The Diary of a Church Mouse

The Church Mice #9

by Graham Oakley

The Diary of a Church Mouse

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Cats, Humor, 20th Century

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Graham Oakley is a children's book author and illustrator, most active during the 1960s to 1980s. He is best known for the Church Mice series and also illustrated many book covers in the 60s.

For the current UK author of children's books at Top That! press see Graham Oakley.

Reviews

[Shiloah · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely love book! What it’s like to be British in mouse life form, and a mouse could be an actual church mouse. Written in diary format (epistolary). Illustrations were beautiful.

[LJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not my favourite of the brilliant Church Mice series. Here Oakley tries something a bit different, which when you are nine books deep into a series is understandable. This book is laid out as a year-long diary of Humphrey the Schoolmouse. For the first time we see a first-hand account of their adventures. This really allows Oakley to do what I suspect is his favourite thing, having the pictures juxtapose the text. Pretty much the whole book works off this joke (which is a sublime joke). Because it is set over a whole year, there isn't really a plot though. And because Humphrey is arrogant and mean, I don't particularly want to be his captive audience. Also due to being diary entries the pages are laid out a little odd. Nearly every left-hand page is a full-page illustration, with smaller ones dotted about on the right page. The right-hand pictures are in the correct narrative positions, but the left-hand one could be mentioned absolutely anywhere on the right page, so you have to sort of try to ignore it until you get to the relevant bit of text before getting to pore over it. Also the illustrations seem to have changed ever so slightly in style. It's still really good (a wonderful satire of keeping a diary), it's just not the best of the series in my opinion, but I'm sure others might love it best of all for being a bit different.

[Muireann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh to be a tiny church mouse wearing a bluebell for a hat.
This was a goddamned delight.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! I discovered it as an adult and had to own it. Humphrey keeps a diary over the course of the year, recording his version of events, while the accompanying illustrations present a more objective recounting of what happened. And the illustrations are superb! Plus, it's British.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I need to buy this author's entire bibliography.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars - another excellent Church Mice book

Humphrey the mouse decides to keep a diary which ranges from "Absolutely nothing happened" to making new kites and finding the Abominable Snowman. These books are so delightful and the artwork includes numerous clever little details. I always read these and then go back and re-look at the artwork several times.

[Child960801 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this one for a book recommended by someone else in the challenge. I enjoyed the silly story and the pictures of the cat were on point.

[Rodopa · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG, so cute, but this is really a pic book for older kids, I would say 7-9.

[Kent Vad-Pedersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

En del af en serie. Jeg kan godt lide den finurlighed som musene taler ud fra.

Bogen hedder på dansk kirkemusens dagbog

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books have the most amazing drawings and cute stories. I would advise everyone to get all of them.

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of Humphrey's New Year's Resolutions is to write his life story. Then Arthur convinces him that life stories should be written at the end of a mouse's life when you know what happens in the last chapter. Humphrey's worried that by then he won't remember what happened in the first one. Arthur suggests that he keep a diary which Humphrey does. Humphrey's diary chronicles many events at the vicarage. Humphrey loses a bet that another mouse saw the abominable snowman in the churchyard and has to polish all the vicarage brass until the end of January. February brings valentines. The mice make a valentine from Princess Diana to Humphrey. They have a good laugh behind his back. In March they make kites, and April brings April Fool's Day. Humphrey records that he can't understand the other mice's preoccupation with practical jokes. He spent the day waiting for the princess to call back. She hung up before he could get to the phone that morning. The mice survive organized sports and Samson's unrequited love affair with a pet shop cat. In August they scare off the monster cat that Samson chose to love instead. October is filled with days in the orchard and garden harvesting. Many stomachaches follow. In November, Humphrey's homemade firecracker ruins the vestry. His last brainchild for the year is to dress as Santa on Christmas. He secretly makes his costume. The day comes and 57 Santas hand out goodies to the mice children. Humphrey is put out that everyone does things behind other's backs. At the end of the year, he gives up diary writing and begins anew on his life story.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com

[Eyehavenofilter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is actually the 9 th book in the series and it gives us an inside look thru a diary at all the usual suspects in Sampson and his mouse friends.. Cute, fuzzy and twitching whiskers, are had by all.