Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (1971)
by Robert C. O’Brien
Widowed Mrs. Frisby (a mouse) must find a solution to help her young son, Timothy, before the family is forced to move out of their winter home in the field of Mr. Fitzgibbon. She finds unexpected help from a strange group of rats who have a story all their own.
This is such an enjoyable read. In some ways, it reminds me of the movie Ratatouille, as we hear about life from the rats’ point of view. The story is told quite simply, and yet it’s difficult to put down. Children will love this tale, full of adventures, suspense, and kindnesses. It’s one of our daughter’s all-time favorites.
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (1971)
Update: After rereading this and reading it out loud to our daughter, I wanted to add a few more things. This book was written in the 70s, and I needed to keep that in mind. There was nothing overtly anti-feminist or anything, but there were a few small moments that stood out a little more to me this reading. (My sensors go into high alert when we’re sharing anything with the kids.) There are a couple instances when Mrs. Frisby is given special treatment, not for her own bravery and work, but because of her husband. There’s a also a meeting for only the men at one point. I was able to accept it all a bit more as the story unfolded, but these may be things you want to discuss. Also, Mrs. Frisby definitely earns her own place and respect for all she does. So, by the end, I wasn’t as troubled by it as I was in the middle of the book. Just something to keep in mind.