#Bookreview of The Mouse Who Couldn't Eat Cheese
By: M.B. Mooney
Illustrated by: Ekaterina Mironova
Publisher: Yorkshire Publishing
Publication Date: June 24, 2025
ISBN: 978-0881440669
Reviewed by: Diana Coyle
Review Date: April 1, 2025
Alex the Owl loves playing and making new friends. So, when she sees a new mouse family move into the forest, she can’t wait to introduce herself in The Mouse Who Couldn’t Eat Cheese by M.B. Mooney.
She takes some cheese with her as a gift and heads over to meet the girl mouse, Maya. When she arrives, she offers Maya her gift, but is surprised when Maya doesn’t immediately eat it since, she assumes, that all mice love cheese. Alex asks if Maya would like to spend some time together and Maya agrees. They have lots of fun together that day. They even decide to meet again tomorrow for another playdate.
The next day, Alex is waiting for Maya at the designated cottonwood tree in the forest, but Maya doesn’t show up. Alex waits and waits, but Maya still doesn’t show up. So, Alex goes to Maya’s house to see what happened. Alex learns that Maya isn’t well and she can’t come out to play. Alex asks if Maya would like to make a new playdate for the next day. Again, they make plans, but Maya is so sick, she has to go to the doctor. Alex is upset to hear this and confused as to why Maya keeps breaking playdates with her. Then, Alex finds out that Maya suffers from Crohn’s disease. Once Alex finds out what that means, how does she react to Maya’s news? What does this mean for their new-found friendship?
This is a wonderful story allowing children to learn what Crohn’s disease is and teaching them to be compassionate to someone suffering from this serious stomach disease. Mr. Mooney shares in detail why Maya couldn’t keep her playdates and why she didn’t eat the cheese that Alex gifted her when they first met. Knowledge is power for anyone reading this, but it truly helps children understand, at an early age, that this disease is serious and can affect others close to them. The key is to teaching the children that they should display empathy toward the person experiencing this illness, while also showing how the power of friendship can mean so much to a person who is chronically ill such as Maya. The author even included a page at the end of the book dedicated to explaining what Crohn’s disease is and offering resources that can help a child deal with this disease.
The illustrations provided by Ekaterina Mironova were charming to look at and can be found on every page of this informative children’s book. They were vibrantly colored and engaging to the reader’s eye. Each illustration was the perfect complement to the written story. Ms. Mironova is a painter, illustrator, and an AI-artist.
M.B. Mooney is an award-winning author of both fiction and nonfiction books. He dedicated this story to Alex Davidson, a young woman who passed away from Crohn’s disease. Her mom, Lori, and a friend contributed in developing this story to raise awareness and support for kids with this disease.
Quill says: The Mouse Who Couldn’t Eat Cheese by M.B. Mooney will not only entertain readers of all ages, but also educate them about what Crohn’s disease is and how you can support someone who suffers from this disease.