t split evenly between two mice, but then neither does only one pair of oars when they head out on the water. Three rocks in the water make two holes in their boat. Luckily there is one island with two trees, which actually are the feet of a giant bird. The two mice cry three tears as they are carried up to be food for three chicks. All it takes is one nest to make their one escape. Back home, the two mice make one soup out of the perfect number of ingredients.
Ruzzier’s counting book is a gem. He cleverly uses the counting as a solid foundation for this story, each moment led forward by the numbers. At the same time, this shows his immense skill as he is able to keep the book funny, warm and dynamic without it becoming too filled with sing-song or too weighted by the structure itself. The story is almost effortless as it reads aloud, each number leaping to the next with the story the focus too.
The art too is jaunty and fun. The bright colors are infused throughout the landscape with clouds and the water ranging from pinks to yellows to oranges. Everything is done in unusual colors except the two main characters who are distinct in their bright white.
A clever counting book, this will make a great pick for bedtime or beginning counters. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
Ruzzier’s counting book is a gem. He cleverly uses the counting as a solid foundation for this story, each moment led forward by the numbers. At the same time, this shows his immense skill as he is able to keep the book funny, warm and dynamic without it becoming too filled with sing-song or too weighted by the structure itself. The story is almost effortless as it reads aloud, each number leaping to the next with the story the focus too.
The art too is jaunty and fun. The bright colors are infused throughout the landscape with clouds and the water ranging from pinks to yellows to oranges. Everything is done in unusual colors except the two main characters who are distinct in their bright white.
A clever counting book, this will make a great pick for bedtime or beginning counters. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
November 30, 2015
Age range: 2 to 5 years old.
This little book tells the adventures of two little mice constantly counting up to 3, and then counting down to 1 again.
The text is predictable enough to allow the kids to count and guess the number before you say it, encouraging the interaction.
The illustrations, by Ruzzier too, are really nice and tell by themselves the rest of the story.
Not a typical counting book, but an enjoyable one!
Check out more children's book reviews in my Reviews in Chalk Blog!
This little book tells the adventures of two little mice constantly counting up to 3, and then counting down to 1 again.
The text is predictable enough to allow the kids to count and guess the number before you say it, encouraging the interaction.
The illustrations, by Ruzzier too, are really nice and tell by themselves the rest of the story.
Not a typical counting book, but an enjoyable one!
Check out more children's book reviews in my Reviews in Chalk Blog!
October 5, 2015
For a book with VERY few words, the two characters have real appeal, portraying identifiable emotions in familiar situations, (and some very unfamiliar ones). The few words provided are essential for early reading independence, repeated often, but every time offering distinct purposes. It will have appeal as a read-aloud but works even better for small hands to hold and develop ownership of the reading process.
December 11, 2015
Two mice leave their cozy home seeking adventure - and find more than they bargained for. Ruzzier crafts the imaginative storyline in sparse text using the numbers 1, 2, and 3. Young readers will enjoy following the mice on their exciting journey.
January 14, 2016
Most counting books go to ten...but this simple gem just takes the reader from one to three and back. So much goes on in the two word statements:
One house
Two mice
Three cookies
Young readers will use the visual clues to predict what is coming next....oh, no!
Adorable!
One house
Two mice
Three cookies
Young readers will use the visual clues to predict what is coming next....oh, no!
Adorable!
September 14, 2015
Using numbers 1, 2, 3 in a clever way throughout the story.
This one is going on my Mock Geisel list.
This one is going on my Mock Geisel list.
November 2, 2015
I love the art in this book. Sergio may be my new favorite illustrator. Oh and I love the petite size of the book!
April 5, 2016
I got a bit worried for a second there....
June 26, 2016
I'm a big fan of Ruzzier's distinctive work and this counting up to and back down from three is such a wonderful story device.
September 1, 2015
This is a beautifully illustrated book that belongs in all preschool and kindergarten classrooms.
June 3, 2017
This book is about two mice who go around suffering anything that is not even, thus inconveniencing one of them. It has a poem-like structure that makes the story fly by. Although it does not have any real meaningful plot so it only stays as an entertaining book.
The media used is water-color, and this comes off as simple drawings. However, the art is endearing and makes the easy reading even more fun to read. The art of the book keeps the style consistent throughout.
To me, the book was too simple to enjoy and the poem style is not something I like to read. Although I do see how young students would enjoy reading or being read this book. So in a kindergarten setting this story can work as a whole class reciting the words.
The media used is water-color, and this comes off as simple drawings. However, the art is endearing and makes the easy reading even more fun to read. The art of the book keeps the style consistent throughout.
To me, the book was too simple to enjoy and the poem style is not something I like to read. Although I do see how young students would enjoy reading or being read this book. So in a kindergarten setting this story can work as a whole class reciting the words.
August 1, 2018
Two mice head out on an adventure in a boat. They hit rocks, capsize, and nearly end up as dinner to baby birds before making it back home safe and sound.
It's the combination of the sparse text and delightful illustrations that make this book a hit. Using only the numbers, one, two, and three, the text is composed of two word phrases where the first word is one of these numbers. The rest of the story is revealed in the soft images.
I loved the humour in this. Even my one year old enjoyed it. It is the perfect book for children just breaking through into reading.
It's the combination of the sparse text and delightful illustrations that make this book a hit. Using only the numbers, one, two, and three, the text is composed of two word phrases where the first word is one of these numbers. The rest of the story is revealed in the soft images.
I loved the humour in this. Even my one year old enjoyed it. It is the perfect book for children just breaking through into reading.
May 6, 2017
The book opens with two mice having a snack of cookies. Problem is there are 2 mice and three cookies; one mouse has 2 cookies and the other only one. After snack the 2 go on a boat ride. There's another problem: there are 3 boats, 2 oars and 2 mice. Again, one mouse ends up with the short end of the oar.
These adventures continue, counting back and forth between 1,2 and 3. A simple story to introduce counting.
These adventures continue, counting back and forth between 1,2 and 3. A simple story to introduce counting.
July 16, 2017
This is a sweet, simplistic story set up as a counting book, although very different. The story begins before the title page and counts only to three, and back to one, a few times. Very cute story with adorable illustrations.
May 13, 2022
This is a fun adventure in minimal words! Every page counts one, two, or three of something. (Words, no numerals.) Everything except "three cheers" when the mice make it back home is clearly countable.
December 16, 2023
Two mice embark on more adventure than they had originally planned. Do they make it safely back home again? You'll have to read it and see!
Themes: mice, adventures, home
Ages: preK-1st grade
Pub year: 2015
Themes: mice, adventures, home
Ages: preK-1st grade
Pub year: 2015
June 5, 2017
charming counting book
January 19, 2018
Adorable counting concept books. Count along as two mice go on an adventure! Perfect for a counting or concept storytime. Recommended for pre-k - kindergarten
November 4, 2018
The illustrations are nice, and it also can tell by themselves the rest of the story.
June 30, 2019
This book helps young readers learn to count.
September 18, 2019
Two mice go through their day discovering different quantities of things.
August 24, 2021
another small format book that delights with an interesting adventure and wonderful illustrations.
June 16, 2022
Interesant pentru copii care abia învață să citească și să numere.
Ilustrațiile sunt și ele destul de reușite.
Pe Felix, la 6 ani, l-a făcut să râdă, puțin.
Ilustrațiile sunt și ele destul de reușite.
Pe Felix, la 6 ani, l-a făcut să râdă, puțin.
November 8, 2022
3.5 stars--Told with simple words and pastel-hued, sweet illustrations, this is a story of two critters' grand adventure.
November 18, 2022
I was not the biggest fan of the illustrations in this book. I found them to be less intriguing than many books I usually end up reading, which simply made the picture book less fun for me to read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews