The Tale Of Two Bad Mice facts for kids
First edition cover
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| Author | Beatrix Potter |
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| Illustrator | Beatrix Potter |
| Country | England |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Publisher | Frederick Warne & Co. |
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Publication date
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September 1904 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Preceded by | The Tale of Benjamin Bunny |
| Followed by | The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle |
The Tale of Two Bad Mice is a popular children's book. It was written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter. The book was first published in September 1904 by Frederick Warne & Co. Beatrix Potter got the idea for the story from two real mice. She caught them in a trap at her cousin's house. She also got inspiration from a doll's house. Her editor, Norman Warne, was building it as a Christmas gift.
The story is about two mice named Tom Thumb and Hunca Munca. They cause a lot of trouble in a doll's house. They find that the tiny food on the dining table is made of plaster. This makes them very angry! So, they smash the dishes and throw the dolls' clothes out the window. They also tear up a pillow and take some items back to their mouse-hole.
When the little girl who owns the doll's house sees the mess, she places a policeman doll outside. This is to stop more damage. But the two mice try to make up for their actions. On Christmas Eve, they put a special coin in the doll's stocking. Every morning, they also sweep the doll's house clean. They use a tiny dust-pan and broom.
This book was very well-liked by critics. Beatrix Potter even received her first fan letter from America because of it. The story has been made into other forms of entertainment. It was part of a 1971 Royal Ballet film called The Tales of Beatrix Potter. It also became an animated episode in the BBC series The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends. You can also find toys and collectibles inspired by the tale. These include porcelain figures and music boxes.
Contents
What Happens in the Story?
Two Bad Mice shows Beatrix Potter's happiness. She enjoyed her work and her friendship with Norman Warne. She also liked the idea of playful mischief. Even though the mice cause damage, it's small and funny. Potter had fun creating a story about naughty behavior. It was the kind of behavior she would never do in real life.
The Doll's House Adventure
The story begins with a beautiful doll's house. It belongs to two dolls, Lucinda and Jane. Jane is the cook, but she never cooks. This is because all the doll's house food is made of plaster. It comes "ready-made" in a box. The food looks nice, but it cannot be eaten.
One morning, the dolls leave the nursery. They go for a ride in their stroller. The nursery is empty. Tom Thumb and Hunca Munca, two mice, peek out from under the skirting board. They live there. They cross the rug and find the doll's house. They open the door and go inside. They "squeak for joy" when they see the dining table set for dinner. Everything looks "so convenient!"
Tom Thumb soon finds out the food is plaster. He gets very angry. The two mice smash every dish on the table. They make a lot of noise: "bang, bang, smash, smash!" They even try to burn one of the plaster foods. They try to do this in the "red-hot crinkly paper fire" in the kitchen.
Mouse Mischief and Consequences
Tom Thumb climbs up the chimney, but it has no soot. Hunca Munca empties the kitchen jars. They are filled with red and blue beads. Tom Thumb takes the dolls' dresses from a drawer. He throws them out the window. Hunca Munca pulls feathers from the dolls' pillow.
While being naughty, Hunca Munca remembers she needs a pillow for her own home. So, the two mice take the dolls' pillow. They drag it to their mouse-hole. They also carry off other small items from the doll's house. These include a tiny cradle. But a bird cage and a bookcase are too big. They won't fit through the mouse-hole.
Suddenly, the nursery door opens. The dolls return in their stroller. Lucinda and Jane are shocked. They can't speak when they see the mess in their house. The little girl who owns the doll's house gets a policeman doll. She puts it at the front door. This is to guard against more trouble. Her nurse is more practical. She sets a mouse-trap.
The narrator thinks the mice are not "so very naughty after all." Tom Thumb tries to make up for his actions. He puts a crooked sixpence coin in the doll's stocking on Christmas Eve. Hunca Munca also tries to fix things. She sweeps the doll's house clean every morning. She uses her tiny dust-pan and broom.
How the Pictures Were Made
The success of The Tale of Two Bad Mice comes from its detailed pictures. Beatrix Potter drew the doll's house with great care. She always tried to show things from a mouse's point of view. She also made sure her drawings were very accurate.
For example, she couldn't clearly see the staircase where the mice drag the pillow. It was hard to take a photo there. But she imagined herself on the stairs. She drew the mice in realistic positions. They were also the right size compared to the doll's house. Potter loved drawing all the tiny furniture. Her publisher, Norman Warne, even warned her. He said she might put too many details in the pictures. The small size of the book makes the pictures seem even tinier. The borders around the pictures also make the details look smaller.
Toys and Collectibles
Beatrix Potter believed her stories would become classics. She worked hard to make them popular. She was one of the first authors to sell toys and other items based on her characters. Between 1903 and 1905, she created a Peter Rabbit doll. She also made a board game and nursery wallpaper. She called these extra items "side-shows." She continued to create more merchandise for many years.
Porcelain Figures
In 1947, Frederick Warne & Co. gave Beswick Pottery the right to make Potter's characters in porcelain. Beswick Pottery is in England. Seven figures inspired by Two Bad Mice were made. These were released between 1951 and 2000. They include:
- Hunca Munca with the Cradle
- Hunca Munca Sweeping
- Tom Thumb
- Christmas Stocking
- Hunca Munca Spills the Beads
- A large, special edition Hunca Munca
- Another Hunca Munca figure
Music Boxes and Ornaments
In 1977, Schmid & Co. got the rights to make Beatrix Potter items. They released two music boxes in 1981. One had a porcelain figure of Hunca Munca on top. The other had Hunca Munca and her babies. Starting in 1983, Schmid also made small Christmas ornaments. These showed different Potter characters, including several Hunca Munca designs.
In 1991, three more music boxes were released:
- One showed Hunca Munca and Tom Thumb in the dolls' bed. It played "Beautiful Dreamer".
- Another showed Tom Thumb teaching his children about mouse traps. It played "You've Got a Friend".
- A third showed Hunca Munca spilling beads from the pantry. It played "Everything is Beautiful".
- There was also a music box with the two mice trying to cut the plaster ham. It played "Close to You".
Another music box from that year played "Home! Sweet Home!". It showed the outside of the doll's house. When you turned it around, it showed the inside. You could place three separate mouse figures inside the house.
Where Else Can You Find the Story?
Beatrix Potter's 23 small books have been translated into almost 30 languages. This includes Greek and Russian. The English versions are still published by Frederick Warne & Co. This company was bought by Penguin Books in 1983. In 1985, Penguin started a big project. They remade the printing plates for all 23 books. They used new photos of the original drawings. They also made new designs that looked like the first books. This project finished in 1987. The books were released as "The Original and Authorized Edition."
Translations Around the World
The Tale of Peter Rabbit was the first of Potter's books to be translated. A Dutch version was published in 1912. Other books followed. Peter Rabbit and five other tales were also published in Braille in 1921. This was for people who are blind.
Twee Stoute Muisjes (Two Bad Mice) was first published in Dutch in 1946. It was later republished in 1969. Two Bad Mice was first published in German in 1939. It was also published in Japanese in 1971.
Story on Screen
The Tale of Two Bad Mice was made into a part of the 1971 Royal Ballet film. The film was called The Tales of Beatrix Potter.
Between 1992 and 1996, many of Beatrix Potter's tales became an animated TV series. It was shown by the BBC and called The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends. One episode combines The Tale of Two Bad Mice with The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse. In this episode, Felicity Kendal voiced Hunca Munca. Rik Mayall voiced Tom Thumb. This episode first aired on June 29, 1994.
Cultural Influence
The title of Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Two Bad Mice inspired author Iain Cameron Williams. He used it for his first children's novel in 2020. His book was called The Tail of ‘Too Bad’ Mike.
Images for kids
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In the frontispiece, Hunca Munca watches as Tom Thumb smashes the plaster food.
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The mice drag the dolls' bolster down the staircase
See also
In Spanish: El cuento de los dos malvados ratones para niños
