Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O'Brien (1986, Paperback, Reprint)

I didn't have the good fortune of reading this one as a youngster, but I've read it twice as an adult and I adore this delightful tale! With elements of science fiction, fantasy and drama, it has the ability to transport you into the world of Mrs. Frisby (a field mouse) and the neighboring community of extremely clever rats who are in hiding because they have escaped from a highly secret science experiment. (NIMH is an acronym for the National Institute of Mental Health.) You will find yourself cheering for the rats and Mrs. Frisby at every victory, and accomplishment. I highly recommend this award winning book for children and adults alike; it should be part of every fine library!

This is one of the top young author's books that I've read and one of my favorites as a kid. I worked in the public school system for 5 years and this seemed to be a standard for teachers to read to their class. I've seen it read to grades 3-5 but I would say that it is most appropriate for a 4th grade reading level. Some assistance from adults might be necessary when reading this with a younger child. There are a few difficult words and connections to be made but they can all be made easy with adult assistance.

***For teachers, combine with the video which is actually under a different name (The Secret of NIMH). The characters are virtually the same with Mrs. Frisby being Mrs. BRISBY. No Big deal!***

O'Brien masters the additional details that are left out of the movie...much like most books! ;) This book would make a great selection for a book report or Accelerated Reading book for the advanced 4th grade reader or early 5th grade level as well. It would also make a good parent/child reading night or daily reading book too!

Retails at $5.50
Current EBay Prices range as little as $0.77 to $7.74. (Shipping costs apply).

I had not read this book in many years. Recently my son received the Secret of Nimh movie as a gift. Too bad it isn't any near as good as the book. So we bought and read the book together and he agrees that the book is better. I think I enjoyed it more than he did. A classic for children and adults alike.

This is one of those books that every kid needs to read, and I had recently discovered the 'Books' section on EBay. I was able to get an excellent copy of this book at a great price. My 14 year old is quite excited about it, and I'm excited for him.