The Church Mouse

the long version

Arthur, the church mouse, and Sampson, the church cat, live a fairly idyllic life in the church but Arthur is lonely so he hatches a scheme to get other mice to join him in his nice comfy home where for the price of a few jobs the parson will feed them all cheese. Soon Arthur has a nice little community of mice neighbours and he's not lonely any more. Unfortunately there's a regrettable incident and the parishioners insist that the mice leave the church immediately. But just when all is lost Sampson and the mice thwart a robbery at the church and they are allowed to stay. Graham Oakley starts his beloved series with this very funny story about Arthur and Sampson and their life at the church. The pictures are just as funny as the words and the story wouldn't have half the charm without Graham Oakley's also excellent illustrations. A gem.