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    The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale
    Unavailable
    The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale
    Unavailable
    The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale
    Audiobook4 hours

    The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale

    Written by Randall Wright and Carmen Agra Deedy

    Narrated by Robin Sachs and Katherine Kellgren

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Tired of dodging fishwives' brooms and carriage wheels, alley cat Skilley yearns for the comfort of Ye olde Cheshire Cheese, a popular London inn. When he hears that the innkeeper is in need of a mouser, he hatches a scheme so audacious it will surely set him up for the rest of his nine lives. Once installed at the Cheese, Skilley looks forward to a life of ease. But a resident mouse named Pip uncovers Skilley's scandalous secret, and the desperate cat is forced to make a pact with him. The two become allies, and harmony reigns until they are drawn into an intrigue involving a tyrannical cook, a strange visitor hidden in the attic, and an evil tomcat called Pinch. The ensuing mayhem threatens the peace of Ye olde Cheshire Cheese-and the entire British empire!
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateJan 10, 2012
    ISBN9780449010273
    Unavailable
    The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale
    Author

    Randall Wright

    Randall Wright loves tales by the fireside, mouth-watering feasts, and musty old books. The author of A Hundred Days from Home, he currently lives with his wife and children in a small castle in the kingdom of Utah. To his regret, his castle has no moat or towers, or even stone walls, as they would tend to annoy his neighbors.

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    Reviews for The Cheshire Cheese Cat

    4/5

    98 ratings17 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I hope this book receives every award possible. It is marvelous and I would recommend it to kids and adults alike. Any lover of Dickens would surely keep this on their bedside table...The story revolves around two cats - Skilley (good cat) and Pinch (bad cat), several mice - Pip is their leader, Maldwyn - a raven from the Tower of London and several assorted humans.It all takes place at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, an inn and favorite spot of Charles Dickens.I read our library's copy but will probably get one of my own as it is sure to be read again by me, hopefully read aloud to grandchildren and hopefully, re-read by them when I pass on the book. - Forgot to mention the excellent illustrations as well.
    • 4/5
      "He was the best of toms, he was the worst of toms" so begins this story of an alley cat more interested in cheese than mice, his unlikely partnership with Pip the mouse and their adventures in the finest cheese shop in London often frequented by a writer struggling for a new story and the right words to begin it.
      One cannot go wrong with a story in the hands of the masterful storyteller Carmen Agra Deedy.
    • 5/5
      A clever, fun and utterly delightful tale.
    • 3/5
      In Victorian England, a young cat named Skilley offers his services to the Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese inn as a means to cut down the mouse problem there. But Skilley's plan is actually far more devious - he detests eating mice and prefers cheese, so he strikes up an unholy alliance with a mouse named Pip in which he leaves the mice alone and they repay him with cheese stolen away from the pantry. Everything seems to be working out fine until Skilley's arch-nemesis, an alley cat named Pinch worms his way into Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese also. And, Pip has a secret of his own, involving a mysterious raven named Maldwyn, hidden away in the inn's attic. Being a bit of an Anglophile, a huge fan of Dickens, a cat lover, and an avid children's literature reader, this book seemed like it was meant for me. Sadly, I found it disappointing, despite all the acclaim it got. I can't quite put my finger on what was causing me to not love this book, but I think it had to do with pacing. Much of the book, especially in the beginning seemed to plod along very slowly. The back stories of some of the characters came along so late - I suppose to keep an air of mystery - that they didn't help to make the characters fully fleshed out and sympathetic. I found I wasn't all that concerned about them and their fates for much of the book. There was also a fairly decent amount of despairing stories, violence, and death in this book, which seemed off-putting for a children's novel. (I don't think children should always be spared from the realities of life such as death, but I also don't think they should be barraged with them, especially with no support.) While the illustrations were all technically executed with precision and skill, I felt they really didn't do much to add to the book. Sometimes their placement was a bit odd also, such as finally including a portrait of Charles Dickens in the second to last chapter when he was introduced as a character in the third chapter or having a portrait of Queen Victoria on the page before it is revealed she is the imperious visitor to The Cheese.The book concludes with a dictionary of some of the more difficult words, which is a helpful inclusion for the intended audience of middle graders, but I think it probably would have made more sense to have definitions as footnotes or side-notes instead. It may not be obvious to children that there's an enclosed dictionary, so they may just pass over the words they don't know or else lug out an unnecessary outside dictionary. Speaking of the intended audience, I was of course tickled by all the Dickens' references and other fun literary history tidbits like William Makepeace Thackeray's troubled history with peppers. But I really think most of this would go over the heads of the child readers, who presumably would not have read any Dickens yet. All in all, I found my experience with this book was just "eh." I wouldn't actively work to steer someone away from reading it, but I wouldn't effusively recommend it either.
    • 4/5
      A charming story brought to life by Katherine Kellgren's excellent narration. This is a great family listen as it will appeal to a wide range of ages and adults will catch the many Dickensian references that might go over the heads of the kids. Highly recommended!
    • 4/5
      A cat, a mouse, Dickens, cheese, and hot peppers. In an inn full of mysteries, a cat and a mouse attempt to pull off an unthinkable confidence trick. But theirs is far from the only secret. And of course Dickens plays a minor role, and his characters and phrases are scattered though the story. I expected this to be a bit twee, and I was especially looking forward to it, but I was sucked in all the same. And I would have happily read a terrible book just for the scene where an old friend unexpectedly returns.I'd give this to fans of animal stories,and then maybe follow with The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents.
    • 4/5
      Back when Dickens was writing, he apparently frequented an inn that had delicious cheese. It also had a large number of mice in residence. First Skilley, a stray cat, arrived at the inn to serve as mouse catcher, but little did the owner of the inn know that Skilley actually hated the taste of mouse, and loved cheese. Skilley, after much difficulty, convinced the head mouse, Pip, that he was a friend. They lived together in peace while pretending to chase and be chased. But then came another, very vicious, cat and their harmonious life was changed. Add an injured raven and the Queen herself, and you have an entertaining story for middle to upper elementary readers.
    • 4/5
      The Cheshire Cheese Inn makes the best cheese in all of Victorian England. As a result, it attracts many 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 definitely one that will appeal to all ages. It is a wonderful tale full of memorable and quirky characters who will stay with you long after you close the covers. And the marvelous black and white illustrations which pepper the pages add to its appeal.Although not a Christmas story, it is so full of good cheer (but not in a schmaltzy way) that it would make the perfect gift for your little reader. Before you wrap it, though, you really should read it yourself . However, I suggest you wait until after the kids are asleep all snug in their beds because once you start you are not going to want to put this one down.
    • 4/5
      Set in Victorian England this is a fun book portraying the unlikely friendship between a cat and a mouse.Skilley is a street cat who find out about the mice infestation in a shop that sells cheese and figures out a way to be the cat to take care of the problem. He meets a mouse named Pip and they find a way to cooperate and both of them are able to meet their unique needs. Their biggest dilemma is how to help the raven, Maldwyn find his way back to the tower of London. In the mean time they have to stay out of the way of the very evil cat named Pinch.This book is story of friendship, loyalty, and forgiveness. I loved the mouse society. Many unique mice live in the Inn, of course, where else would they be when there is the worlds best cheese? We can't forget Charles Dickens role in the story as he struggles to overcome writers block while studying these remarkable animals.I really enjoyed this book and know that middle grade readers will enjoy it as well.
    • 5/5
      children's fiction. Clever animal story that will entertain whole family (not just the kids who will sit through ANY animal story, regardless of how uninteresting it is). There is a (pretty intense) cat fight at the end (Skilley protecting his friends from the bad cat, Pinch) but I guess this would still be rated G by Disney standards.
    • 4/5
      Skilley is a bright cat but not an ambitious one. Hoping for a life of ease at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Inn, his plans are thwarted when a clever little mouse discovers two secrets about Skilley. Can a mouse and a cat work together for the good of them both? Maybe, but then something happens that neither had foreseen: a new arrival at the inn. Katherine Kellgren's delightful performance in narrating this audio book just adds to its pleasure. A great book for the younger set, but adults will enjoy it, too.
    • 4/5
      What a fascinating tale the authors of this delighful book weave! Skilley, a cat, forms a friendship with Pip, a mouse at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese inn. Skilley promises not to eat the mice if they bring him some of the inn's wonderful cheese. He also learns of Maldwyn, a raven from the Tower of London, being held in the inn's garret. Their safety is threatened when the kitchen maid brings in Skilley's arch-nemesis Pinch, a ginger cat, to try to control the mouse population. The inn frequently houses Charles Dickens and other authors. The book is interspersed with pages from Dickens' notebook. The authors often use creative font arrangements to make a point. This book is certain to entertain upper elementary readers, even if they don't know Dickens. Barry Moser's illustrations are also well done.
    • 5/5
      This audiobook was a wonderful surprise. It is not only laugh-out-loud funny, but a very inventive, creative story about a cat who becomes a friend to a mouse named Pip. Both live in The Cheshire Cheese, an inn Dickens frequented. The story is interspersed with thoughts and notes of Dickens. from the notebook of C. Dickens: Those were dire days, indeed The times were cruel ghastly appalling It was the worst of all the days the world has seen -"Oh, why can't I write an opening for my new novel that stands out from all the rest?"There were lots of clever references to Dickens' characters. Although intended for juvenile readers, the writing is enough to keep a grown-up charmed, and in fact may be a challenge for most young readers. Full of surprises, history, and fabulously entertaining! Randall Wright's narration earned a good portion of the five stars I've awarded. I had a "look inside" the book at Amazon and it would be a toss up between Randall Wright's narration and Barry Moser's drawings. I might have to have both.
    • 4/5
      “He was the best of toms. He was the worst of toms.” So begins this “Dickens of a Tale” that not only draws inspiration from Charles Dickens’ works, but also features him as a character in the book. The main storyline, however, revolves around Skilley, the cheese loving, street-smart cat who weasels his way into the Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese inn, and Pip, one among the thousands of mice who already live there. Pip is an unusually talented mouse, and Skilley’s secret desire for cheese makes him no ordinary cat. After a mutually beneficial alliance is arranged, Skilley and Pip become friends and all goes well until the appearance of Pinch, a malicious alley cat eager to turn the inn’s mice into cat food. Throw in a mysterious presence in the attic, Mr. Dickens’ notes, and a bold plan to save the British Empire. Add Barry Moser’s incredibly expressive illustrations and the literary allusions to Charles Dickens’ works, most of which will go right over the heads of young readers who probably haven’t read any Dickens yet. No matter, The Cheshire Cheese Cat serves up a fun introduction. This is a great read with a lot of heart and an impressive vocabulary to boot (accompanied by a glossary). Highly recommended for everyone!
    • 4/5
      I'm not a lover of Audiobooks, but this is a good one to get. Very cute story for those who love animal fiction. The voices and sound effects cleverly done.
    • 5/5
      As Charles Dickens sits whittling away his ink and paper an unexpected story unfolds before his eyes. An Inn known for it’s marvelous cheese and of course it’s expected inhabitants, mice. When the alley cat Skilley is informed by his rival, Pinch, that there is need of a mouse catcher at the inn it seems the perfect place for a cheese loving cat in want of a home. Before he knows it Skilley is welcomed, but before too long he’s acquired a new mouse friend and an even angrier enemy. An unlikely pair, Skilley and Pip discover that friendships are not always predictable and that secrets & power can be held within even the smallest of creatures.Astonishingly delightful. Those would absolutely be the two words I’d use to describe this surprisingly enjoyable tale. I say surprisingly because I’m not generally one to enjoy animal narrators, but this is certainly an exception. This is a story not only with references to the great Charles Dickens, but filled with stories of friendship and love.The Cheshire Cheese Cat is definitely a story I’d recommend to young readers as early as age seven and possibly even younger if read with a parent who can inflect the enthusiasm the story deserves in its telling. Not only will they love the excitement of the rivalary between Skilley and Pinch, but they will also learn lessons about kindness, friendship, honesty and even a new word or two. Pip is a very unlikely character, as a mouse who can read and write, he helps both Skilley and the reader to learn new words in nearly every chapter. What was delightful about having Pip as the teacher was that it never seemed forced and that is without a doubt something that young readers will appreciate.Through the story telling abilities of Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright and the delightful illustrations of Barry Moser the story of two unlikely friends comes to life in The Cheshire Cheese Cat. A story filled with friendship, adventure and even a few educational bits here and there make it a story that young readers and their parents will fall in love with almost instantly. I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to read it, not only myself but also to my son. Even at the young age of four he was completely enthralled with Pip and his friend Skilley. It’s a story I recommend wholeheartedly and cannot wait to keep reading to my own two kiddos!My original review was posted at There's A Book.
    • 5/5
      “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?