School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-While the familiar pink, black, and white color scheme makes various appearances on a page, a panel, or even a dragon, the Holm siblings instead choose bold outlines and an expanded palette for this picture book prequel to their popular graphic novels. This Babymouse, dressed in red footie pajamas, may be younger and smaller, but her creativity and mischievousness loom just as large as always. Unable to resist the tasty cookies that were supposed to be left for Santa, Babymouse decides that baking cupcakes will get her back onto his "nice" list, which will hopefully lead to a suit of armor under the tree come Christmas morning. When she is left alone to watch the cupcakes cool while her mother tends to her baby brother, impatience and imagination kick in. Squeak's cries turn into a dragon's roar, and a mighty battle to protect the cupcakes ensues. VERDICT The same buoyant fun of the graphic novel series can be found here, connecting younger children to what is becoming a beloved classic character.-Joanna Fabicon, Los Angeles Public Library © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
All the hallmarks of the Holm siblings' Babymouse graphic novels-vivid fantasy sequences, a drily funny narrator, and punchy cartooning-make their way to the irrepressible mouse's first picture book. After Babymouse scarfs down the cookies meant for a certain jolly old elf, the narrator asks what she hopes Santa will bring her: "A nice tea set, perhaps?" No, Babymouse wants a suit of armor ("Because of all the dragons!" she explains, with more than a hint of scorn), and that means baking special cupcakes for Santa. But can they survive an encounter with a cranky baby brother turned dragon? That's right, cupcakes and dragons-both featured elements in previous Babymouse books-are big, nontraditional parts of this story, which neatly avoids overfamiliar holiday territory while still highlighting the chaos of the days leading up to Christmas. Ages 3-7. Agent: Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary Management. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
