Bazilio and the Little Mice

Diana Malivani

Bazilio and

the Little Mice

An Illustrated Story in Verse

Translated from Russian into English by

Mark Herman and Ronnie Apter

Illustrated by the Author

Book Design:

BOOKNOOK.BIZ – www.booknook.biz

Cover Design:

DIGITALspin – www.bookcoverart.webs.com

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, digital, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without prior written permission from the copyright owner.

Copyright © 2015 by Snoutie Agency Limited (UK)

(Registered in England & Wales, Number: 08496424)

SNOUTIE AGENCY LIMITED (UK)

3^rd Floor, Fairgate House, 78 New Oxford Street

London, England, WC1A 1HB

United Kingdom

E-mail:

[email protected]

A Merry Adventure of the Little Mice in the Restaurant of the Tom-Cat Bazilio (an Illustrated Story in Verse)

For a little girl named Michelle

The Author would like to express her deep gratitude to her husband for his support and assistance with this book

Table of Contents

Bazilio and the Little Mice

The Author

Other books by the Author

Bazilio and the Little Mice

On the island of Sardinia

Where the southern sun is hot,

A mouse house with one window

Stood in a pleasant spot.

The six little mice who live there

Merrily laugh and shriek

As they bustle about inside and out

With a rustle, squawk, and squeak.

Six plump gray lumps of mischief,

Oh, how they love to eat!

Oh, how they love to find a chunk

Of cheese – now that’s a treat!

Not far from the mouse house

Was a first-rate café,

Owned and run by a tom-cat,

A notable gourmet.

The worthy cat Bazilio

Had named his restaurant

For one of its famous dishes,

«A Piece of Parmesan».

On the island of Sardinia

Where grape vines grow,

«A Piece of Parmesan»

Is the place to go.

Known throughout the region

For its elegant cuisine,

«A Piece of Parmesan»

Is every gourmet’s dream.

Risotto parmigiana,

Cheese-encrusted bream,

Ricotta ravioli,

Cannoli topped with cream!

Linguine with gorgonzola,

Subtle roquefort soup,

Bruschetta with mozzarella,

Cheddar served with fruit!

Six noses twitched when a wonderful smell

Was wafted by the breeze.

The mice decided then and there,

«We have to eat that cheese!»

That night they met at the restaurant,

But the locked front door was mouse-proof.

So up they climbed and quickly chewed

A mouse hole through the roof.

They crashed smack on the counter,

Shattering plates as they fell.

No time to tie on napkins,

They just started eating pell-mell.

First they devoured the panna cotta,

Polished off the fettuccine,

Guzzled bellini to wash it all down,

Then turned to attack the linguine!

Not just one and not just two

Hours slipped away

As the mice forgot they should

Be off by break of day.

Cheese was scattered everywhere,

Every dish was dirty,

All six mice were fast asleep,

The time was just eight thirty.

Uh oh! Bazilio stands by the door,

In his hand a broom!

See the mice run as he tries to sweep

The intruders from the room.

But the mischievous mice begged pardon

And the cat found it in himself

To forgive and even offered

To take them on as help.

On the island of Sardinia

Where the sun shines on and on,

You’ll always be a welcome guest

At «A Piece of Parmesan».

About the Author