The Adventures of Gustav Peter Larson Mouse
A Little Mouse in Trouble
by
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The chubby brown field mouse could neither let go of the railing or pull himself up. He was certainly much to small to move the drifting rowboat out of the freighter’s path, nor could he abandon the little boat since Gustav Peter Larson Mouse could not swim. Gus watched helplessly as the little rowboat was about to be struck broadside by the ten thousand ton freighter. Gustav Peter Larson Mouse did the only brave act possible for a little mouse to do. Using all the courage he could summon, the little mouse closed his eyes as tightly as he could, whispered his prayer, and held his breath.
Squeezing his eyes so tightly they almost disappeared into the brown above his nose, Gus blocked the impending danger from his sight. The freighter was bearing down on the little wooden rowboat at a speed of eight to ten knots. The weight of the ten thousand ton freighter coming through the channel caused giant waves of water to crash and fall in thunderous fury. A wake this size would be like riding a thriller roller coaster without a seat belt or safety bar. The little wooden boat pitched and tossed, upending itself on the crest of a wave one minute, only to crash downward in the next minute.
Gustav Peter Larson Mouse never saw what hit him. The ear shattering sounds that came when the steel hull of the freighter struck the little wooden rowboat broadside, ripped apart the quiet autumn day. The freighter continued to sound its shrill whistle, hoping to warn the little boat. The shattering sounds of wood splintering, the continual blasts from the freighter’s whistle, and the deafening roar of the water, all claimed the separated bow and stern of the once seaworthy little wooden rowboat. The impact shattered the rowboat like glass.
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About the Book
Gustav Peter Larson Mouse, called Gus by his mama and three little brothers, is a delightfully innocent character who forgets his mama's warnings. Readers can easily identify with Gus, the five and one quarter inch high little hero, who is full of the wonder of the world around him, not to mention his uncanny ability to get into trouble. Gus remembers his mama's warnings too late it seems and we find Gus out in the middle of a Wisconsin Lake in an abandoned rowboat. At first he seems unaware of the danger as he plays pirate. That is until he looks up to see the largest, biggest boat in the world headed right toward him. Gus cannot swim, a fact he realizes all to late. In fact, all he can do is to stare in terror as the big ship comes toward his little rowboat, sounding her whistle as a warning. The reader shivers along with little Gus as he whispers his prayer, closes his eyes, and holds on tight. Along with Gus, the reader begins to realize that it's a pretty good idea to listen to their parent's advice.
About the Author
Carol-Ann Medina has worked with children for over twenty years. She raised three lively youngsters of her own who's antics often provided her with ideas for story writing. She began her public education career as a teaching assistant while completing a BAE degree in education so she could teach elementary children. She went on to complete her MAE degree in counseling and now uses puppets and original stories for many of her group activities with the children. Mrs. Medina hopes her readers will enjoy reading about the loveable mouse, Gus, who's always in trouble, as much as she enjoyed creating his story.