I never found this story to be a fun read. It was given out as a reward for good test grades in my grammar school. It is about a miniature (1:12) family in hiding, living in constant worry and fear and under siege. Their lives are essentially subsistence living and in survival mode. I only liked the chestnut they ate for tea. I preferred Stuart Little. There just didn't seem to be anything nice or happy about this story. The writing is very good especially in evoking the sadness of being broke, not having enough money which I think is a frequent theme in English books and films.