Story Summary:

Abelard Hassam di Chirico Flint (Abel), a refined and cultured mouse, is separated from his wife Amanda during a violent storm while they are enjoying a picnic. Swept away by the wind and stranded on an island, Abel must learn how to survive alone. As he searches for food, builds shelter, and repeatedly attempts to escape, he begins to reflect on his life and realizes that he has lived comfortably without ever truly accomplishing anything.

Over the course of a year, Abel develops survival skills, faces dangers including an owl and a cat, befriends an elderly frog named Gower, and gains confidence, independence, and self-awareness. When a drought lowers the river, Abel finally escapes the island and returns home to Amanda, forever changed by his experience.

Learning Expectations

Students will:

• Be introduced to the world of fantasy through the writings of William Steig.
• Learn and reinforce a variety of reading skills and techniques.
• Develop and improve creativity.
• Improve independent reading skills and work habits.
• Develop higher-level thinking skills.

Introduction

Includes:

• Objectives
• Summary of Story
• Author Biography
• Teacher Input Suggestions
• Discussion Questions
• Character Tracking Sheet
• Answer Keys

Chapter Questions

The novel study contains activity cards and discussion questions for Chapters 1–20. Skills include vocabulary development, comprehension, critical thinking, writing, sequencing, literary analysis, creative response, and personal response activities.

Novel Extension Activities

General Activities

• Fortunately / Unfortunately story summary activity
• Character Silhouette (character development comparison)
• Tell It with Pictures (story sequencing)
• Character Poetry
• Attribute Web
• Mice: Fact vs. Fiction activity

Creative Activities

1. Analyze and explain major and minor problems in the novel.
2. Write diary entries from a character's perspective.
3. Design a new book cover.
4. Create a travel brochure for Abel’s Island.
5. Write and perform a scene from the novel.
6. Create a time capsule for future castaways.
7. Write a character letter.
8. Build a diorama of a scene.
9. Write about living alone on an island.
10. Construct one of Abel’s escape inventions.
11. Write a novel review.
12. Create a comic strip.
13. Illustrate a humorous scene from the story.

Assessments

• Comprehension Quiz
• Short Answer Quiz
• Answer Keys

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