The "Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese" is a famous old London inn whose tavern has long been a favorite haunt of writers and mice who are both attracted by its delicious cheese. Charles Dickens frequented the tavern with his cronies-among them, Wilkie Collins and William Thackery. Skilley, our feline protagonist, is a skinny feral cat who longs to live in the inn, not because of a desire to catch some of the abundant mice, but because he also loves cheese. It is Mr. Dickens himself who finds Skilley staring at the front door, greets him with, "Good evening, Sir Puss," and fatefully opens the door.

Skilley begins a long, convoluted adventure within the inn where he befriends the chief mouse, Pip, who has a distinctive overbite. He also discovers that one of Queen Victoria's six ravens from the Tower of London is ensconced in the attic. Maldwyn had been rescued from an attack of alley cats by Nell, the inn-keeper's animal-loving daughter. This unusual cast of characters-which ultimately includes visitor Queen Victoria-is stirred into a truly delightful brew, shot through with humor, by the authors Carmen Deedy and Randall Wright. Barry Moser, the illustrator, enhances the story with charming, soft, expressive pencil drawings, including a small, round portrait of Queen Victoria, and several of a mouse with a distinctive overbite.