Who is Geronimo Stilton? He's a brainy Italian mouse who lives in New Mouse City and edits a newspaper, The Rodent's Gazette. He and his human creators have had adventures all over the world, each one resulting in a book. In this Christmas tale, Geronimo has become a workaholic with no time to celebrate the holiday, much to the chagrin of his colleagues and relatives, especially his favorite nephew, Benjamin Stilton. When the hard-working mouse finally falls asleep at his desk, Christmas comes to Geronimo in the form of a green-clad elf who whisks him away to Santa's compound in a sleigh pulled by the famous reindeer. (Middle readers will be intrigued to learn that Santa lives near Rovaniemi, Finland.) Geronimo's journey on Christmas Eve results in further travels, a new attitude toward the holiday, and much celebration and good cheer with the excitable but lovable rodent, given to exclamations like "Moldy Mozzarella!" and "Putrid cheese puffs!" This chapter book moves along at a rapid clip, enlivened by many drawings, maps, lists, and bird's-eye views, while the text sports a multitude of fonts in all sizes, styles, and colors; a special section offers recipes and tips on making decorations. Readers may notice that, though the book's origins are in Italy, Christmas seems very much like the holiday we know. Well, that's what happens when a mouse becomes an international star; the series has been translated into thirty-five languages and is now a world best-seller, outselling (cheese niblets!) Harry Potter.