Our Story
Two Town Mice began with a single watercolor mouse and a question: what if bedtime stories felt handcrafted, personal, and a little bit wild? Over the years, that question shaped every decision we made.
What started as a birthday gift for a niece — a hand-painted story about a mouse who collected lost buttons — turned into a request for more. Friends asked for copies. Then their friends asked. We realized the sketches deserved a proper home.
Schools began asking for activity kits to pair with our books. We started designing printable worksheets, coloring pages, and discussion prompts that turned storytime into a shared classroom moment. It taught us that a story doesn't end at the last page.
A family asked us to turn their child's imaginary friend into a full illustrated book. That first commission led to a whole service: personalized storybooks where the child's name, favorite toy, and neighborhood become part of the adventure. Each one is drawn by hand, never templated.
We now partner with small publishers on print-ready layouts and run seasonal workshops for young illustrators. The studio is still independent, still hands-on, and still happiest when a child points at a page and says, "That mouse is my friend."
Every book we make starts with the same promise: a story that respects a child's attention, a drawing that feels like it was made for them, and a gentle lesson that lingers after the lamp goes out. That hasn't changed since the first mouse.
Our Story & Principles
Two Town Mice began with a simple observation: the best bedtime stories feel handmade. Not rushed, not noisy, but carefully paced and warmly illustrated. We are a small team of writers, illustrators, and book lovers who believe children deserve pictures that linger and words that invite questions.
We work with families, schools, and small publishers who want original narratives rather than templates. Every project starts with a conversation about the child, the moment, or the lesson you hope to share. From there we sketch, paint, and revise until the story feels true to your intention.
We let scenes breathe. A page turn should feel like a pause, not a rush to the next moment.
Watercolor washes, ink linework, and paper grain give each illustration a tactile, lived-in quality.
Our stories touch on patience, curiosity, and belonging without turning into moral instructions.
We design spreads that work aloud, with room for voices, questions, and a child's finger tracing the art.
Parents seeking a one-of-a-kind gift, teachers building a classroom library, and editors at small presses who want a fresh voice with a consistent visual world.
You share the child's name, favorite animals, or a family joke. We turn those details into a narrative arc with sketches, color studies, and final page layouts you can approve at each stage.
Print-ready files, a digital copy for bedtime tablets, and occasionally a bonus activity sheet that extends the story beyond the last page.
Trusted by storytellers
Our picture books and illustration services have found a home with readers who value gentle narratives and handcrafted art. We are grateful to work alongside partners who share our love for timeless storytelling.
"Two Town Mice illustrated our annual storybook fundraiser from start to finish. Their watercolor style captured the warmth of our little woodland theme perfectly, and the children were absolutely delighted with the characters they created for us."
Margaret Ellison
Program Director, Little Sprout Academy
A few of our ongoing collaborations: