Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse

Alexander is a house mouse who is constantly chased and shooed, while his friend Willi, a wind-up toy mouse, is cuddled and loved. Jealous of the affection Willi receives, Alexander seeks out a Magic Lizard to turn him into a toy mouse. However, when Willi is discarded in a box of old toys to be thrown away, Alexander uses his one wish not for his own transformation, but to turn Willi into a real mouse so they can be together. SENSITIVE TOPICS: The book deals with themes of obsolescence and being 'thrown away' (discarded toys), which is handled metaphorically. There is no death, but there is a threat of being discarded. The resolution is hopeful and magical. EMOTIONAL ARC: The story begins with a heavy sense of rejection and loneliness. It moves into longing and envy, but concludes with a powerful pivot toward empathy and joy. The emotional shift from 'I want' to 'I want to help' is the heart of the book. IDEAL READER: A 5-year-old who feels like the 'troublemaker' in the family and looks at a sibling or friend as the 'golden child.' It is for the child who needs to see that their life and agency are more valuable than being a 'perfect' static object. PARENT TRIGGER: A child saying, 'I wish I was like [Name]' or 'Nobody likes me as much as they like [Name].' PARENT PREP: The book is safe to read cold, but parents might want to look at the collage art first to appreciate the textures. The 'Magic Lizard' is a deus ex machina that requires a suspension of disbelief common in folklore. AGE EXPERIENCE: Three-year-olds will enjoy the mice and the magic. Six-to-seven-year-olds will grasp the deeper existential choice Alexander makes to save his friend over his own desires. DIFFERENTIATOR: Unlike many 'be yourself' books, this one introduces a high-stakes sacrifice. Alexander gives up his dream to save his friend, making the lesson about identity inseparable from the lesson about love.