School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Delightful rhyming verse presents the tale of Mr. Mouse and his family as they discover Christmas traditions. After moving into the warm spot beneath the kitchen stove in a big house, Mr. and Mrs. Mouse are curious to find out why the human family is decorating the evergreen that was brought into the home and why the kitchen smells of ginger and peppermint. Mr. Mouse soon discovers all the preparation is for Christmas and hears about a child born long ago and a jolly man named Santa who brings gifts to celebrate the baby Jesus's birth on a day called Christmas. Mr. and Mrs. Mouse decide that their family should also celebrate Christmas. The double-page, warm, colorful illustrations offer an opportunity to really examine the drawings; three creatures (rabbit, cat, tyrannosaurus) are hidden on each page. VERDICT A fun and engaging tale to share one-on-one.-Diane Olivo-Posner Los Angeles Public Library © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
The husband-and-wife creators of the Snowmen series touch on both the religious and secular sides of Christmas as a family of mice learns about the holiday festivities unfolding in the human house in which they live. After Mr. Mouse leaves his family's nook to explore, he "stared in puzzled delight/ as an evergreen tree was brought inside/ and covered with twinkling lights." Having overheard the Nativity story, as well as details about Santa's visit, Mr. Mouse tells his family what he has discovered: "All that fussing upstairs is for Christmas,/ and Christmas means joy, and love." Caralyn Buehner's verse can be less than precise in its cadence and meter, though Mark Buehner's paintings are full of fun visual details. Readers are invited to locate a hidden rabbit, cat, and dinosaur in each illustration-a surprisingly challenging task that will likely have frustrated readers looking to the answer key. Ages 3-5. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
