Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien

Book Genre: Fantasy Fiction

Publishing Info: Aladdin, 233 pages

Awards or honors received: Newbery Medal


Summary: Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse, knows it is time to move her children to their spring house. One of her sons is very sick, though, and will not be able to move. She decides to ask help from the rats that live in a nearby bush. Once inside their bush, however, Mrs. Frisby realizes that these rats are far from ordinary. They dislike the fact that rats steal everything, so they have developed a plan to be self sufficient and no longer have to steal. The Rats of NIMH learned that this was possible after they escaped from a science lab, where they were taught to read and communicate. Because of their intelligence, the are able to help Mrs. Frisby come up with a plan for how to protect her house and not have to move to the spring house until her son is better.


Personal rating and reason for rating: *** Good. I think this book keeps children wanting to read and it uses their imaginations in a fun way. It can be very long at points, though, which is one downfall.


Reading level: 5.1

Interest level: 3rd grade -6th grade


Possible uses of the text in integrated units of study:

Science- The students can work as the "engineers" that help Mrs. Frisby protect her house. Students will come up with a way to move her house from its current location to the new location behind the rock where it will be safe from the tractor.


Social Studies/Geography: Students can draw and label a map of the Fitzgibbon's farm including the Frisby's current house, their spring hose, the bolder where they move, the rat's bush, etc.


Science- Students will research information about the habitats and niches of mice, then compare them to the habitats and niches of the Frisbys.


Potential Problems or Difficulties: none

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