Moving the Millers’ Minnie Moore Mine Mansion----A True Story written by Dave Eggers and illustrated by Júlia Sardà is a romp full of fun as the title’s alliteration forecasts. It all revolves around silver mining in, as the author seems to feel, the great state of Idaho!
The story begins when John Minnie Moore’s dog accidently finds silver when it climbs down a hole while trying to catch a gopher. This silver mine becomes very successful! After a while, however, John Minne Moore sells his mine to Henry Miller who also makes lots of money from what was now called Miller’s Minnie Moore Mine! Henry Miller then marries a gal named Annie and builds her a beautiful Victorian house called Millers’ Minnie Moore Mine Mansion!
When Henry Miller dies, and his wife Annie is swindled out of her wealth except for the mansion itself is another cleverly told story in both witty whimsical words and perfect playful pictures. The illustrations pull the reader into visual fun from the very beginning as the miners with shovels, pickaxes, hammers, pails and rolling carts earnestly do their work. The illustration of the taking away of poor Annie’s personal things such as lamps, mirrors, a piano, and a record player due to her financial situation is well designed. What she and her son do to earn enough money to keep on living in the mansion is full of fun and PIGS! The illustrations of the mansion’s four- mile trip to a more pig-loving place is delightful.
Moving the Millers’ Minnie Moore Mine Mansion---A True Story is a fun-filled picture book that is perfect for young readers 4-8 years of age and parents who like a hearty laugh. (Candlewick Press) 2023.
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Activity Questions for Moving the Millers’ Minnie Moore Mine Mansion---A true story
For Young Readers: Look at the double spread illustration of the workers at Miller’s Minnie Moore Mine and find these wonderful items: a wheelbarrow, a shovel, a man with a black mustache, at least one pickaxe, at least two pails, a hammer, a lantern, a cart with wheels, a rope, a crow, and a saw. Where is the silver? What is your favorite detail? Why?
For older readers: Throughout this picture book the pigs are either having fun or doing what pigs do. Look at them on the titlepage. Look at them after they move with the mansion and Annie and her son. What are the pigs doing? Can you find the piggy weathervane on the mansion? With pencils and watercolors design your own piggy weathervane. Use your imagination. Have fun!
