Jumping Mouse

A classic fable
Core Knowledge ® Foundation / FKB Make a Difference
CC-BY-NC-SA
 Legal Note:

This book is in CREATIVE COMMONS - Awesome!! That means you can share, reuse it, and in some cases
republish it,

but only in accordance with the terms of the applicable license

(not all CCs are equal!),

attribution must be provided, and any resulting work must be released in the same manner.

Please reach out and contact us if you want more information: https://www.freekidsbooks.org/about

This page is added for identification.

Image Attribution:Anjora Noronha CC-BY-SA

 JUMPING MOUSE
Core Knowledge ® Foundation

Creative Commons Licensing Attribution: Any use of this material must be attributed in the following way:

This work is based on an original work of the

Core Knowledge® Foundation
made available through licensing under a
Creative Commons Attribution- NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
This does not in any way imply that the
Core Knowledge Foundation endorses this work.

This remixed edition of this work is remixed and published by:

http://www.freekidsbooks.org,
Any use of this material in this format must be attributed to:
http://www.freekidsbooks.org,

See the original format at https://www.engageny.org/

This work is licensed under the

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License, CC-NC-BY-SA
http://semi-conservative/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

This text is free for non-commercial distribution and use. No part of this text may be reproduced for
commercial use without express permission of the creators.
Table of Contents
The Jumping Mouse....................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Core Vocabulary ............................................................................................................................................................................... 29
Reading Comprehension Questions ................................................................................................................................................. 30
Think - Share .................................................................................................................................................................................... 30
Questions About Mice ...................................................................................................................................................................... 31
About the Creators of this eBook: ............................................................................................................................................... 32

:Story: Rosie McCormick, Illustrations: Michael Parker

Contact the Editor::

Please see our contacts at the following webpage: https://www.freekidsbooks.org/makeadifference

Make a Difference
K12 - Free School Textbooks - OER Resources - Books For A Cause
This eBook is part of the FKB Make a Difference Project
Find out more at: https://www.freekidsbooks.org/makeadifference
 The Jumping Mouse
Once there was a small mouse with a big dream. The
small mouse had grown up listening to the elders
tell wonderful stories about the far-off land. Now
the small mouse lived in the brush near the
sparkling river. On the other side of the sparkling
river was the dry desert. The small mouse had been
told that the far-off land was on the other side of
the dry desert.

Although the mouse was small, he was brave. He

intended to go to the far-off land. One day he said
goodbye to his family and friends and set off.

His first challenge was to find a way to cross the

beautiful sparkling river. As he stared at the
lapping water, a frog appeared beside him.
 “You’ll have to swim,” said the frog.
“I don’t know what you mean,” replied the small
mouse, for he had never swum before.
“Watch me,” said the frog. And with that the frog
jumped into the sparkling river and began to swim.
The small mouse watched the frog for several
seconds before announcing, “I am afraid I cannot do
that. I will have to nd another way to cross the
sparkling river.”
The frog returned to the edge of the river.
“Why are you so determined to cross the sparkling
river? Where are you going?” asked the frog.
“I am going to the far-off land,” replied the small
mouse.
“If you don’t mind my saying, you are a very small
mouse to cross such a big river and travel such a
long distance to the far- off land.” The frog
stared at the small mouse for a short time,
 and seeing that he could not be swayed from
following his plan, decided to help the small
mouse.
“This is your lucky day,” exclaimed the frog. “I am
a magic frog and I will help you. I name you
Jumping Mouse. You will soon discover that you can
jump higher than you have ever jumped before.
Follow me, Jumping Mouse, and I will take you
across the sparkling river.”
With that said, the frog and Jumping Mouse jumped
very high and landed on a leaf in the middle of the
sparkling river. They floated on the leaf to the
other side of the sparkling river.
“Goodbye my friend,” said the frog. “Be brave and
hopeful and
you will surely reach the far-off land.”
“Thank you,” replied Jumping Mouse. “I will never
forget your kindness.”
Jumping Mouse set off across the dry desert. He
jumped across stones and twigs on his strong legs.
As the frog had promised, Jumping Mouse jumped
higher than ever before. He traveled by day and by
night, stopping only to eat berries wherever he
found them.
 Eventually Jumping Mouse came to a stream. The
stream gave life to this part of the dry desert.
Beside the stream grew many bushes. Underneath one
of the bushes there lived a very fat mouse.
“Good day to you,” the fat mouse said to Jumping
Mouse.

“Good day,” replied Jumping Mouse.

“Where are you going?” asked the fat mouse.
“To the far-off land,” explained Jumping Mouse.
“However, I would like to rest a while and eat some
of the juicy berries that grow on the bushes beside
the stream.”
 “Be my guest,” said the fat mouse.
Jumping Mouse stayed with the fat mouse for several
days. He ate berries and drank from the cool
stream. Before long, he felt rested and ready to
continue his journey.
“It is time for me to continue my journey,” said
Jumping Mouse one day.
“Why would you want to travel to a place you are
not sure even exists? Stay here with me, where you
can eat berries and drink from the stream to your
heart’s content! But, if you must go, be very
careful for the journey will be perilous indeed for
such a small mouse,” warned the fat mouse.
“I will be careful. And I will find a way to pay
forward the kindness you and the frog have shown
me. Thank you for your generosity,” replied Jumping
Mouse, as his powerful legs carried him away.
With hope in his heart, Jumping Mouse continued on
his way.
Some time later, Jumping Mouse arrived at the great
grassy plain. There he found a bison lying
forlornly 1 in the grass.
“Hello bison,” said Jumping Mouse. “I am Jumping
Mouse.”
“Hello Jumping Mouse. Please tell me how beautiful
the sky
looks today,” said the bison sadly. “Have you lost
your sight?” asked Jumping Mouse with
compassion. “Yes! I am blind now,” replied the
bison. “I do not know what I
will do now that I cannot see.”
“I am just an ordinary mouse,” replied Jumping
Mouse, “but before I reached the great grassy
plain, a magic frog gave me a new name. The frog
named me Jumping Mouse. The name gave me extra
strength in my legs. I will name you ‘Eyes-of-a-
Mouse’ in the hope that your eyes will regain their
 strength.”
No sooner had Jumping Mouse finished speaking, when
the bison exclaimed, “I can see!”
At that very moment Jumping Mouse realised he could
no longer see.
“And I cannot see!” said Jumping Mouse.
“Dear Jumping Mouse,” said the bison. “You have
given me your eyes. I am so thankful! Let me do
something for you.”
“I am on my way to the far-off land,” explained
Jumping Mouse. “Though, how I will get there now, I
do not know.”
“Come, jump beneath my enormous hooves, and I will
guide you across the grassy plain to the high
mountain,” said the bison gently. And with that
they set off.
 When they reached the high mountain, the bison bid
farewell to Jumping Mouse. Jumping Mouse rested for
a while and then began to climb the mountain. It
was difficult, as Jumping Mouse could not easily
tell which way to go. He sniffed the air and
followed the scent of pine.
Jumping Mouse trod along on grass and rocks. But
then he trod on something that felt alarmingly like
fur. Jumping Mouse sniffed the air again.
“Wolf!” he said in a frightened voice.
“Do not fear me,” replied the wolf, “for I am a
very sad wolf. I have lost my sense of smell. I do
not know how I will find food without it.”
 “My dear wolf,” said Jumping Mouse, “it may seem
strange, but I gave the bison my sight. I will call
you ‘Nose-of-a-Mouse’ and we shall see what will
happen.”
No sooner had Jumping Mouse spoken these words than
the wolf sniffed the air and cried, “I can smell
you Jumping Mouse, and other wonderful fragrances
as well. Thank you! I am so grateful. How can I
repay you?”
“I am on my way to the far-off land. I am brave and
I still have hope that I will get there even though
I can no longer see nor smell. Perhaps you can help
me.”
“I will help you Jumping Mouse. Walk beneath my
body and I will lead you onward,” said the wolf.
 Onward they went until at last the wolf exclaimed,
“I can go no farther. We are on the top of the high
mountain. I must bid you goodbye, my friend.” And
with that, the wolf retreated back down the
mountainside.
For the first time, Jumping Mouse felt fear. How
would he ever get to the far-off land now that he
could no longer see nor smell? A tiny tear drop
fell to the ground. At that very moment, Jumping
Mouse heard a familiar voice.
 “Do not be fearful,” said the magic frog, for it
was he. “You could have misused my gift, but you
did not. Instead, you showed kindness and helped
others on your journey. Jump high into the sky, my
friend.”
Jumping Mouse hesitated for just a second, and then
he jumped high into the sky. Immediately he felt
the air lift him up into the clouds. He felt the
warmth of the sun on his back. He looked down and
saw the beauty of the land beneath him.
“Jumping Mouse,” said the magic frog, “I am giving
you a new name. It is Eagle. Fly away, my friend,
and soar on to your new home in the far-off land.”
And that is exactly what Jumping Mouse did.

-THE END-
Core Vocabulary
brush, n. A bunch of bushes, shrubs, and other plants growing close together
Example: Micah had a hard time making his way through the brush to get to the campsite. Variation(s): none
journey, n. A long trip or voyage from one place to another Example: Rebecca made the journey home after her vacation
ended. Variation(s): journeys
perilous, adj. Dangerous Example: It would be perilous to cross the rickety bridge. Variation(s): none
swayed, v. Changed an idea or an opinion Example: John swayed his older brother to share his favourite toy. Variation(s):
sway, sways, swaying
compassion, n. Deep awareness of the suffering of another, as well as a desire to stop it Example: Greg felt compassion for
his friend, who fell off her bike. Variation(s): none
enormous, adj. Very large Example: The trucks driving down the highway are enormous. Variation(s): none
fragrances, n. Sweet or pleasant odours Example: My mother’s garden is full of flowers with different fragrances. Variation(s):
fragrance
misused, v. Used incorrectly Example: Liliana misused her pencil by digging a hole in the ground with it. Variation(s): misuse,
misuses, misusing
Reading Comprehension Questions
1. Who are the characters in the story?
2. Why does Jumping Mouse decide to leave his home and travel across the desert?
3. What gift does the magic frog give to Jumping Mouse?
4. How does this gift help Jumping Mouse get across the river?
5. What does Jumping Mouse promise the fat mouse?
6. What gift does Jumping Mouse give to the bison?
7. What gift does Jumping Mouse give to the wolf?
8. What do these gifts tell you about Jumping Mouse? Is he kind, or is he mean?
9. What does the magic frog turn Jumping Mouse into at the end of the story?

Think - Share
1. Have you ever wanted to know what it is like outside of your city or community? If you could take an epic
journey, where would you want to go?
2. What lesson can we learn from this story?
3. Can you think of a time when you showed kindness to others without thought of a reward?

Questions About Mice

1. What sound does a mouse make?
2. What do mice eat?
3. Where do mice live?
4. What does a mouse feel like when you touch it?
5. Have you ever seen a real mouse? If so, where?
 About the Creators of this eBook:
About EngageNY
EngageNY.org is developed and maintained by the New York State Education Department
(NYSED) to support the implementation of key aspects of the New York State Board of Regents Reform Agenda. EngageNY.org
is dedicated to providing educators across New York State with real-time, professional learning tools and resources to support
educators in reaching the State’s vision for education for all students.

“College and career ready education for all.”

https://www.engageny.org

About Core Knowledge® Foundation

The Core Knowledge Foundation, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, publishes a wide variety of educational books and materials, from
curricular guidelines to comprehensive instructional programs. They offer many of these materials as open
educational resources (OER), available at no cost for non-commercial use. Their greatest motivation is to
share the knowledge.

“Only a well-rounded, knowledge-specific curriculum can impart needed knowledge to all children and
overcome inequality of opportunity.”
https://www.coreknowledge.org

About Free Kids Books

Free Kids Books provides a multitude of new original, creative commons, classic children's books, and K-12 OER textbooks –
for free download and read online, for the joy of reading and for promotion of free literacy and education materials for access to
everyone, everywhere.

Simply providing great free kids books

– no strings attached.
http://www.freekidsbooks.org
This book is shared online by Free Kids Books at https://www.freekidsbooks.org in terms of the creative commons license provided by the publisher or author.

Want to find more books like this?

https://www.freekidsbooks.org
Simply great free books -
Preschool, early grades, picture books, learning to read,
early chapter books, middle grade, young adult, OER textbooks
Pratham, Book Dash, Mustardseed, Open Equal Free, and many more!
Always Free – Always will be!
https://www.freekidsbooks.org

https://www.freekidsbooks.org/makeadifference