Happy Days for Mouse and Mole by Joyce Dunbar illustrated by James Mayhew

Warm and comforting as the softest blanket, Mouse and Mole should be 

on every child’s bookshelf 

ready to be enjoyed independently or shared with a grown up!

The Book Activist

I first encountered a Mouse and Mole book when they were published in a slightly smaller format by Corgi as Corgi Pups. Now they are larger and have colour illustrations and are published by Graffeg from Wales. 

Begin here with my previous post about Mouse and Mole. 

There are three stories in Happy Days for Mouse and Mole. The first story is a trickster tale. Mouse makes himself a terrific hammock, but Mole wonders will it be safe, will it be comfortable, will it be perfect. Mole offers to try out the hammock meanwhile Mouse is expected to fetch cushions, biscuits and lemonade. The surprise ending will give you and your young reading companion a smile. 

In the second story Mole misplaces his glasses. Actually, he has many, many pairs of glasses all designed for different purposes. I love the page which is filled with so many variations on glasses including glasses to find glasses!

The final story is a perfect one to read at the start of Autumn as the leaves are falling. 

"If you can catch a falling leaf, you will be lucky for the rest of the year."

Now for some details - Why oh why is this book SO expensive here in Australia? I want to say this book should be added to your Primary school library but the copy I borrowed from a school library (they thoughtfully include the price of their books beside the imprint page) cost AUS$33. Looking for others in the series they seem to range in price from AUS$20 up to AUS$33. And the other problem is that once you buy one Mouse and Mole book you will want ALL nine of them - yes they are that good.

• Mouse and Mole 
• Mouse and Mole have a Party
• Happy Days for Mouse and Mole
• A Very Special Mouse and Mole
• A Fresh Start
• The Secret of Happiness
• Mouse and Mole: Lo and Behold! (Watch a video)
• Mouse and Mole: Clink, Clank, Clunk!
• Mouse and Mole: Boo to the Who

Check out the website of James Mayhew. Here are other books by Joyce Dunbar. Mouse and Mole is/was also a television series. Use my post label unlikely friends to find other splendid easy chapter books about friends like Mouse and Mole.

As always, the gentle humour in Joyce Dunbar’s thought-provoking story telling is given a delightfully nostalgic feel thanks to James Mayhew’s charmingly elegant illustrations. Whether as bedtime reading for little ones or read solo by older children, these are small literary gems. Red Reading Hub