Mouseton Abbey - The Missing Diamond by Joanna Bicknell, Nick Page and Tim Hutchison (Make Believe Ideas Ltd)

I have a confession to make. I have never seen an episode of Downton Abbey. Nor has Charlotte, but we know a canny idea when we see one so when "Mouseton Abbey" popped up on our Twitter feed, and then (very kindly thanks to Make Believe Ideas Ltd) through our letterbox, we thought it was time to get educated in the ways of the landed mouse gentry (and of course their faithful servants).

This luxurious book is a rather tongue-in-cheek homage to Downton but with a charm and style that actually makes me wish the REAL Downton was acted out by talented crocheted mice with brilliant cheese-names.

Just LOOK at how cute these little mice are!


But what of the story, I hear you ask? Well all is not well in Mouseton Abbey. The Earl of Roquefort, a dappy but dapper mouse who is the head of this mouse house, is a little muddle headed and clumsy. When he absent-mindedly pockets the fabulous cheese diamond for a spot of polishing, he stumbles and trips in the children's room, causes havoc in the kitchen (and is promptly and deservedly shooed out by Mrs Cheshire, the cook) and realises the cheese diamond has gone missing! Calamity.

Soon the entire household is in uproar. Monterey Jack (the Footman) and Wensley Dale (not to be confused with a certain president from another mouse-based children's book series - this is the head butler we're talking about) have to turn the house upside down to try and find the diamond - to no avail.

But is the diamond really lost? Has someone (gasp) stolen or eaten it?

The mystery can indeed be solved but you'll have to dive into this gorgeous book yourself to find out the answer. It is a mite cheeky, would probably make The Dowager Countess of Grantham say something like "Well, REALLY!" in a loud exasperated voice but we love it to little meecy pieces.

Charlotte's best bit: We can't give away the ending but this is definitely Charlotte's favourite bit.

Daddy's Favourite bit: A stroke of genius, recreating a well-loved TV series with knitted mice but actually making it fabulously entertaining for children in the process. Please tell us there will be more from Mouseton Abbey!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Make Believe ideas Ltd)