Mice are often found in fiction books for young readers, portraying furry animals with human characteristics.
They often play heroes and are depicted as cute, mischievous and lovable little creatures - not as destructive, pesky rodents that will gnaw their way through anything that stands still.
The humble mouse is well-regarded in fictional stories, unlike rats - who are usually cast as villains.
Two popular rodents of fiction are Hermux Tantamoq, the intrepid mouse detective of Michael Hoeye's series of hit novels and Despereaux, the gallant hero of Kate DiCamillo's best-selling fantasy books.
Skittering into the scene is a new whiskered hero called Christopher Mouse. He is an ordinary white mouse with no special talents or background. Although Christopher does not seek out adventure, he often finds himself in the middle of it.
He was born in a wire cage and is no different from his brothers or sisters or the many mice that have been born in the cage before him.
