Lois Lowry spins an enchanting tale of a colony of church mice that go about their lives content in what they can forage from the kitchens and drawers of St. Bartholomew's Church, until they are found out by Father Murphy, who sensibly arranges for pest control to come in and deal with the rodent problem.

The mice, led my Mouse Mistress and matriarch Hildegarde, come up with a plan to outwit the exterminator with his sticky traps and poison and save their children and way of life for future generations of peaceful mice. They are God's creatures too after all! All their trials and tribulations (the outside, owls and rain) take place right before October 4th, the day The Blessing of the Animals is administered in the church in honor of St. Francis. When October 4th dawns, Hildegarde, fed up with the pomp and circumstance heaped on the parade of cats, dogs, ponies and even turtles who invade the church, makes a stand for mice and all God's creatures...no matter how small.

Lowry's mouse tale is well-told and well-decorated by illustrator Eric Rohmann. A sweet story with a satisfying conclusion that never talks down to its audience.