If You Give a Mouse a Cookie: questions to ask and activities to try
If you give a mouse a cookie, he's going to ask for a glass of milk, and that's only the start. A funny circular classic about how one thing leads to another.
What age is If You Give a Mouse a Cookie for?
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is best for ages 3–6.
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond)
- Age
- 3-6
- Best for
- Cause and effect, and how one thing leads to another
Only 50pIf You Give a Mouse a Cookie activity sheet3 printable pages: questions to talk about, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the grown-up. Instant PDF.
Just want the questions? Get the free question card ↓
Pause on each page and let your child guess what the mouse will want next. At the end, notice how the story comes back to where it began.
Is this book right for your child?
- Age
- 3–6 (nursery to Year 1)
- What they'll enjoy
- If you give a mouse a cookie, he's going to ask for a glass of milk, and that's only the start. A funny circular classic about how one thing leads to another.
- Helps with
- Cause and effect, and how one thing leads to another
- Buy or borrow?
- Borrow it from the library first if you can. If your child asks for it again and again, it’s one worth owning, and the questions and activities on this page work best with the book open next to you.
What it helps with
- Cause and effect
- Planning and predicting
- Retelling a story in order
- Noticing patterns
Comprehension and discussion questions for If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “What did the mouse want after the cookie?”
- “What happened next, and next?”
- “How did the story end up back at the start?”
- “How do you think the boy felt by the end?”
- “What’s one thing that led to another today?”
- “If you gave the mouse something else, what would he want next?”
For the full list of questions and more, download the PDF below.
Print these questions: free question card for If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
All 6 questions for If You Give a Mouse a Cookie on one printable page, each marked with the reading skill it practises. Enter your email and download it straight away.
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5-minute activities to try together
Chain story
Make your own: ’If you give a dog a ball...’ Take turns adding the next thing until you come back to the start.
Story circle
Draw the mouse’s wants in a big circle with arrows. Can your child retell the story in order?
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie activity sheet: printable worksheet and questions
All the questions and activities above on a ready-to-print activity sheet: questions tagged by reading skill with space to answer, a drawing and writing page with a self-check, and notes for the adult with curriculum links and a 20-minute session plan. Pay by card, PayPal or Payhip and download straight away.
- Page 1, talk about it: questions about the story, each tagged with the reading skill it practises, with space to answer or tick
- Page 2, my favourite part: a drawing box, a sentence starter and a “how did I do?” self-check
- Page 3, notes for the adult: curriculum links, a 20-minute session plan, extension activities, and support and challenge ideas
- Read it togetherEnjoy the story first.
- Ask 2 or 3 questionsFrom the list above, while everyone is calm.
- Print the activity sheetAn activity sheet with questions, a drawing page and notes for you.
Decision-Making bundle15 activity sheets for books on the same themeThe 15 books:The Cat in the HatOh No, George!The Perfect SofaThe Tiger-Skin RugChocolate CakeYou Choose!Fairytale Fiasco: Hansel and GretelThe Tale of Peter RabbitCakes in SpaceKate on the CaseSpace DetectivesThe Accidental Prime MinisterAgent Weasel and the Fiendish Fox GangAnisha, Accidental DetectiveJumanji£4.99 3 sheets for £1.25If You Give a Mouse a Cookie + The Cat in the Hat + Oh No, George!The 3 books:If You Give a Mouse a CookieThe Cat in the HatOh No, George!£1.25 Pick your own books: build a bundle with this one, up to 15% off →
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Use it as a lesson plan
Children can listen to If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, answer questions about it and give a reason for their ideas, and talk about cause and effect.
A 20-minute session for ages 3–6 (nursery to Year 1), for a class, a small group or one child at home.
- Warm up (2 minutes). Show the cover and read the title. Ask: “What do you think this story will be about?”
- Read aloud (6 minutes). Read it all the way through. Tip: Pause on each page and let your child guess what the mouse will want next. At the end, notice how the story comes back to where it began.
- Talk about it (4 minutes). Pick two or three of the comprehension and discussion questions above. “What did the mouse want after the cookie?” works well to start.
- Activity (6 minutes). Do Chain story. Make your own: ’If you give a dog a ball...’ Take turns adding the next thing until you come back to the start. Children who finish early can try Story circle.
- Wrap up (2 minutes). Ask each child for one thing they will remember from the story, and why.
Want to go further? The If You Give a Mouse a Cookie activity sheet has these questions with space to answer, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the adult.
If your child liked this, try
The Cat in the Hat (Dr. Seuss)
- Best for
- Making choices when no grown-up is watching, and owning up afterwards
- Age
- 3-7
Chocolate Cake (Michael Rosen and Kevin Waldron)
- Best for
- Temptation, sneaking and being found out
- Age
- 3-7
Oh No, George! (Chris Haughton)
- Best for
- Self-control, temptation and trying to be good
- Age
- 2-6
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 25 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.