Going out on a limb
Does anyone remember 'The Church Mice' books by Graham Oakley? They had Arthur, Humphrey (the church mice) and Sampson (the mouse loving cat).

Out of the several books I have mentioned so far, these are possibly the most relevant to 'life changing' for me.

When I was 8'ish, my Dad had two fairly major operations on his spine, resulting in him being bed-ridden for three years. Most kids of that age got to play football with their Dads, but I got to read with mine.

I'd just joined the library at the time and I remember The Church Mice series and The Hobbit as being the books my Dad and myself read together.

The Church Mice I particularly remember because of my Dad crying. I was so scared, why was Dad crying?! It was because of laughter! The story and the illustrations were so funny that even now I can picture them in my mind.

I think it was at this point that I realised I was my Father's Son. I'd taken on his sense of humour. I might not have had the same thing that other lads had with their Fathers, but we had laughter!


(Big Smurf Frog rescuer, Thu 15 May 2008, 23:02, closed)

These were fantastic!
Wonderful silly illustrations and a lovely story in each book.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Thu 15 May 2008, 23:13, closed)

The Illustrations are a Gold Mine
I've got a couple of these, which I've read loads of times, and I *still* keep finding new bits to laugh at in the illustrations. More detail and comedy than you can shake a stick at.
(Naughtius Maximus Stuck on the blog, desperate to log out., Fri 16 May 2008, 15:01, closed)

What I always loved about the Church Mice books is that you had to both read the words and look at the pictures - they don't work separately (well, the pictures are pretty cool). ZOMG I have to use my brain!
(Emily Bruce-Dickinson http://jovialfellow.blogspot.com/, Fri 16 May 2008, 23:17, closed)