Reviewed by Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite
Rules Are For A Reason is the fourth book in the Carlo The Mouse series, written by Mrs. D. and illustrated by Chanoa. Against his parents’ wishes, Carlo the Mouse sneaks through the halls of the hospital where he lives. The head chef of the hospital makes such delicious food that Carlo desperately wants to become his friend, but the head chef only wants to swat Carlo with his spatula. After sneaking into the rooms of various patients in the hospital to steal their scraps, Carlo becomes quite ill. As his parents question his movements, Carlo realizes that the last room he visited had housed a patient with an infectious disease. It finally dawns on Carlo as to why it is so important to follow his parents’ rules.
I loved this beautifully illustrated and unusual story by Mrs. D. about why it is so vitally important for people to follow rules which they are given. Whether in childhood or in everyday life, there is always a consequence for each and every action we decide on. Although stealing food from humans is something mice are quite famous for, it is not until Carlo has snuck into the room of a patient who is carrying an illness which can be transmitted to others that disaster strikes.
Contagious diseases are never fun and are usually contracted unexpectedly, especially when the illness is transmitted just by breathing the same air or accidentally touching someone. When we are given rules to follow, it is so that the consequences of our actions will not be bad. Children around the world would definitely learn a valuable lesson in reading Rules Are For a Reason, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to be read by (or to) young readers aged 4-12, so that they can see that rules and common sense are vital if you wish to live a long and healthy life.
