“Keith, the boy in the rumpled shorts and shirt, did not know he was being watched as he entered Room 215 of the Mountain View Inn.”

From Beverly Cleary’s The Mouse and the Motorcycle.

After traveling through the heat and heavy holiday traffic, Keith and his parents are only able to find available rooms at a small, old hotel in California. While the hotel employee, Matt, assures Keith’s mother that the building is mice-free, the young boy soon discovers the truth when he meets a friendly little mouse named Ralph in his room. After watching Keith play with his toy cars and motorcycle, Ralph couldn’t resist going to investigate the gorgeous motorcycle when the young boy leaves the room at dinnertime. Despite his mother’s cautious warnings, Ralph instantly falls in love with with motorcycle that seems like it was made for him. While scooting around on the motorcycle, Ralph falls into the trash can, becoming trapped until Keith rescues him and the two form a friendship with their shared love of the motorcycle, which Ralph discovers he can drive by making motorcycle noises. Keith agrees to let Ralph borrow the motorcycle during the night, but when Ralph rides it in the day, he loses the toy, and almost his life, in a pile of laundry. Keith is upset with Ralph for losing the motorcycle, but the boy is still kind to the mouse and his family, especially when the housekeeper goes on a rampage against any mice. However, when Keith falls ill overnight and his parents can’t find any medicine, Ralph risks everything to search the hotel for the medicine his human friend so desperately needs.

This classic adventure has captivated young readers for decades, and still creates a thrilling story for modern readers. Ralph’s genuine appreciation for his friendship with Keith and his openness to his personal growth are the driving force of the book. The Mouse and the Motorcycle is a fun, quick, and easy read that is unlike any other.