The+Cheshire+Cheese+Cat

= **The Cheshire Cheese Cat-A Dickens of a Tale** =
 * (summary from Peachtree Publishers)**
 * Skilley, an alley cat with an embarrassing secret, longs to escape his street-cat life. Tired of dodging fishwives' brooms and carriage wheels, he hopes to trade London's damp alleyways for the warmth of ye olde Cheshire Cheese Inn. He strikes a bargain with Pip, an erudite mouse: Skilley will protect the mice who live at the inn, and in turn, the mice will provide Skilley with the thing he desires most. **** But when Skilley and Pip are drawn into a crisis of monumental proportions involving a tyrannical cook, an unethical barmaid, and a malevolent tomcat, their new friendship is pushed to its limits. The escalating crisis threatens the peace not only of the Cheshire Cheese Inn but also the British Monarchy! **** Unbeknownst to Skilley and Pip, however, they have a secret ally: a famous author who scribbles away many an afternoon in ye olde Cheshire Cheese Inn... **

** The Cheshire Cheese Cat Teacher's Guide **

**Authors and illustrator biographies:** Meet Carmen Agra Deedy, Randall Wright, and Barry Moser **Children's Literature Comprehensive Database**



Carmen Agra Deedy author website

**Learn more about the live and times of the real Charles Dickens-the hero of his own life.** Charles Dickens-a dickens of a life

Watch a video biography of author, Charles Dickens (A&E biography.com-45 minutes)

Dickens Resources

VIEW THIS VIDEO to introduce Charles Dickens characters and encourage students to watch Masterpiece Theater on PBS.

The characters in The Cheshire Cheese Cat are familiar to fans of Charles Dickens books. PBS is once again (2012) running its Masterpiece Theater Classic series which offers up a wonderful chance to see his literary characters come to life on the TV screen. Learn to love little Dorrit, and sympathize with Pip and his struggles to become a gentleman. Come to know the highs, the lows, the dreams, and the woes of Dickens characters.

View full episodes of Charles Dickens' best loved novels.

**Click on the image to access the Cheshire Cheese Cat resource page**



The first Royal Observatory was housed in the north eastern turret of the White Tower. Legend has it that John Flamsteed (1646 - 1719), the 'astronomical observator' complained to [|King Charles II] that the birds were interfering with his observations. The King therefore ordered their destruction only to be told that if the ravens left the Tower, the White Tower would fall and a great disaster befall the Kingdom. Sensibly the King changed his mind and decreed that at least six ravens should be kept the Tower at all times to prevent disaster.
 * The Ravens-the Legend of the Tower of London **


 * Raven Fact Sheet**-printable resource

William, the Conqueror, built the famous Tower of London in 1066 A.D. upon the ruins of a Roman fortress that had been built by Emperor Claudius I. The Tower has served many uses in its long history-a home for royalty, a prison, and currently a museum of British history.
 * Tower of London** Official website



The Raven Master is a Yeoman Warder or 'Beefeater' dedicated to caring for the Tower's unique ravens.. A group of ravens is referred to as an "unkindness" of ravens much in the way that a group of birds is called a "flock" or a group of cattle is called a "herd".

** Bluebonnet Projects and Activities: **


 * Re-enact a scene from __The Cheshire Cheese Cat__ with raven and mouse puppets**

Materials needed: half circle of mouse colored felt or stiff paper pipe cleaner (chenille) in a matching color scraps of felt or paper for ears, eyes, and whiskers.
 * Make your mousy Pip or Too puppet**

//**Watch this child make a very simple, easy to create mouse puppet.**// //**Direct link to videoHow to make a mouse puppet with scraps**//

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OR...make a very easy: T.P. mouse puppet

Follow the instructions found at Activity Village to make your own tower raven.
 * Make a Tower Raven **

Materials needed: Tower Raven template Black felt Sparkly black felt Black buttons  Black thread Silver thread Toy stuffing



Carmen Agra Deedy Randall Wright Barry Moser Peachtree Publishers Charles Dickens for the amazing books Activity Village Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com Banner logo created at Flamingtext.com media type="custom" key="14271812"