This riches to rags to riches again story is utterly charming. Mr and Mrs Mice and their thirteen children live happily in a dolls’ house in a grand castle; apart from having one wall missing, their house is rather grand too, with plenty of room for them all. In Emily Sutton’s gorgeous illustrations their home is full of little details that will fascinate young readers; not since Beatrix Potter either, have mice looked so fine, and yet so very mouse-like, in smart hats and coats. The adventure unfolds perfectly over the length of the book as the mice lose their home, but happily regain it, and there’s a lovely rhythm to the story, told with such apparent ease and so much skill by Michael Bond. A treat!

A cheerful paean to books, big thighs and working hard to realise your dreams

Funny and touching

There are useful human life lessons here: create a team, Balding urges, delegate, do your research, believe in yourself, and magic ensues

Will inspire girls to aim high

Charlie is a feisty, funny girl who will appeal to pony-mad readers who'll devour all the inside knowledge of the equine world that Balding brings to her debut