The Rescuers (book) facts for kids
First UK edition
|
|
| Author | Margery Sharp |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Garth Williams (US) Judith Brook (UK) |
| Country | England |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Rescuers |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Publisher | Little, Brown (US) Collins (UK) |
|
Publication date
|
1959 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 160 |
| Followed by | Miss Bianca |
The Rescuers is a popular children's book written by Margery Sharp. It was first published in 1959. This book is the first in a series of exciting adventures about a brave and fancy mouse named Miss Bianca. She is a special mouse who helps people and animals when they are in trouble.
Contents
The Mice's Mission to Help
The story begins in a country that is not named, in the 1950s. A group of mice called the Prisoners’ Aid Society is meeting. This group helps prisoners around the world. They want to make life better for people in jail.
During the meeting, they hear about a Norwegian poet. He is unfairly held in a terrible place called the Black Castle. The mice decide to break their usual rules. They will try to rescue him!
Finding a Special Mouse
The Society needs a mouse who can speak Norwegian. This mouse would help them talk to the poet. They decide to ask Miss Bianca for help. She is a very special white mouse. She lives with the Ambassador to Norway.
A brave mouse named Bernard volunteers for this important mission. He once saved other mice from a cat. Bernard goes to the Ambassador's house. He finds Miss Bianca in her beautiful little house.
Miss Bianca cannot speak Norwegian. Bernard asks her to find a brave Norwegian mouse for them. At first, Miss Bianca is scared. She has always been pampered. But Bernard explains the sad situation. Miss Bianca, who also loves poetry, starts to feel for the poet. She also starts to like Bernard.
When Miss Bianca travels to Oslo with the Ambassador, she makes a big decision. She will join the mission!
Journey to the Black Castle
In Norway, Miss Bianca slips away from her family. She finds an underground pub for sailor mice. A mouse named Nils is there. He is a strong and experienced adventurer. Nils quickly agrees to help.
Nils takes Miss Bianca back to the Prisoner's Aid Society. They travel part of the way on a cargo ship. Then they use a toy speedboat! Miss Bianca's part of the mission was supposed to end here. But she feels excited by the adventure. She decides to go with Bernard and Nils to the Black Castle.
The three mice get a ride on a supply wagon. They travel for two weeks across the country. The prison is in the ruins of an old castle. It is very hard to get into. All the doors are locked. Only the head jailer's office is open. But a huge Persian cat named Mamelouk guards it.
The mice find a tiny mouse hole behind the office. They set up a small home there. They wait for the right moment to act.
Tricking the Guard Cat
For the next two months, Bernard and Nils explore the castle. Miss Bianca keeps Mamelouk the cat busy. She uses her charm and cleverness. Mamelouk is easy to trick because he is boastful and not very smart.
Miss Bianca even convinces Mamelouk not to eat Bernard and Nils once! She learns from the cat how badly the prisoners are treated. The mice start to lose hope.
Then, Bernard finds a hidden water gate at the back of the castle. Miss Bianca also learns something important from Mamelouk. The jailers and the cat will be asleep on New Year's Day. They will have eaten too much at a party the night before. This is their chance!
The Escape and Return Home
On New Year's Day, the mice get ready. They steal the keys from a sleeping guard. They unlock the door to the cells. Nils calls out in Norwegian. Finally, a sick and thin young man answers. He is the poet! He is an artist and a dreamer. He is the only one who believes mice can talk.
The poet follows them to the water gate. The mice open it, and he escapes! They almost drown in the cold, fast river. But a kind family on a barge rescues them. This family does not like the Black Castle. They take the poet and the mice downriver. They ask no questions.
The three mice return to headquarters. Everyone celebrates their success! Things from their time in the Black Castle are put on display. All three mice get new silver medals.
The poet gets better with the barge family's help. He thanks the mice and goes back to Norway. He promises to meet Nils in Oslo. Miss Bianca gives Nils the speedboat. He sails home to Norway.
Bernard asks Miss Bianca to live with him. He wants her to join the Prisoners’ Aid Society. She almost says yes. But then the Ambassador's helper finds her. He says how much the Ambassador's little boy missed her. Miss Bianca decides it is her destiny to go back. She says goodbye to Bernard. She returns to her beloved master. Everyone in the house is so happy!
Nils and the poet meet in Oslo. They have a fun night out. Later, the poet writes famous poems about Miss Bianca. Bernard becomes the new secretary of the Prisoner's Aid Society.
See also
In Spanish: The Rescuers para niños
