The mice next door by Anthony Knowles illustrated by Susan Edwards

Tuesday Treasure

At its heart this is a book about quiet persuasion. The Hardy family move in next door. Dad is convinced they should live in holes not houses. He calls them pests and he declares their "house is not in keeping with the neighbourhood." He uses words like smelly, greedy, stupid, noisy and rude. Dad keeps threatening to "call the council."

Meanwhile the Hardy's quietly get on with their lives. It is persuasion through deeds not words. Their house is beautiful, their garden is well tended and flourishing and mum makes friends with Mrs Hardy and her children, Frankie and Susan. Dad keeps up his criticism until one day Mr Hardy offers to help with a blocked drain.

"Dad said he doubted a rodent could do what a man couldn't, but when Mr Hardy managed the job in a way that only he could, Dad was very grateful. In fact, by the time he'd finished, Mr Hardy had us all laughing - including Dad."

Through this story we see the evolution of tolerance and friendship. The stereotype labels and prejudiced thinking gradually fade away. This story is not just about the mice who live next door.

Take a look at this review by Books for Keeps. Notice it begins with the word BRILLIANT.

Brilliant. In the most deadpan, funny manner, Anthony Knowles explores the possibility that a family of mice would build a house next door to an ordinary suburban family and be accused by Dad of 'lowering the tone of the neighborhood'. Everyone knew that mice were smelly, noisy, only interested in having a good time, wouldn't get planning permission or teach their youngsters how to behave. What's more the smell of cooking from next door is an unpleasant nuisance. Yes, it is a satire on racial intolerance, but done with such charm, wit and jollity that even the youngest child will absorb the 'moral' while having a wonderful time. The illustrations are exceptional and I can't suggest too strongly that you read it for yourself and for your children. A sane, humane and very, very funny book.

This book is a treasure. It is high on my list of favourite books. If you find this book in a library make sure you read it and keep it. Of course The Mice Next Door (1988) is long out of print but I do hope one day it might be republished for a new generation of children.

"Just before lunch Mrs Hardy came round with a cheese pie for us all. She said it was to make up for us not coming to the party."

"The day Mr Hardy painted his front door Dad said it was time to sell our house and move to a more respectable neighbourhood."

I am happy to discover a companion volume - Christmas with the Mice Next Door (1990).  Of course it is also out of print but perhaps one day I will track down a copy.