Mabela the Clever

By Margaret Read MacDonald and Tim Coffey

Mabela may be the smallest mouse in the village, but her father has taught her to be clever. And this cleverness comes in handy when the cat comes, inviting everyone to join the secret Cat Society. The mice line up, with Mabela at the front and the Cat at the back. They march into the forest, singing the secret Cat song and shouting FO FENG! Only clever Mabela realizes the Cat is up to no good!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Albert Whitman Company
• Release date: Oct 14, 2014
• ISBN: 9781497689367

Margaret Read MacDonald

Margaret Read MacDonald is a children's librarian turned storyteller who travels the world sharing tales. Her many picture book retellings include The Boy from the Dragon Palace, Little Rooster’s Diamond Button, and Mabela the Clever. When not traveling, she lives near Seattle, Washington.

Reviews for Mabela the Clever

[FavioEmiliani · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

a mi hijo de 5 años le gusto la historia. mas que nada cuando la ratonsita ayudo a sus amigos a salir de la bolsa

[tmalon4 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book opens with an explanation of the history of the tale, where it came from (England) and a little tune and it’s musical measure to go along with it. I thought this was a good way to explain the origin of the tale, so that readers have a better idea of what the story will be about and where it came from. Mabela is a young mouse whose father taught her cleverness, and how not to be foolish like all of the other mice. The cats in the story were said to be the clever animals, so her father warned her to be careful around them, and not be oblivious. I liked how the book displayed the senses that Mabela’s father described when giving her advice on how to be clever, “listen, look around you, pay attention to what you are saying, and move fast!” I also liked how in the illustrations above the text (aside from he actual page drawings) shows the close-up of a cap with it’s eyes that look peculiar as if the cat knows he is ricking the mice into coming to is house to join “the secret cat society” meanwhile, the readers know that he will try and eat them. In the illustrations, I notified the mice have wide opened eyes, which lead me to believe they were curious, oblivious, and foolish, however Mabela remained skeptical of the cat like her father had told her. The cat tells the mice to march in a straight line into the forest and not look back; one by one it eats the mice and the one in front does not notice. Mabela starts remembering the father’s advice and listens- does not hear many other mice talking and cats voice is closer than before, as she is at the front of the line, and she manages to escape the cat. I think the meaning of the story is to be smart and aware and clever and not oblivious and foolish to other people.

[jaelynculliford · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a folklore about a cat learning from a mouse. In a time where cats where clever and mouses are foolish, there was this one mouse that was smarter than all. Throughout, the book the mouse remembers things his father has told him, like mini lessons. Which is pretty cute to show to children.

[caitlinsnead · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is about a cat who tries to trick mice into going on a trip and makes it sound fun but is actually a trick so that he can eat them. Mabela is a mouse whos mother gave her rules about safety and Mabela towards the end realizes what actually is happening and ends up saving all of the mice. This book teaches children a lesson about being safe in a fun and non-scary way

[schuman_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This story starts off letting us know that in the early times some animals were clever and some not, the cat was a clever one and mice were mostly not. Very cute tale about a cat trying to be clever and trick the mice by telling them that they are invited to join the secret cat society. All the mice were excited and lined up and learned the cat society song and march, which included never looking back. Mabela was in front and the cat was in the back. As they sang every time they said fo feng the cat ate another mouse. Soon mabela realized something was wrong,she remembered her father's advise and finally ran as fast as she could into the sticker bushes. The cat followed and got stuck never to bother Mabela again. The mouse prevailed because she listed and remembered her father's advise. This is a great story to talk about listening to our elders and following not only Mabel's father's good advise but about what other advise parents share? And why it is important to listen to it.

[bsalomon_5 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Mabela is a mouse, whose father has taught her to be clever. When Mabela ventures off with a cat, she does exactly what her father has taught her. This helps Mabela save her friends and herself. This is a great book with great morals to abide by. The illustrations are beautiful and give a sense of a different color, because of the color choices. This would be a great read aloud book for grades K-3.

[conuly · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A good story with an unusual moral - at least, I've never heard "Pay attention and THINK about what you're saying!" presented as a moral before, although God knows it ought to be.No mousies are harmed in the reading of this story. My only real concern with it is that I have no idea how authentic it is.

[leshauck · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Grades 1-4 dealing with Biology and many types of science material.