The Tale of Two Bad Mice

Reach for this book when your child has had a 'destructive' day or is struggling with the frustration of things not working the way they should. It is a gentle but honest look at the impulse to break things when we feel excluded or disappointed. The story follows two mice, Tom Thumb and Hunca Munca, who break into a beautiful dollhouse only to find the delicious-looking food is made of plaster and the beds are too small. Their resulting 'rampage' is a perfect mirror for a toddler's tantrum. While the mice start with mischief and even a bit of violence toward inanimate objects, the story concludes with a quiet act of restitution. It offers a wonderful opening to discuss how we can make things right after we lose our tempers. Best for children aged 3 to 7, this classic tale provides a safe space to explore the transition from anger to apology without being overly preachy.