“Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. . . .” Well, maybe one mouse. Santa Mouse has just landed on the Mouse family’s roof! A holiday tradition begins with Clement C. Moore’s beloved Christmas poem, now starring an adorable family of mice. This special edition features durable cardstock pages, as well as glitter spots on every page to create a magical mood. Sparkly lights and candles appear to glow in the cozy interior scenes, while outside, stars twinkle against a night sky. A festive read-aloud to share every holiday season!

Lexile: NP

The famous poem is presented here with a cast of charming mice, including Santa Mouse in the starring role. He is shown on the glitter-accented cover flying in his mouse-sized sleigh with his team of eight tiny reindeer that truly fit that description. The attractive design features a large format with pages of heavy cardstock, and each double-page spread includes touches of glitter highlighting snow, stars and decorations. Appealing watercolors depict a cozy home ready for the holiday, with one spread showing a cutaway view like an open dollhouse. The illustrations follow an old-fashioned interpretation of the well-loved poem, with mice taking the place of the characters. The choice of mice to tell the story gives new meaning to the phrase 'not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.' (Picture book. 3-7). 

 

August 15, 2010, Kirkus Reviews

For many people, the lines “’Twas the night before Christmas, / when all through the house / Not a creature was stirring, / not even a mouse” are very familiar. As we listen to the opening lines of Clement C. Moore’s poem, in our minds eye we see a family lying in their beds fast asleep on a cold winter’s night. In this version of the poem, artist Kat Whelan has chosen to do something just a little different; the main characters are not people at all, they are mice!

 

As the story unfolds, we see a father mouse getting up out of bed to “see what was the matter” while his wife sleeps on. We see a little Santa mouse flying over the rooftops sitting in a sleigh that is being pulled by “eight tiny reindeer.” We see Santa, with large mouse ears and a curling tail, come down the chimney, just like his much larger human counterpart.

 

With wonderful double page illustrations that are touched with sparkly glitter, this picture book is sure to delight little readers who have a fondness for mouse book characters.

 

November 2010, Through The Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews

Kristi

This is a great and favorite story told from the mouse's point of view. Sparkly snow filled pages will get your kids excited about Christmas for sure. This wonderful Christmas poem will become a new tradition for your family for the holidays.