The Cheshire Cheese Cat

Gr 5–8—Skilley is a street cat with a secret—he likes cheese, but not mice. He seeks out the comfort of Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, a pub in Victorian London which is the daily hangout for Charles Dickens, who is having a terrible time coming up with an opening line for his new novel. Posing as a mouser, but really looking to avoid his nemesis, an alley cat named Pinch, and eat his fill of cheese, Skilley meets and becomes friends with Pip, a very smart and educated mouse who also has a secret—he doesn't like cheese. In addition to protecting the mice, Skilley and Pip must also find a way to get Maldwyn, a raven injured by Pinch who now resides hidden away in the pub, back to the Tower of London. When Pinch becomes a mouser at the Cheese, Skilley must stand up for Pip and the other mice. There are numerous Dickensian references and bits of his diary entries. Narrator Katherine Kellgren gives a rousing reading of this delightful novel (Peachtree, 2011) by Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wight, providing wonderful characterizations and voicing the emotions of all the characters. From Skilley's almost Cockney accent to the "very British" Maldwyn, she generates excitement and adds to the already high quality of the book. Have the book available so listeners can peruse Barry Moser's marvelous illustrations.—Ann Brownson, Ballenger Teachers Center, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston