Christmas Mouseling

by Dori Chaconas, Susan Kathleen Hartung (Illustrator)

When her shivering baby is born on a cold winter night, a mouse follows some animals to a special manger where she receives help from another mother, in a heartwarming Nativity story by the author of One Little Mouse.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 2005

About the author

Dori Chaconas learned story pacing from an early age while entertaining her younger siblings. The author of such picture books as ON A WINTRY MORNING, ONE LITTLE MOUSE, and MOMMA, WILL YOU?, she lives in Germantown, Wisconsin.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute pictures, and many children will probably enjoy the various animals Mother Mouse encounters on her way to find her baby a cozy nest... I found the repetition a bit lackluster, and a few of the animal-centered jokes a bit weak. I.e., the sheep says to the mother something like, "It's a baaaad day to be out in weather like this" or the cow says, "Best be mooooving along." But, kids might love this!

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Knowing that this is a book by the author of "Looking for Easter," I bring high hopes to reading this picture book.

Well, here's the problem that evidently will set in motion the plot for this book:

Mother Mouse has given birth to a fine baby mouse but, shockingly, her little boy mouse will not say, "Mama." He's been alive less than a day. Still, how awful!

The idea of producing a talking mouse isn't enough to please this mother? Huh? Even worse...

IS THIS SOME NEW KIND OF STATUS RACE, HOW FAST BABIES SAY MAMA?

My son (a human one) took a while before he began to talk. What was his first word? "Barney."

Later came "Dada," and only third came "Mommy.

This has never troubled me. In fact I think it's funny. (I used to love watching the Barney show on TV. So glad my son enjoyed it too.)

Anyway, I don't find this race for one's (non-human) child to say "Mama"... quite relatable.

IN CONCLUSION

By the end I can kind of work my way backward to see what might have inspired this book.

Chaconas is a prolific writer. I wouldn't be at all surprised if all the rest of her storybooks are far better than this one.

[Thomas Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely ruins the nativity story, but otherwise not a bad book.

[Nancy O'Toole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas Mouseling is a gentle picture book that's both an animal story, and a nativity story. As the book opens up, Mother Mouse has just given birth to a baby mouse, and the wind has blown away their home. The two are cold, and set out to find a new place to live. Every animal they come across is going to visit a “king” (baby Jesus). The most lovely things about this picture book is it's artwork, which can be both calm and playful. The text is typically displayed opposite the illustrations, save for a few scenes where the wind blows the animal houses away. Here the text is woven into the wind to create a feeling of movement. These are the most enjoyable parts of the book. The story manages to tell the nativity story without feeling strongly religious (neither Mary, Joseph, or Jesus are actually depicted in detail), making it accessible to both Christian readers and fans of animal stories. There are also moments of comedy involving puns, that may or may not be successful depending on reader's sense of humor.

Christmas Mouseling is a nice picture book, but not necessarily a stand out one. The lovely artwork makes it worth checking it out from the library during the Christmas season.

-This Book is Part of The Picture Book Project: A personal mission by one librarian to read 365 picture books in roughly a year. Book 1/365-

[Terrah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, but you do have to overlook the fact that it probably wasn't snowing in Bethlehem when Jesus was born!

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mother mouse searches for a warm bed for her new baby on a cold winter night, and finds a warm stable to share with several animals and another newborn child. Simple, sweet and lovely.

[Katie Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cold night has mother mouse on the hunt for a warm place for her new baby... until she winds up in a manger with another new Christmas baby. Great book!