Brave Peter Mouse Rebus

        Two little readers one older and one younger can share reading this story aloud together...

       Peter mouse did like to go out the barn and play, but a great black cat with great green eyes was out there too, and it frightened him away. One day Peter mouse crawled out of the hole, just to take a peep, and he laughed, and laughed and laughed, 'cause that big black cat was asleep. Then Peter's little eyes got just as bright, and his gray fur all bristled out, and he said, "Ho, I'm not afraid of the old cat. I'm going right up near, and pull his ear!" So he crept up, and crept up, just as easy, till he could almost reach out and give him a little pat-just like that! Then what do you s'pose that cat did? It just jumped right out of his way! It had been only make-believe asleep, and that Peter mouse just had time to scramble into his hole, and barely get away.

Printable "Brave Peter Mouse'' rebus. Click to see
much larger.

Happy Jack Rebus

        Print out pages of the Fall themed rebus and read aloud with your young student. Have him or her follow along with the reading; she may point to each word as you read it aloud. When you come to a tiny picture, have the student say what the picture is out loud to complete their part of the storyline.

Page one of "Happy Jack"

       Happy Jack is a little squirrel. He has a warm nest up in the top of a tree. When the round bright sun peeps into his nest in the morning Happy Jack jumps out. He hears a bird sing and he sees a butterfly spread its wings. A busy, busy bee hims past looking for a flower. Happy Jack runs to a hole in the tree where he keeps nuts to eat. He pops into the hole. Soon he sticks his head out. What has he in his mouth? It is a nut. "Caw, Caw, is it good?' asks a black crow who lives near. Happy Jack feels a pull at his tail and drops the nut. There is a Little Bun who lines in the next tree. Away runs Little Bun. Happy Jack runs after him and the crow flies off with the nut.

Page two of "Happy Jack"

       How those two squirrels do play! They sit down, one on each end of a log, to rest. What is that? It is a cat. She will try to catch the squirrels. Bow wow! There comes a little dog. See the cat! The dog's name is Frisky. And there is a little boy. He has brought some nuts in a basket for the squirrels. There is a bunny. See him sit up. He is a friend of Happy Jack. Right at the foot of Happy Jack's tree lives a toad. He catches insects with his long tongue. Sometimes Happy Jack drops a nut on the head of Mr. toad. He does it for fun. When the moon looks down and the stars twinkle Happy Jack and Little Bun will be curled up snug and worm in their nests.

The mystery of the stolen clothes...

 A Tiny Tot Tale

by Helen Cowles Le Cron

       Now Nancy had a tiny doll with yellow hair. She called it Polly, and loved to make it clothes. You know some very little girls can sew. Well, just before she went to bed one night, she made a dress of red for Polly, and a tiny hat with one red feather. Think of that! The cross old clock was striking eight when Mother said, "Come, dear, it's late!" So, Nancy went, and took her doll but left the clothes she'd made for Polly.
       All dark and quiet grew the cottage and then scratch, scratch - a little mouse - (a lady mouse) came creeping out, to see the big round world no doubt. Quite soon, she noticed Nancy's chair. "A hat?" she squeaked "I do declare! "What luck! A fine, new dress and hat just made for me. Now think of that!" She tried them on, "My sakes!" squeaked she "How fine a dress and hat can be. I feel so Sunday-fied and nice; I just must show my sister mice."
       When morning came, as mornings should, poor Polly's clothes were gone for good, and Nancy simply couldn't guess who took her dolly's hat and dress. But old man clock he knew, he knew - and he told me what I tell you.

A printable rebus for teachers and students.
Click to read much larger!