This book was a tale of Finland and it was about brothers who needed to find their princesses. Mikko ended up finding a princess who he fell in love with but it wasn't one that his father would approve of. ( )

When Mikko's farmer father declares that it is time for him and his brother to find brides, the young Finnish man finds himself embarking on a most unusual adventure. Following family tradition, he chops down a tree and sets out in the direction it has fallen - straight into the deep forest. Here he eventually finds a tiny cabin inhabited by a little mouse - a velvet-furred mouse who becomes Mikko's sweetheart, fulfilling all the requirements set by his father. But although the unusual pair do set out for the wedding ceremony in the end, the question remains: how can a man marry a mouse...?

A charming narrative from author Aaron Shepard is paired with lovely artwork from illustrator Leonid Gore in The Princess Mouse: A Tale of Finland. According to the author's note, the story here is a retelling of The Forest Bride, found in Parker Fillmore's 1922 Mighty Mikko: A Book of Finnish Fairy Tales and Folk Tales, although The Mouse Bride, in Tales from a Finnish Tupa, was also a source. For my part, I was reminded of similar folktales I have read, from other cultural traditions, and featuring other animals. The Latvian story of The Palace of the Cats, for instance, which is retold in Eric A. Kimmel's The Castle of the Cats, has a very similar story involving three brothers, the youngest of whom returns with a feline bride. Even the challenge involving the piece of needlework/weaving is similar, in the two stories! I enjoy finding these parallels between different folk traditions, and think tale types involving an enchanted bride or bridegroom - Beauty and the Beast is probably the most famous example - are fascinating. All that said, this was enjoyable in its own right, and is one I would recommend to all young folk and fairy-tale lovers, particularly those who enjoy a romantic ending. ( )

This was a very good romantic ending fairytale. This tale took place on a farm where Mikko (The Younger brother) was the protagonist and Mikko's older brother was antagonist. In their culture, they must chop down a tree and wherever that tree lands they must follow that path to find their brides. Mikko's older brother was pretty good at tree cutting so he chopped his tree into the direction he wanted it to go. Mikko wasn't a savvy tree cutter and his tree ended up falling towards a dark pathway leading to an old cottage, where a mouse had been cursed. The curse would only be eliminated if she
found love and was kicked into a stream. Everyone in the village laughed at Mikko for falling in love with a mouse but after the curse was eliminated, The mouse became a beautiful princess. The antagonist didn't receive harsh punishment which i'm accustomed to seeing in fairytales. Mikko relied on love and hope that eventually landed him a beautiful bride. ( )

This book follows a brother who sets out to find his true love. After following the family tradition and chopping down a tree the younger brother discovers a mouse inside a cabin in the forest. After falling in love the younger brother decides to marry the mouse no matter what others think. This book could be used when talking about folk tales within the classroom. ( )

This story reminds me of the book "The Frog Princess." In this story the sons must cut a tree and the direction it falls will lead them to their sweetheart. In The Frog Princess the sons must shoot an arrow and where it lands will be where their bride lives. In both stories the frog and the mouse were princesses that were enchanted and it took the sons agreement to marry them to break the spell. In both stories the brides were put to a test and in both stories the frog and the mouse gives the son a nut and inside is a beautiful linen cloth. ( )