The Adventures of Jimmy Field Mouse

By Ann Christensen Gordon and Margerie Sholar

Once upon a time there was a field mouse named Jimmy who lives with his mama and papa. He is excited to go on his very first overnight at Camp Harmony, but he's nervous he won't know anyone. A charmingly illustrated read-along chapter book for kids ages 3-10 about all the fun adventures Jimmy has at summer c

• Language: English
• Publisher: Palmetto Publishing
• Release date: Sep 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9781638378327

Ann Christensen Gordon

Ann Gordon graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in elementary education. As a kindergarten teacher, director of children's theatre, and creator of Have Fun Will Travel children's party service, storytelling came to her naturally. Her gift has been shared throughout the years with her three children and six grandchildren.Besides writing, Ann enjoys traveling and watercolor painting birthday and greeting cards. She lives in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, with her dog, Maisie.

Book preview

Preface

W

hen my sisters Kay, Linda, Jane, and I were children, Daddy would tell us stories at bedtime about a little field mouse named Jimmy. Daddy would sit on the edge of the bed and begin the story by saying, Once upon a time, there was a little field mouse, and his name was… and we’d finish by saying Jimmy! We’d snuggle in knowing we were in for a treat. Jimmy always had an interesting adventure that came from Daddy’s imagination. After the bedtime story, it was time to say our prayers and close our eyes to dream of all the love that filled our family.

I continued the tradition with my children, Gretchen, Betsy, and Stephen. My dream was to write an anthology of bedtime stories, and I did! Jimmy Field Mouse was a natural choice on which to base the stories. Jimmy’s mama and papa are based on my momma and daddy, while the other characters in the stories are my grandchildren, their second cousins, and great aunts.

The stories are based on actual places. For example, the Tomorrow River is a river near Nelsonville where Daddy was born. The village of Scandinavia is where Momma lived and met Daddy while attending Scandinavia High School. Camp Harmony is named after the family cottage, Relative Harmony in Door County. Many of the experiences are based on things I did as a child or did with my children or grandchildren. Eating lunch on top of the refrigerator, looking down on my mother busy at her sewing machine, or painting a mural of flowers on the kitchen window on a dreary winter day are etched in my memory. These memories are near and dear to my heart. 

This book has been a family affair. My children’s aunt Marge has always loved drawing, so she offered, with a little urging, to illustrate the stories. The cover has illustrations of Jimmy drawn by Alison, Simon, Kjersten, Alden, Arvie, Golda, Mason, Nora, Sam, Ethan, Jack, Benjamin, Oliver, Maya, and me—Nanna.

My hope is that you’ll enjoy reading the book as much as I enjoyed creating it.

Jimmy

O

nce upon a time, there was a little field mouse, and his name was…Jimmy.

He lived with his mama and papa in a little house outside the village of Scandinavia. Around his house were fields of potatoes, corn, and wheat. He loved playing in those fields with his cousins when they came to visit.

His cousins lived a few miles away, so he didn’t see them too often, but when he did it was cause for celebration! He had twelve cousins in all. He hoped someday he’d have more because his mama always said, The more the merrier, and since he loved having fun, he thought having a few more cousins would fill the bill.

Jimmy always had to think hard when he was remembering all the cousins’ names. He was just learning the alphabet and came up with the idea that if he went through the ABC’s, it would be easier to remember all of them, so he made up a chant. Before he started he took a deep breath and puffed up his cheeks. Alison, Alden, Arvie, Benjamin, Ethan, Jack, Kjersten, Mason, Nora, Oliver, Sam, and Simon! By the time he finished, he was blue in the face!

Since his cousins lived down the road, around the bend, and over the Tomorrow River, he usually played with Buster the cat. Now you would think that a cat and a mouse wouldn’t—even couldn’t—be friends, but you’re wrong. They were the bestest friends. Buster was a green-eyed, black furry ball of energy. He was a bit taller than Jimmy, and his whiskers were a bit longer, but Jimmy didn’t mind because his mama always told him he had the cutest, softest ears of any little creature she knew. Besides cute ears, Jimmy’s nose and cheeks were as pink as rose hips.

Mama and Papa were the best parents Jimmy