The Diary of a Churchmouse

Age is no barrier to rejoicing in the British artist's stories about Sampson the benign cat and the widely extended mice family of Wortlethorpe Church. Enchanting color pictures show surprises somewhat different from events mouse Humphrey records. This journal covers the events and nonevents of a year, and include stalking an Abominable Snowman, an ""Optical Delusion'' and Humphrey's disgust when all the mice babies make a master valentine for Sampson. Winding up the year at Christmas, Humphrey secretly fashions a Santa Claus costume to please the little kids, then finds 57 of his peers similarly suited. Harrumphs Humphrey: ``If people wouldn't do things behind other people's backs, we wouldn't get into messes.'' But the glad news is that everybody gets extra treats from the extra Santas, a perfect end to a lovely book. All ages. (March)