School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-Presents are piled under Little Mouse's tree, and they're all for him. An unidentified narrator tells him about Hungry Bear, who loves Christmas presents- and never gets any, not even from Santa. At first Little Mouse tries to protect his stash (one humorous spread shows his gifts all chained up and booby-trapped by thumbtacks), but then he begins to feel sorry for the ursine fellow. He gathers together most of his loot, puts on his Santa suit, and bravely makes his way to Bear's den, where he delivers the gifts and starts to decorate the tree. But, will Little Mouse pay for his generous impulse when Bear wakes up? Fans of The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear (Turtleback, 1984) will love this funny, exciting, and satisfying tale that celebrates generosity and the importance of making friends. The colorful spreads feel as familiar and cozy as fuzzy slippers, and project beautifully for sharing in a storytime.-M. A. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
This holiday sequel to The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear juxtaposes its very simple language with expressive, comically exaggerated paintings. As little Mouse sets up his tree and the presents beneath, an unseen narrator reminds him about his neighbor, "the big, hungry Bear." In the illustrations, Mouse responds by anxiously setting up padlocks and barricades, fearfully guarding his heap of gifts. But, hearing that the bear never gets any presents, he has a change of heart. The pleasure of this book isn't in novelty or surprise but in the Woods' utterly confident delivery. A solid choice for the very young, with a subtly rendered lesson about sharing. Ages 2-up. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
