Horace and Morris but mostly Dolores

By: James Howe

Illustrated by: Amy Walrod

Genre: Fantasy

Grade Level: PreK-2

Have you ever gone on adventures with your best friend? Have you ever done something you thought you had to? In Horace, Morris but mostly Dolores, the three inseparable mice are faced with a dilemma when they must part ways due to a “boys only” club.

The story begins with the fun mouse adventures in which Horace, Morris, and Dolores partake in, such as sailing the “seven sewers” and climbing “Mount Ever-Rust”. The trio was the best of friends until Horace and Morris were forced to make a decision to either join the Mega-Mice No-girls-allowed Club or to stay friends with Dolores. They sided to “do what a boy mouse must do” and join the club. Feeling alone, Dolores joined a no-boys-allowed club, but things weren’t the same. After only a few minutes of enduring tea parties and dolls, the adventurous Dolores became bored and left with Chloris, another girl mouse. They marched to the boy’s club, got Horace and Morris along with a new friend Boris, and went on new adventures. Together, the five new friends started their own club in which everyone was welcome.

Howe’s book captures virtually every element of fantasy. Although Howe personifies mice as having human-like qualities, the plot of the story is believable. Clearly, mice do not wear clothes, stand on two feet, or talk to each other which are tell-tale signs that this story is fantasy. The vague setting of this story also plays into the believability of the plot, leaving the personification as the main clue to this clue being fantasy.

Characterization along with the illustrations constitutes this story as fantasy.  Walrod uses bright colors and comical creatively designed illustrations as a way to make the story a fantasy. Personification is emphasized, drawing attention to the facial expressions of Horace, Morris, and Dolores. Because Walrod gave the mice life-like expressions, the illustrations greatly compliment the story line. When the trio is on an adventure, their smiles go from ear to ear, but when they come across the Mega Mice Clubhouse, they all stare in worry. The reader can gain a lot of knowledge about this story, like it being fantasy because the mice are wearing clothes, or that the stereotypical actions of boys and girls from their clubhouses. Walrod’s illustrations really capture the essence of the story, from the fantastical characteristics to the believable plot line.

Horace, Morris, and mostly Dolores’s theme is one that every child can relate to. At some point in their lives, young children are faced with the problem of not involving his/her friends in new activities. When the three become friends again, the story becomes a message of friendship. To me, this story conveys a lesson not to be afraid of who you are. I would definitely teach this book in the classroom, especially on a friendship unit. This is a great way to introduce the topic of friendship, but also gender issues.  Dolores breaks the gender stereotypes by refusing to play with dolls and make arts and crafts. Even the illustrations defy gender bias by placing Dolores in overalls. Gender and friendship would be the two conversations I would have with students about this book.

This story corresponds to MA ELA Frameworks 8(Understanding a Text), 10(Genre), 11(Theme), and 12(Fiction).