Children's Book Depicts College Journey

Brittany Pickett
Around Campus Editor

Courtesy of SimonSays.com

  Going to college for the first time might be a little scary, exciting or some of both.  In the children’s book called, "Mahalia Mouse Goes to College," written by John Lithgow college becomes more realistic. The book begins when, Mahalia’s mother tells her that she needs to go find food for the family or else the babies might die.

   In the rain, Mahalia wraps herself up in newspapers and sets off to find food for her family. She stubbles on to a college campus, where she smells a piece of cheese and roast beef  sandwich in a backpack. She crawls into the backpack to try to get a piece of the cheese. But before she can get out, the backpack is zipped up.

   Not much later, the backpack is opened and Mahalia ends up in a college classroom. She peers out of the bag and listens in awe to the professor. This experience gave Mahalia the idea that she should go to college. With a mouse in college, something is bound to happen, someone would notice.  One day while in a class, someone screams “AH, A MOUSE.” The professor talks to Mahalia to see what was going on.

   What happens to Mahalia?  Does she stay in school? Dose she get a degree? What happens to her family? These are questions answer in "Mahalia Mouse Goes to College."

   To read this book, visit the Fred J. Talyor Library and Technology Center at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. The book gives encouragement, perseverance and hope to the young mouse. The book has colorful pictures and simple drawings that fill the page.This book is great, no matter your age. It is one for old and young a like.

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