OAKLEY, Graham

“In a busy little town, not very far away, there is a church, and in the church there lived a mouse whose name was Arthur. “ 

Graham Oakley didn’t find his true metier as an author and illustrator until he was in his mid 40s.  After completing his National Service in 1949, he attended Warrington Art School and went on to work as a scenic artist and set designer for various theatre companies until 1962 when he went to work in the production department at the BBC, where he stayed for the next 15 years.   Whilst at the BBC he started work on a book for children  - "I was going to open with a high view on top of the town and a series of stories about each building, starting with the church and moving on to the library and the town hall, but the first book, The Church Mouse was so successful that I never got to the library." Published in 1972, the book was immediately critically and commercially popular, its beautifully detailed drawings and humorous  storyline appealing to children and their parents alike. A contemporary review stated the Oakley’s “glorious illustrations are packed so full of detail and humor that something new is discovered with each reading...they complement the story beautifully." The success of The Church Mice led to a further 11 titles in the series and allowed Oakley to resign from the BBC to concentrate on his writing and illustrations.

The Church Mice Adrift and The Church Mice in Action were Highly Commended runners-up for the 1976 and 1982. Kate Greenaway Medals from The Library Association recognising the best children's book illustration from that year.

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