... The entire series is absolutely magnificent and not just for children. The Church Mouse stories are all imaginative and the illustrations are so funny and captivating you can enjoy them again and again. Graham Oakley is extraodinarily talented and his books are truly magical!

I remember reading these fanatastic books over and over and over again from our local library when I was very young. After I had my daughter, I began thinking about these books, but I had forgotten the titles!
After years of searching and asking around, I FINALLY found someone who knew what book I was talking about.
Overjoyed doesn't even begin to describe my emotions over finding these books. I'll just say that if this book is wonderful enough for me to remember from reading as a 5 year old, and now want to spend all the money tracking down the entire series, you WON'T be disappointed!
BUY the books! BUT ALL OF THEM, LOL!!!
5 stars just aren't enough for this one!

I reviewed this the first book of The Church Mice series in 1998. Since then, I have gotten hold of ALL the books in the series by ordering them online from England. Absolutely worth the time, trouble, and money. These books are hilarious and will be read and giggled over MANY TIMES by the young and not-so-young in your house. I am sorry that the series is relatively unknown in the US; it is very popular in Great Britian. Do yourself and your kids, friends, or grandkids a favor and GET THESE BOOKS. At this date, November, 2000, "Humphrey Hits the Jackpot" is the newest book in the series. I don't know if Oakley is going to write anymore for this series--I sure hope so!

I agree wholeheartedly with the other two reviewers. This was one of my favorite books of my childhood. When gathering books for my children's library I was devasted to find out it was out of print, but managed to find a copy through a book search company. Every time I look at the illustrations I find new things that I didn't notice before; the detail is phenonmenal and the story is hilarious.

I was so fortunate to have a good librarian when I was a child. She had every Graham Oakley "Church Mouse" book ever made, plus the "Changes" one that is also completely spellbinding. Of course, I was in elementary school in 1976 when these books were still in print - having tried numerous times to find them since, and failing, has been more than disappointing. I agree with the other reviewer - it is a complete SHAME these books ever went out of print. They were hysterically funny, deep (in their own way) and unforgettable. My sisters and I still quote from these books and we're all in our late twenties, early thirties.

All of Graham Oakley's children's books are splendid in all the ways that a picture book should be - the text and plot are simple enough for young children to grasp while entertaining enough to amuse older siblings and adults, and the illustrations are superb. But The Church Cat Abroad is the very top of the line. It's an utter shame that the thing should ever have been allowed to go out of print. The scene of the cat and the mice painting each other in watercolor is not-to-be-missed

Having read the church mice series as a youngster in the eighties, I was delighted to re-discover how wonderful the books are now that I am reading them to my 5 and 6 year old charges where I work. In comparison to other children's picturebooks that the kids enjoy, I am pleased to say that this one in particular has become a much requested favorite (and one I never get bored of!)We all love the illustrations.

fans of graham oakley's church mice series, which began in the 1970's, will not be disappointed in his latest installment. the church mice and the ring features the very realistic animal illustrations we've come to expect and a laugh out loud story that will delight children and the lucky adults who are reading it to them. half of the fun in enjoying oakley's books is in observing the many details in the illustrations with each of the many church mice exhibiting their own little personalities , not to mention sampson the church cat. this story tells of an adventure with a little dog they befriend and the results are both funny and sweet and of course with an ending as deeply satisfying as in any of the church mice series.

This book, and all the series are delightfully written in true British understated style. The artwork is full of details sure to delight the adult who is reading to his or her child. Many seem to be out of print in the U.S., but are available from amazon.co.uk.

The vicar goes off on his Summer holidays, and is replaced by a hip new curate who looks like a '70s uni student. He does yoga, makes a number of disturbingly hip changes to the old vestry, employs a rock band to accompany the choir, and gets a "real" cat to deal with the mice (he's mouse-phobic). Typical Church Mice pandemonium results.

There are some particularly wonderful details at the "Wortlethorpe Canine and Feline Resettlement Department" such as the treatment of the agressive cats ("cold baths twice daily until unaggressive") and the unfriendly dogs ("starve until friendly"), as well as a thrilling chase which culminates in the ruination of the official opening of the "Wortlethorpe Museum European Tea-Cosy and Muff Wing."

Check Amazon.co.uk to see if this book is currently in print.

This book, like all the the Church Mice series, is not to be missed. Rarely do my children and I become SO excited about a book as we did with this series and this book in particular. Oakley's illustrations are endlessly entertaining and we see something new each time we read this book. The picture wherein Sampson, the church cat, pretends to get rid of the mice is too funny for words. We stay up too late at night after reading this book at bedtime because we spend the next half hour talking about our favorite parts. Children and adults will enjoy this book.

The entire Church Mouse series is an absolute scream -- hilarious illustrations, great characters and plots -- though these are supposedly kids' books, adults will get the humor on a totally different level. this one, plus the christmas one, are two of the best

I first read this book when I was twelve, and remember it impressed me so much that I was inspired to write my own fairytale. Ever since I have been attempting to find my own copy of this timeless story, and thanks to Amazon this has finally become possible. Now at 21 years of age I find this story just as delightful as I had remembered. Tanith Lee has such a clever way of wording her narrative, which at times reminds me of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Her story, while much more light-hearted and a faster read than The Hobbit, is very imaginative and original, making it a fun read for both children and adults. With its down-to-earth heroes, unforgettable characters, and its many unexpected twists of fate, the Dragon Hoard never has a boring moment. It is my opinion, and also that of my teenage sister and cousins, that this book deserves to be called a classic and should be returned to print! Good luck finding this little treasure!

It's always refreshing to read a fantasy that can laugh at itself-- as The Dragon Hoard is constantly doing. Tanith Lee's inventiveness never lags, strolling briskly from talking goats and owls to a witch's unpaid chariot fees to a pair of silly wolves. All traditional characters are in place...with outrageous twists! The prince isn't much for heroics and scarcely knows how to seek his fortune, the princess is cursed with a kindness spell, and everything in general is turned completely upside down. Wonderful book-- pity it's so hard to find.

Superb stylist Tanith Lee offers a wry picaresque fable for the young and the young at heart. A children's book peppered with things to entertain the grownups who might be reading along. Sweet and goofy. The characters are delightful and hilarious and always heading in unexpected and wonderful directions. At times laugh out loud funny. It manages to be both a fairy tale quest and a parody of the genre... so that (unlike many books in this vein targeted at little readers) it never dissolves its own goo. My only complaint about the book is that I can't find it in print to give to the kids in my life.

I first received this book when I was very young, and enjoyed it completely. Through various moves the book was packed and unpacked with other childhood treasures. At every unpacking I would sit down and read it again. Now as an adult I still enjoy an occasional sit down with Sampson the Cat and the rest. A clever stoy, suspense , and humor, combined with hilarious illustrations makes for a great read for young and old alike

Humphrey and Arthur are abducted by a couple of really shifty-looking scientists to become part of the Wortlethorp Space Program (set up in a local cow field). Fortunately Sampson is prepared to come to their rescue, and accidentally saves the day.

As usual the best part of the humour is in the wicked pictures.

I you have trouble getting any of the Church Mice series, they are generally available through Amazon.uk (including the new books "Humphrey hits the Jackpot," and "the Church Mice take a break" - published Sept. 2000).

The Church Mice are involved in one of the their classic schemes to earn money - entering Sampson in cat shows. How could Sampson possibly win? By cheating of course! Unfortunately, Sampson gets kidnapped by a couple of criminals on a tandem bike (due to the local paper miss-reporting of the size of his winnings) and the mice have to go to his rescue for a change.

This book seems to wander in and out of print - it may be worth trying Amazon.co.uk as their listing of Graham Oakley books in print is generally more accurate.

The Church Mice Spread Their Wings is a fabulous opportunity to be swept along on yet another hair brained adventure with our two mice protagonists Hunphrey, Arthur, and their long suffering friend Sampson the cat. Spurred on by Humphrey's notion that they are all becomming victums of the rat race, he convinces the rest of the mice in the church vestry at Wortlethorpe to join them on an expidition to rediscover Nature. Through all of the usual miscalculations and calamities that fans of the series have come to look forward to, they end up on a very unique and foreign shore. What follows is a hilarious series of blunders, and escapes sprinkled liberally with terror, dispare, extasy, horror, bickering, and emotional displays of patriotism. Arthur and Humphrey then have thier own rather disturbing encounter with a carnivore, in which Humphrey has some quiet moments to contemplate his own mortality. Their solution to their dilemma is mouse inginuity at it's best, and the thrillingly illustrated climax of the story is not to be missed. This book is a big favorite at our house with parents and children alike. It's the kind of book that your children will wear out with reading and rereading. I'm replacing our copy for that very reason, so that I will be sure to have it around for the grandkids.

Young children like these stories, but older kids and adults get the most out of them. Most of the humour is in the fantastically detailed funny pictures, which clash delightfully with the serious-sounding text. This is my favourite of the Church Mice stories. Some wonderful scenes include the Mice raffling-off Sampson (the Church Cat) to raise money for their party, their hopeless attempts at carol-singing for the same purpose, and the burglar dressed as Santa (he has a bag on which he has crossed out "Swag" and written "presents"). Also look out for the bizarre Christmas window displays in town.

If you can't find them here, many of Graham Oakley's books are now in print through Amazon.co.uk

This is a book for re-reading over and over. Each time you look at it you find more wonderful detail. Church Mice are for life, not just for Christmas.

As a writer of children's book myself, I was enchanted when I found this book by Graham Oakley in a used book store. I had not read anything by him before. Now I am actively seeking his books. 'The Church Mice at Christmas' is the hilarious story of church mice who are inventing schemes to finance a Christmas party. The text is charming, but the pictures are fabulous. His attention to detail is equal to Graeme Base, author of 'The Eleventh Hour' and 'Animalia'. The pictures have so many bits of humor dabbed about, you have to look carefully or you might miss a real good laugh. This is truly a 10 stars book! It was published in 1980. Hopefully it will be printed again soon.

I definately have to agree with the 5 star rating that other people are giving this book. It is quite complex. However I was reading them in grade 1 so how complex is that. I'm trying to remember exactly how the story goes because I read them like 13 years ago. Needless to say I love this series, my brother in-law is about my age and he remembers reading these books (Church Mice at Christmas was his very favorite). I've been searching for this series for a year now since my son was born because I would like to own the whole set so he can read them. Lastly if anyone at all knows where I can get these in hardcover I would greatly appreciate it! I wish they would reprint them. My brother in-law does, too. My email address is emeraldeire@hotmail.com