Tumtum and Nutmeg

While perusing at our local library I picked up Tumtum and Nutmeg by Emily Bearn.  I had seen it many times and its cover always stood out as fun to me.  The particular copy that I picked up has three different stories in it and my kids and I just finished the first.  And we loved it.

Tumtum and Nutmeg are two mice who live in a cupboard hidden by a bookshelf.  Their house has a billiards room, a ballroom, a butler's room and a banqueting room - among others.  Tumtum and Nutmeg's human house has two children - Arthur and Lucy.  And although their family has had money in the past they do not now - and their clothes are tattered and their attic bedroom has no heat.  Tumtum and Nutmeg decide to climb the stairs to the attic at night and start darning their clothes, fixing the furnace and cleaning up the toys.   Arthur and Lucy and thrilled and are sure that a fairy has come to help.

But then Aunt Ivy comes to visit.  She is awful.  And hates mice.  When she sees Tumtum and Nutmeg dressed in clothes she is disturbed.  But when she locates their house she is on a mission to exterminate.  Tumtum and Nutmeg, with the help of General Marchmouse and his army, hatch a plan to chase Aunt Ivy back to Scotland.  What ensues is a fun story full of humor.  As we read the story my kids and I were laughing - a lot.

And last night when I saw a small mouse scurry across my own floor (eek) and I jumped a little higher up on my chair I couldn't help but think of Tumtum and Nutmeg. The thought of their plan to get rid of Aunt Ivy made me laugh, and cringe just a little.  This is a very funny, charming story.  We just started in on the second story - The Great Escape - and are enjoying it too.