The Mouse and the Motorcycle series is a classic children’s series from legendary children’s author Beverly Cleary. With over 39 books under her belt, Cleary has cleared herself an unmovable part in American society and literature. Ralph S Mouse is the third book in the classic series following an adventurous little mouse called Ralph and his unlikely friendships.
Keep reading for a look at everything you need to know about this exciting & daring classic children’s story!
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Ralph S Mouse – Beverly Cleary
Reading Age 5-9
In this third and final Ralph S. Mouse novel from Newbery Medal–winning author Beverly Cleary, Ralph heads to school to see what humans do all day . . . and to discover what the “S” in Ralph S. Mouse stands for!
Full Official Synopsis:
In this third and final Ralph S. Mouse novel from Newbery Medal–winning author Beverly Cleary, Ralph heads to school to see what humans do all day . . . and to discover what the “S” in Ralph S. Mouse stands for!
With his rowdy cousins constantly wearing out his motorcycle and the Mountain View Inn manager threatening to take care of the mouse infestation once and for all, Ralph decides it’s time to get away for a while. He convinces his human friend Ryan to take him along to school, where Ralph instantly becomes the center of attention.
But when Ryan’s class decides to see how smart Ralph is by making him run a maze, the usually confident mouse starts to fret. What if he’s not as clever as he thought?
Ralph S. Mouse is perfect for independent reading or for shared reading at home or in a classroom. This fun story is the third of a trilogy, along with The Mouse and the Motorcycle and Runaway Ralph, all inspired by the author’s hope to create appealing books for boys and girls—and by the sight of her son playing with toy cars.
About The Author
“Beverly Cleary was a literary treasure whose lively characters brought so much joy to this world.”
Reese Witherspoon
Beverly Cleary has one of the most all-American success stories of humble authors. Young Beverly learned to love books through her mother’s job as a librarian, although when she went to grammar school, she found herself in the low reading circle.
Despite her struggles, she persevered and her teachers long suggested that Cleary follow a career in writing.
Most of Cleary’s works are inspired from her childhood and from stories and experiences of those around her. This stems from her childhood reading days where she was unable to relate to a lot of characters in stories.
Honors and Awards
- 1978 Newbery Honor Book, Ramona and Her Father
- 1982 Newbery Honor Book, Ramona Quimby, Age 8
- 1984 Newbery Medal, Dear Mr. Henshaw
- National Book Award, Ramona and Her Mother
- Catholic Library Association’s 1980 Regina Medal Award
- University of Southern Mississippi’s 1982 Silver Medallion*
- Children’s Book Council 1985 Everychild Award*
- American Library Association’s 1975 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award*
- Named a 2000 Library of Congress ‘Living Legend’*
*All presented in recognition of her lasting contribution to children’s literature. Mrs. Cleary’s books have received more than 35 state awards based on the direct votes of her young readers. (*quoted from author’s page)
Cleary was active for a whopping 49 years and died only 5 short years after her last publication. Her influence on literature and culture is not lost. There is a school named in her honor as well as statues of some of her famous characters erected in Grant Park.
Ralph S Mouse (Ralph Mouse Book 3)
In this excellent final instalment of the cherished Ralph Mouse series, Ralph gets annoyed with his many mouse cousins wanting to use his motorcycle, so he decides to go to school for a while for a change of scenery.
Ralph has a bit of a temper and is a little selfish, and I loved how these flaws played out. It kept the story amusing and unpredictable. Funny and whimsical as ever, our little Ralph is growing up and going to school! This series captured my heart entirely and I’m a little sad that Beverly Clearly stopped at three!
Watching Ralph get into a little car at the end was a clever and heartfelt conclusion to the series. A very bad little mouse with an awful lot of good in him – this series is definitely one I’ll long remember. Although, it seems like most Cleary books have this effect on me.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What reading level is Ralph S Mouse?
A: The book uses fairly simple language, with a few words and phrases which might be a little challenging for new readers. With paired reading we think any child from ages 4+ would enjoy this book!
Q: What does the S in Ralph S Mouse stand for?
A: The ‘S’ in Ralph S Mouse (Ralph Mouse Book 3) stands for smart.
Q: What is the setting of Ralph S Mouse?
A: In the Ralph Mouse series, young, outgoing Ralph lives with his mouse family in a knothole in the wall of the Mountain View Inn.
Q: How long is Ralph S Mouse?
A: Ralph S Mouse is around 175 pages, depending on the publication.
Don’t Miss Out On The Rest Of Ralph The Mouse Books, Check Our Our Guide To The Trilogy Here!
