The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale

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The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale

by Carmen Agra Deedy, Randall Wright, Barry Moser (Illustrator)

3.79 of 5 stars 3.79 · rating details · 1,078 ratings · 255 reviews

Skilley, an alley cat with an embarrassing secret, longs to escape his hard life dodging fishwives brooms and carriage wheels and trade his damp alley for the warmth of the Cheshire Cheese Inn. When he learns that the innkeeper is looking for a new mouser, Skilley comes up with an audacious scheme to install himself in the famous tavern. Once established in the inn, Skille...more

Hardcover, 228 pages

Published October 2011 by Peachtree Publishers

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Newbery 2012

37th out of 136 books — 545 voters

Escape Under the Forever Sky by Eve Yohalem

Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie by Julie Sternberg

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Jan 24, 2013 Andrew rated it 4 of 5 stars

A cat named Skilly meets up with a small mouse named pip, most stories end up with the cat chasing a mouse or the mouse to chasing the cat, like Tom & Jerry, but this story is different. Scilly and Pip protect each other. Scilly isn't fond of the taste of Mouse meet, but loves cheese. That's why in return of protecting the mouse colony, Scilly gets cheese From the Mice.

The reason I rated this three stars is because there's so many characters that you cant keep up with . Pinch, Pip, Skilly,...more

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Sep 25, 2011 Donalyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ncbla-committee-2012-books, children-s-fantasy, ncbla-2012-final-shortlist, bluebonnet-2012

London alley cat Skilley takes a job as mouser for Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, a renowned chophouse and writers’ hangout. Unfortunately, Skilley prefers eating cheese to mice, and must form an uneasy alliance with the hordes of mice infesting the inn. Charles Dickens, a frequent visitor to the inn, observes the curious relationship between Skilley and the mice while he struggles to find an opening line for his latest novel. With appearances from a mean cat named Oliver to an injured Tower Raven to...more

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Jan 14, 2013 Charlyn Trussell rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Grades 4 and up

Recommended to Charlyn by: Texas Bluebonnet Reading List 2012

Shelves: adventure, animals, cats, fantasy, fiction, friendship, historical, london, mice, mystery, victorian

"It was the best of time, it was the worst of times" is one of the best-known opening lines of novels. And for the mice in Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, it was the best of times. They had access to the foremost cheese of the age, made in the inn's kitchen.

But, when the tavern owner realizes cheese is missing from the stock, a cat named Skilley arrives to be the mouser. Then it is up to Skilley to promote the subterfuge that he is a great hunter because Skilley's real target is the cheese. A pact bet...more

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Dec 04, 2012 Ed added it

Deedy, C.A. and Wright, R. (2012). The Cheshire Cheese cat. (Illus. by Moser, B.). Atlanta, GA: Peachtree. 234 pp. ISBN: 978-1-56145-595-9. (Hardcover); $16.95.

Fans of Charles Dickens will thoroughly enjoy this good-hearted fantasy about a cheese loving, literary cat. Barry Moser’s illustrations will be appreciated by elementary readers. Thanks to a smart text, even high school students will enjoy this romp around Dickens’ London as well. Readers familiar with Dickens, especially A Tale of Two C...more Deedy, C.A. and Wright, R. (2012). The Cheshire Cheese cat. (Illus. by Moser, B.). Atlanta, GA: Peachtree. 234 pp. ISBN: 978-1-56145-595-9. (Hardcover); $16.95.

Fans of Charles Dickens will thoroughly enjoy this good-hearted fantasy about a cheese loving, literary cat. Barry Moser’s illustrations will be appreciated by elementary readers. Thanks to a smart text, even high school students will enjoy this romp around Dickens’ London as well. Readers familiar with Dickens, especially A Tale of Two Cities, will delight in the witty parodies of Dickens’ writing. Dickens is a character in this book and he is having a difficult time with the beginning of his new book, A Tale of Two Cities, as we learn from his diary entries. Younger students will fall in love with Skilly and Pip, cat and mouse, living in the comfort of a pub, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, whether they know who Dickens is or not. Skilley is a street cat. Each day he faces assault by broom, by carriage, and by the harsh street people and creatures of Dickens’ London. When Skilley discovers that Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Inn needs a mouser, he MUST be the cat for the job. However, Skilley has a rather large obstacle to overcome: He has no interest whatsoever in catching and killing mice. With the help of Pip, Skilley concocts a plan that will provide Skilley with that item he craves beyond most others—CHEESE! A bully tom named Pinch and a crazed, cheese-hording cook eventually complicate life at the pub so drastically that it takes the Royal Family to settle accounts, with help from Charles Dickens. And just who is that mysterious person hiding up in the attic? Here is a book that certainly belongs in elementary and middle school libraries. If high school students can overcome the perceived (and misguided) insult of illustrations and a larger font size, they will NOT be sorry to rip through this fast paced fantasy. High school teachers who use Dickens in the classroom should certainly have access to this excellent tale and tails.
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Oct 21, 2012 Theresa Kern rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kernbookreviews

The Cheshire Cheese Cat by Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright is a story of history, mystery, and friendship. The story starts with Skilley, an alley cat desperate to get into Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, a warm inn and pub, famous for its cheese. When he finds out the place is packed with mice and the innkeeper is looking for a mouser, he makes his entrance and is allowed to stay. What Skilley doesn’t anticipate though, is the discovery of his secret. Pip, a brave mouse quickly discovers Skilley...more The Cheshire Cheese Cat by Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright is a story of history, mystery, and friendship. The story starts with Skilley, an alley cat desperate to get into Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, a warm inn and pub, famous for its cheese. When he finds out the place is packed with mice and the innkeeper is looking for a mouser, he makes his entrance and is allowed to stay. What Skilley doesn’t anticipate though, is the discovery of his secret. Pip, a brave mouse quickly discovers Skilley secret and a pact is made. But Pip has a secret or two as well, creating an adventure no one could ever imagine! The plot thickens when Pinch, a mean cat from the streets enters the inn and stirs the already boiling pot. Charles Dickens, himself, also makes several appearances, adding great color to the novel.
As mentioned above, the story takes place at the Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, an actual London pub. The setting is perfect for this old English tale. The inn is an old inn with a surly cook, rotund innkeeper, and an annoying barmaid. Charles Dickens spends many days in this quiet, warm setting, writing and watching the mice and cat. With its mysterious attic and forbidden cellar, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is a inn full of secrets and fits the story well.
The two main characters are Pip and Skilley. Pip is a small mouse with a quest for knowledge. Throughout the novel, he uses his large vocabulary (much to the chagrin of Skilley) and his cleverness to devise plans. He is a leader in his mice colony and holds meetings to inform his fellow mice of new developments in the inn. His bravery and loyalty to his friends makes Pip a believable and incredibly likeable character. Skilley is an alley cat who was looking for a quiet new home in the Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. He finds much more. Skilley shows the most growth in the novel, learning about friendship, bravery, and honesty. At the beginning of the novel, Skilley shows his cleverness and street smarts by dodging brooms and getting into the Cheshire Cheese. Skilley too is a likeable character and readers will easily connect to his lessons.
At the recommended reading level of 4-7th grade, The Cheshire Cheese Cat is well placed. It is a simple story with a few unexpected twists. The only potential problem a student might have is with the writing style. It is a bit Dickens-ese and has many words that students will not have seen before. The back of the novel has a long list of defined words, but does not include every new word in the novel. Some readers might become annoyed with having to flip to the back of the book multiple times per page or risk not understanding the book. Other readers will enjoy expanding their vocabulary and learning about some British customs. The story is a mix between historical fiction and an animal tale. With the historical aspect of Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, Charles Dickens, and some other famous visitors, The Cheshire Cheese Cat fits historical fiction genre. However, it also is a story about animals who can speak with each other. Together comes a new genre “historical animal fiction.”
Coming to America in 1964 as a refugee from Cuba, Carmen Agra Deedy, one of the authors of this novel, has always been a storyteller. Her other stories include tales from all over the world. The Cheshire Cheese Cat is actually her first chapter book for children. Randall Wright has written three other novels for children. He is no stranger to mixing genres. The Silver Penny, another of Wright’s novels, was a mix between historical fiction and science fiction. Deedy and Wright blended well to create a single author voice. The beautiful illustrations are created by the talented and acclaimed illustrator Barry Moser. His pencil drawings throughout the novel give readers a taste of the adventure.
The Cheshire Cheese Cat was published by Peachtree Publishers in 2011. Its ISBN is 978-1561455959 and is listed at $16.95.

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Sep 20, 2012 MSSA UE Student rated it 5 of 5 stars

By Ella B.

I read a funny book, The Cheshire Cheese Cat, by Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright. It is a humor book set behind a restaurant. The story takes place in the past during Queen Elizabeth I’s reign.
The main character is a black cat named Skilley. Skilley is a pretty black female cat who loves to eat cheddar cheese and be with her best friend Pip. She is kind, helpful, and honest as shown when she offered a bite of cheese to Pip, and when she tried to find Pip when Pinch took him.
Th...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Brenda rated it 4 of 5 stars

A cat who doesn't like mice, but loves cheese, becomes the mouser at the Cheshire Cheese Inn, an inn frequented by
Charles Dickens among other writers. The cat, Skilley, makes a deal with the mice. He doesn't eat them and they provide him with all the fine cheese he can eat. The plot, involving thousands of mice, a raven, another cat and numerous humans takes many twists and turns. All problems come to a head and are resolved when Queen Victoria
unexpectedly visits the Inn to find her missing rave...more

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Feb 23, 2012 Lina rated it 4 of 5 stars

In 19th-century London an alley cat called Skilley takes up residence in Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, an inn frequented by a number of writers, including Charles Dickens. Skilley is there ostensibly to rid the inn of mice, but in an odd twist to the story, the cat doesn’t like to eat mice. He would rather eat cheese, and the inn is known to have the best cheese London has to offer. Skilley strikes up a bargain with Pip, the leader of the mice. He will put on a make believe show of catching mice (whi...more

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Feb 13, 2012 Barb Middleton rated it 3 of 5 stars

Skilley, the cat, has a secret. He hates to eat mice and loves cheese. He finds the perfect job at the Ye Olde Chesire Cheese Inn which makes the best cheese in the county. He makes a pact with the mice at the Inn where he pretends to kill them in exchange for them giving him cheese. Charles Dickens, the writer, goes to the Inn as well and is trying to write his novel, A Tale of Two Cities. He’s having a dickens of a time. When the barmaid brings home a vicious tomcat, who truly eats mice, and h...more

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Jan 28, 2012 Tina Peterson rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. In fact, I had a hard time NOT sharing this book until summer when the Summer Book Club for Middle Grade fiction kicks off. Obviously I didn't win! LOL

The Cheshire Cheese Cat is a very unique and creative book with many endearing characters and much action. Skilley the cat finds himself a "job" at the Old Cheshire Cheese Inn and manages to avoid spilling his secret (he doesn't EAT mice) and (loves cheese) by pretending to catch the same mouse over and over again and o...more

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Dec 29, 2011 Alice in Readerland rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is utterly charming.
Skilley, the alley cat with a secret, and Pip, the intelligent mouse, make a delightful duo that readers will find an immediate liking to.
Other characters are also well developed, such as the cute little mouse named ‘Too’; “As in ‘too loud, too curious, too impulsive’. If one can be too much of anything, that’s Too.” to quote Pip on page 47.

The interactions between Skilley, Pip (and the rest of the mice), and Maldwyn the raven are adorable (as well as the vari...more

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Nov 22, 2011 Maxine McLister rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Cheshire Cheese Inn makes the best cheese in all of Victorian England. As a result, it attracts some very prominent patrons including author Charles Dickens. It also attracts a huge number of mice. The Cheshire Cheese is badly in need of a cat.

As luck would have it, Skilley, an alley cat with a shameful secret, is badly in need of a home. So when he learns that the Inn is looking for a mouser, he quickly offers his services.

This charmer of a story is aimed at middle graders but it is definit...more

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Mar 15, 2012 Katie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recap:
Skilley is a cat. Pip is a mouse. Both have a great big secret.

This is a story of secrets revealed, unlikely friendships, and some really delicious cheese - with cameos by Charles Dickens.

Review:
Look at this cover. Does that make you want to read this book? No? Me neither. I had put off reading it for weeks, until the BOB was only a few days away and I knew I just couldn't procrastinate any longer.

Well guess what... The Cheshire Cheese Cat is actually pretty darn charming!

I'm always curio...more Recap:
Skilley is a cat. Pip is a mouse. Both have a great big secret.

This is a story of secrets revealed, unlikely friendships, and some really delicious cheese - with cameos by Charles Dickens.

Review:
Look at this cover. Does that make you want to read this book? No? Me neither. I had put off reading it for weeks, until the BOB was only a few days away and I knew I just couldn't procrastinate any longer.

Well guess what... The Cheshire Cheese Cat is actually pretty darn charming!

I'm always curious about books written by two authors: Did either take responsibility for a certain character? Who came up with the title? Who first said, "Let's write a book together!"? After reading, it's clear that Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright were a well-matched team. The voice is strong and consistent throughout. This PW interview gives some insight into their teamwork.

I don't particularly like animals, so I don't particularly care for animals as the main characters in my books either, but Skilley and Pip were almost like furry people. Pip is the more quick-witted of the two, always ready with a giant vocabulary word and an eager teacher. Skilley is accustomed to the life of an alley cat, so a warm cozy home at The Cheshire Cheese seems pretty much like heaven to him - especially with all of the yummy snacks he gets from the mice each night.

Charles Dickens was a fun addition to the plot, and he was even the first to discover Skilley's secret. "Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese" was actually one of his favorite haunts in London, and I loved imagining him there in the pub, writing away with a little cheese plate at his elbow.

Cheshire Cheese is going up against Chime in the Battle of the Kids' Books tomorrow. I didn't care for Chime at all, which is why you won't find a review for it here, but I have a feeling that Briony will win out over Skilley and Pip tomorrow.

Recommendation:
The Cheshire Cheese Cat is a fun "historical fantasy" for upper elementary students and beyond. Animal lovers or fans of Charles Dickens should absolutely give this one a shot.

Quotable Quotes:
"You want the truth, Master Skilley? Then find out just what manner of cat you really are... and brazenly, unabashedly, boldly, be that cat."
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Dec 31, 2011 Patrick rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: junior-fiction-elementary-age, young-adult, historical-fiction

My last book of the year was a clever one. The cat, mouse, and human characters are endearing and fun. I know I am missing Dickensian references because I am not that familiar with his work. I haven't read A Tale of Two Cities or Bleak House, but I enjoyed the literary humor bits. I at least got the (very funny) joke with the first line of the book and the Great Expectations references. Pip, funny chapter ending...

It's a quick read with short chapters. So it's like The Tale of Despereaux, but wi...more

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Dec 21, 2011 Wendy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-award-possibilities

I didn't dislike this as much as I was afraid I might--because what is worse than an animal story? An anthropomorphic animal story. Also, it's got to be among the WASPiest book I've ever read (though one of the authors is Cuban, so I don't know what point I'm trying to make). But the truly good writing saved it for me. And the fact that the cutesy playing with typesetting didn't extend beyond the first few pages. I thought I was going to have to put up with a whole book of text shaped like cat's...more

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Jan 15, 2012 Mary Ann rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 2nd, animals, fantasy, friendship, historical-fiction

I've been wondering about how books hook readers, how they draw us in, and what makes us stay. Sometimes, it's immediate conflict and action; other times, we're enchanted with a magical place. The Cheshire Cheese Cat hooked me from the very first line: "He was the best of toms. He was the worst of toms. Fleet of foot, sleek and solitary, Skilley was a cat among cats. Or so he would have been, but or a secret he had carried since his early youth." This book hooked me from the beginning, bringing...more I've been wondering about how books hook readers, how they draw us in, and what makes us stay. Sometimes, it's immediate conflict and action; other times, we're enchanted with a magical place. The Cheshire Cheese Cat hooked me from the very first line: "He was the best of toms. He was the worst of toms. Fleet of foot, sleek and solitary, Skilley was a cat among cats. Or so he would have been, but or a secret he had carried since his early youth." This book hooked me from the beginning, bringing a smile to my face with its playful puns, true friendships, and wonderful writing.

Skilley is an alley cat used to surviving on the streets of 19th century London, and so he is particularly pleased to have found a home as the mouser at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, a London inn frequented by Charles Dickens and other notable writers. But Skilley has a secret - one that he's going to have to confront very soon. He doesn't like to eat mice. In fact, he detests the thought of eating a mouse. It's cheese that he adores - cheese, delectable cheese. So when he catches his first mouse, he urgently whispers, "Run. If the innkeeper sees you..." Well, not only will the mouse have problems, but so will Skilley. This mouse, Pip, turns out to be a very special mouse - one who leads his fellow mice with courage and wits, and a true friend to Skilley.

The Cheshire Cheese Cat would make a wonderful read-aloud as a family, pulling in both younger and older listeners. I found myself completely drawn into Skilley's world, wondering how he will get himself out of different dilemmas. Parents will love the sprinkling of references to Dicken's works. Young readers will enjoy the tense drama and suspense. I particularly think children will relate to Skilley's agonies about how to apologize to Pip:

"Making a mess of things is an occupation at which even the most unskilled can excel. But mending is an art that requires years of practice. In short, breaking a thing is easy (even a child can do it); fixing that selfsame thing may be harder (sometimes even adult persons cannot manage it).

Skilley was learning this lesson in the most painful of ways. What he had broken was a thread of trust as thin and delicate as a glass filament - a thread that had bound him to one of only two friends in his life." (p. 126)

How many of us have found it hard to figure out how to say, "I'm sorry" and really mean it? That's never an easy thing, and Skilley struggles with it just as we would. And children will also relate to Pip. He's such a courageous, thoughtful little mouse - and a true friend.

Throughout, Barry Moser's illustrations add to the fun, drawing readers into the characters and their situations. He captures both animals' and people's faces with all the emotions you're feeling as a reader, helping us be right there in Skilley and Pip's place. (less)

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Oct 06, 2011 Gmr rated it 5 of 5 stars

“He was the best of Toms. He was the worst of Toms….”
…and so begins this fanciful story of an unlikely duo able to find the strengths in their differences and come to an understanding that our friends are not defined by our species or background, but by those we deem worthy of associating with. If they be cut from a different cloth than our own, so be it…it may just prove to our own enrichment as well their own, and who would want to deny anyone that opportunity?

Skilley is an unusual cat in man...more “He was the best of Toms. He was the worst of Toms….”
…and so begins this fanciful story of an unlikely duo able to find the strengths in their differences and come to an understanding that our friends are not defined by our species or background, but by those we deem worthy of associating with. If they be cut from a different cloth than our own, so be it…it may just prove to our own enrichment as well their own, and who would want to deny anyone that opportunity?

Skilley is an unusual cat in mannerisms, diet, and choice of friends. Pip is another contraction to typical stereotypes thanks to a little girl named Nell and her kindness towards all animals great and small. It was she who took him in after a very unfortunate incident and she who made sure he was safe and loved growing up. It was also she that instilled a love of reading within the little mouse. Gotta love a mouse that loves to read and more still, he knows a thing or two about the meaning behind those words.

Thanks to Pip, along with the delightful story, readers young and old alike get a bit of a language lesson as well without it actually feeling like a curriculm. Master Dickens would be proud….and he is too as he makes several appearances at the inn throughout the story. We even get treated to some of his ruminations on said events as we glimpse a page from the journal he is constantly writing in while wasting the day tableside in search of an opening for his latest serialization. It’s all rather entertaining.

Perhaps my favorite character beyond the obvious choices would be….Too. She is the mousiest of mouse’s and adorable beyond words. When she first meets Skilley, her reaction to the cat throws everything off but in a good way that is totally smile worthy and her bravery is without measure. A little darling if a mouse ever could be one.

The artwork scattered throughout the book like so many morsels of the inn’s infamous cheese, are delightful and at times pause worthy if not merely for the talent displayed but the shiver they may induce.... meaning there happens to be a character or two whose portraits are spot on for displaying their internal beauty (or lack thereof), but we also have the sweetest moments shown between Pip and Skilley or Too and her father. Great job balancing all aspects of the story visuals!

So…would I recommend this book to you? Yes, yes and yes again. For the young and the old, the well read and the beginner, those looking for a quick read and the true Dickens fan at heart….you can’t go wrong with this enjoyable read. A book that takes you on an unexpected journey, imparts a lesson or two along the way, and ultimately leaves you with a smile….what more could you ask? (less)

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Sep 23, 2011 Sharon Tyler rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale is a collaboration of authors Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright with illustrator Barry Moser that is due to be published on October 1 2011. This animal tale is a historical fiction, fantasy, and chock full of literary references that will entertain readers of all ages, though it is aimed at middle school aged children. The Cheshire Cheese is a pub that has the best cheese in England, a cranky cook, several prominent Victorian era authors as regular...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Angie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-fiction, historical, fantasy, website

Skilley isn't your ordinary cat; Skilley loves cheese not mice. So he becomes the mouser at Cheshire Cheese shop and forms and alliance with the mice. The mice provide him with cheese and he pretends to catch them. Cheshire Cheese is full of interesting characters; Charles Dickens is a regular who is trying to write a new story and can't figure out an opening line, Maldwyn a Tower Raven is hiding in the attic and a Skilley's nemesis, Pinch, worms his way into the shop. Skilley and Pip, the mouse...more

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Nov 09, 2011 Phoebe rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Lisa, Kezia

Shelves: animals, humor, victorian-england, juv

A fun and inventive animal fantasy set in Victorian England about a stray cat named Skilley who doesn't have a taste for mouse--he loves cheese. Therefore, when he manages to become the mouser at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, he is pleased to find a sweet deal: he'll only pretend to catch the mice, and they will supply him with morsels of the best cheese in England. But Pinch, a nasty alley cat who has it in for Skilley, worms his way into the maid's good graces and becomes another mouser for the inn...more

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Oct 07, 2011 Kara Dean rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

Next year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens. This lively novel, in which Dickens plays a supporting role--but his influence is evident throughout--is a good way to get the party started. The Cheshire Cheese Cat is about a cat who loves cheese, a mouse who loves language, a crow who loves Queen and Country, and a novelist with no opening line. The story is set in Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, an actual London pub which was frequented by some of the most distinguished writers...more Next year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens. This lively novel, in which Dickens plays a supporting role--but his influence is evident throughout--is a good way to get the party started. The Cheshire Cheese Cat is about a cat who loves cheese, a mouse who loves language, a crow who loves Queen and Country, and a novelist with no opening line. The story is set in Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, an actual London pub which was frequented by some of the most distinguished writers of the Victorian era. Skilley is a Fleet Street alley cat trying to survive on fish heads and smarts. He manages to install himself as mouser at the Cheese, where he quickly strikes up an unorthodox bargain with the resident mice. The mice, led by the wordsmith Pip, will bring Skilley cheese, and he will pretend to catch them, for the benefit of the humans who are unhappy about sharing the inn with the rodents. This works for a while, until the appearance of rival cat Pinch, a truly Dickensian ruffian, who has always despised Skilley. As Skilley tries to maintain his bargain with the mice, shield them from the ruthless Pinch, protect the secret of his cheese obsession, and uncover the mysteries of the inn itself, the action culminates in several revelations, a finale involving a chaotic visit from a royal--who is not amused--and, at long last, the perfect opener.

There is precedence in childrens literature for the successful partnership of cats and mice: Samson and Arthur the church mouse; Harry Cat and Tucker Mouse in Times Square. But I think this is the first instance of a triumvirate of cat, mouse, and monumental literary figure. No prior knowledge of Dickens is required to enjoy this book, but familiarity adds to the pleasure. Pip and Skilley talk about "our mutual friend;" Dickens mentions that he has "great expectations" for the resolution of events at the Cheese; the innkeeper's daughter, Nell, bears more than a passing resemblance to the saintly heroine from The Olde Curiosity Shop. And how about this passage? Pinch, renamed 'Oliver' by the barmaid, is deposited before a skeptical Skilley, who thinks:

"Pinch--Oliver?
Well, this was an unwelcome twist."

And for self-referential meta fans (surely there are some in the 8-12 demographic?) there is this literary trivia: Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is alluded to in the text of A Tale of Two Cities, the book over which Dickens is laboring in The Cheshire Cheese Cat. Dickens' inability to write the perfect opening line for his new project is mentioned repeatedly, and some of his rejected attempts are deliciously, and humorously close.

Aside from the book's opening line--"He was the best of toms. He was the worst of toms."--perhaps the greatest tip of the cap to Dickens is Pip himself, who bears the name of the hero in Great Expectations. It is easy to imagine an 'a-ha' moment in the future for any young reader of this book, when they pick up Great Expectations in some high school or college literature class, and make the connection.

While having plenty of fun with Dickens (not to mention Wilkie Collins and William Thackery,) collaborative authors Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright (great name for an author!) make some observations about writing as a craft. As Pip tells Skilley, "There is more to writing than tossing down a few haphazard words; words must have context." In this case, the development of the story at the Cheese is within the context of the friendship between Skilley and Pip. The success of the entire operation depends upon their camaraderie and willingness to stand by the other. There is also the observational friendship between Dickens and the animals; his journal reveals that he has taken an interest in their ways and manners, which seem unlike any he has ever witnessed before. As a fellow known for his philanthropy towards the most vulnerable members of Victorian society, it seems completely plausible that Dickens would have cared about animal welfare as well--even the welfare of one so humble as a mouse or a stray cat with a crooked tail.

While Deedy and Wright have fun with language, composing short chapters which keep the action moving along, artist Barry Moser has graced the book with portraits of the cast of characters, humans and animals alike. They complement the text with grace, humor and sometimes pathos. The Cheshire Cheese Cat is that most wonderful of packages--a clever and entertaining book which respects its audience while at the same time challenging its readers to stretch beyond a given genre (animal story, historical fiction, mystery) to discover the context of a universal story. Or, to be more precise, it is a Dickens of a tale.(less)

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Jan 21, 2013 Melissapalmer404 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Book #7 Read in 2013
The Cheshire Cheese Cat by Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright (YA)

This is a cute book. As an English major, I enjoy the literary characters and references to the works of Charles Dickens. Skilley is a street cat who ends up being allowed to live in the The Cheshire Cheese inn. As rent, he is supposed to hunt the evergrowing mouse population. But Skilley has a secret--he does not like to eat mice. He would much rather eat cheese. Skilley meets Pip, an intelligent mouse and t...more

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Oct 30, 2011 Rebecca Reid rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: c-kids-mg-chapter-bks

I don’t often read middle grade fiction, but when I heard about The Cheshire Cheese Cat by Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright (published by Peachtree Publishers, October 2011) at BEA in May, I was excited to read it. After all, the subtitle is “A Dickens of the Tale” and I knew that Charles Dickens and his friends were characters in the tale about animals, friendship, and finding a place. Anyone who reads my blog knows that I love Victorian literature. What could be better?

Further, since BEA,...more

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Sep 03, 2011 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: word-lovers, ncbla

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Looking for a home, alley cat Skilley ends up living in a London inn known for the best cheese around. Skilley's job is to catch the mice that the owner believes are eating his cheese. Skilley does, indeed, catch the mice, but he lets them go, and ends up becoming friends with the little creatures, especially one called Pip. Pip is an intelligent mouse with a bit of an overbite and a penchant for unusual vocabulary words--there's a glossary of those words in the back of the book--and all is well...more Looking for a home, alley cat Skilley ends up living in a London inn known for the best cheese around. Skilley's job is to catch the mice that the owner believes are eating his cheese. Skilley does, indeed, catch the mice, but he lets them go, and ends up becoming friends with the little creatures, especially one called Pip. Pip is an intelligent mouse with a bit of an overbite and a penchant for unusual vocabulary words--there's a glossary of those words in the back of the book--and all is well until another cat is brought into the inn to help with the mouse-catching. Pinch and Skilley are enemies, and Skilley has a secret attraction to cheese that he wants to hide from Pinch.

What makes this animal story especially intriguing is the fact for teen readers that the inn where they all live is a gathering place for writers. One of those writers, Charles Dickens, takes a liking to Skilley and is distracted from his own writing by watching the cat catch the same mouse more than once. The authors intersperse notes Dickens jots to himself about his lingering writer's block as he fleshes out what will come to be A Tale of Two Cities if he can just find the write opening sentence. The book is filled with clever puns and word play, for instance, it begins with "He was the best of toms. He was the worst of toms" (p. 1), and one character talks about how news is spread through "Word of Mouse" (p. 100). There are several strange characters who make appearances in the book, adding to its humor and suspense--even for a brief time Queen Victoria who comes to the inn looking for her raven.

Filled with messages about friendship, loyalty, apologies, and literary references that will delight readers familiar with Dickens, this title made me smile several times, no easy feat during unseasonable 92 degree weather. Perhaps the expectations we have for ourselves and others will be greater as the story draws to a close. Certainly, this is a satisfying read with lots of action and humor accompanied by incredibly detailed illustrations of the characters. Illustrator Barry Moser captures their personalities and the time period brilliantly. (less)

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Jan 18, 2012 Kristin rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: animals, cats, historical-fiction, humor, kids, mice, read-in-2012, reader-s-advisory, friendship

Fairly easy reading at first, but this book about a cat, a mouse and a raven starts to plod a little as things go on. Riffing heavily on life in Dickensian/Victorian England and using lots of big words to go with it, this book would make a good family read aloud due to the varied levels of storytelling: basic talking animals plot for younger kids, historical fiction and Dickens introduction for middle grade readers and deeper references to this world for parents. A lot of effort went into making...more

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Mar 11, 2012 Elaine Bearden rated it 4 of 5 stars

gr 3-5
Okay, so the beginning of this book didn't grab me at first. I felt like the quick scene changes made for choppy flow. And though I love the illustrated cover, some of the illustrations struck me as harsh or ugly - almost awkward - which I guess is the point in the case of harsh, but didn't fulfill the promise of the cover. At any rate, I plodded on, because I have heard Carmen Agra Deedy tell at the National Storytelling Festival and absolutely loved her. The story did start picking up fo...more

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Apr 26, 2012 culley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: juvenile

Listening to this with the kids on our car rides. Charles Dickens himself shows up regularly and there are excerpts from his "notes" referencing the story being told and the Inn in which it was set. It is a story about a cat that gets hired on as a mouser but the cat secretly prefers cheese. Katherine Kellgren does he narration and it is absolutely first rate.

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Feb 12, 2012 Jen rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Cheshire Cheese Inn makes the best cheese in the country, and is a common hangout for several authors, including Charles Dickens. Dickens is struggling to come up with an opening line for his newest serial about the French Revolution, but he is distracted by the oddly acting animals at the Inn. The cat Skilley has been brought in as a mouser, but he has a dark secret. Instead of mousing, he teams up with Pip, the feisty leader of the mice, to work on a mutually acceptable agreement. All is w...more

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Mar 29, 2012 Rene Kirkpatrick rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: ages 8 and up

Recommended to Rene by: Sue

Wonderful! Great artwork by Barry Moser and I love the page designs.

Skilley, an alley cat, wants out of the life and takes up a mouser's job in Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Pub. Unfortunately, mice aren't his food of choice. He makes a deal with the head mouse to protect them in exchange for CHEESE! The mice have a huge secret hidden in the attic, one of Queen Elizabeth's tower ravens was hurt by another cat, a wise but grouchy bird they are protecting who helps Skilley and the mice. When that other...more

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Nov 04, 2011 Beth Nieman rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: land-of-enchantment-award

Charming tale that takes place in Victorian England; the main characters are Skilly (a cat) and Pip (a mouse), who form an unlikely alliance. Their mutual enemy is Pinch, a fierce and hungry cat who makes his way into a public house famous for its delicious cheese. Among the cast in this action-packed story are Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins and even Queen Victoria herself. The safety of England itself is at stake and it will take the combined efforts of good-hearted and brave animals, along wi...more

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About Carmen Agra Deedy

Carmen Agra Deedy is an internationally known author of children’s literature, a storyteller and radio contributor. Born in Havana, Cuba, she immigrated to the United States with her family in 1963 after the Cuban Revolution. Deedy grew up in Decatur, Georgia and currently lives in Atlanta and has three daughters.

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“It is not enough to say you are sorry. You must utterly own the terrible thing you have done. You must cast no blame on the one you have injured. Rather, accept every molecule of the responsibility, even if reason and self-preservation scream against it. Then, and only then, will the words 'I am sorry' have meaning.” — 3 people liked it

“If one mouse is a spark...then ten thousand are a conflagration.” — 1 person liked it

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