Santa Mouse

by Michael Brown, Elfrieda De Witt (Illustrator)

Everyone knows that Santa Mouse is Santa's little helper but how did it all come about? Find out in this charming story about a tiny mouse with no name who lived a very lonely life in a very big house. He loved Christmas dearly and had a special present for Santa, but how could he possibly give it to him? After all, he's only a mouse. And how did a little ordinary mouse become Santa Mouse, the helper Santa could never do without?! Color illustrations. 8 1/4" x 11".

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Holiday, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Classics

17 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1966

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Brown, Michael, 1920-2014
from Library of Congress website

Born Marion Martin Brown II

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

We picked up this 1970's reprint of this 1966 book in a charity shop. Although this is a very short read and the plot really just consists of a mouse becoming Santa's helper and the suggestion of leaving out some cheese, the illustrations are delightful. The mouse illustrations are very cute and have some lovely details, such as a little sardine tin for a bed, two match boxes for a chest of drawers and a Christmas tree covered in decorations. Short but sweet!

[Mischenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute rhyming story about a little mouse who becomes a big help for Santa at Christmas. The book had a familiar, comforting feel to it, and the illustrations reminded me of some of the Christmas books I had as a child. This is a perfect, simple story for very young children.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lonely little mouse, living all alone in a great gray house, dreams of family and friends in this sweet holiday picture-book. As he prepares for his solitary Christmas, it suddenly occurs to the mouse that although Santa is the gift-giver of the season, no one ever gives him a gift in return, leading our murine hero to leave out his much-cherished bit of cheese. His generosity is rewarded when Santa makes him his assistant, giving him an important role in Christmas, and also providing him with friendship and company...

Originally published in 1966, and reprinted this year (2019) in this new edition, Santa Mouse is a delightfully sweet and heartwarming holiday picture-book! Author Michael Brown tells his story in rhyming text, while illustrator Elfrieda De Witt's vintage artwork captures Santa Mouse's changing emotional state perfectly. The visuals here are truly expressive, and immensely charming - a pleasure to peruse! I'm so glad that Simon & Schuster decided to reprint this one, so today's children's can once again enjoy this story, and hope that they will reprint other Santa Mouse stories!

[Diane in Australia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations are adorable. A lonely mouse longs to give Santa a gift. Well, Santa surprises him on Christmas Eve, and not only accepts the gift, but takes the mouse with him as his helper. For young children.

One of the books in my daughter's Christmas collection.

5 Stars = For sentimental reasons.

[Christy Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mom used to read this to me when I was small and then she read it to my daughter when she was little. It’s such an adorable Christmas book with the cutest illustrations. Really, a very darling book.

[Kym Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute little story for children that introduces Santa's helper, Santa Mouse. It leaves you with a message of generosity, sharing, and kindness.

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

2009 December 17

This is annual reading (at least). The copy is from my childhood. We even have a little stuffed Santa Mouse we get out and play with every year. Santa Mouse lives in an old Victorian Addams sort of house, pity he leaves it.

***

2010 December 13

Ah, Santa Mouse. We couldn't locate the stuffy, but we finished trimming the tree, so it was time to read some Christmas books.

***

2020 December 2

Continuing my plan to try and get into the Christmas spirit, tonight I am baking gingerbread and reading some more Christmas books.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this little book about Santa Mouse! My granddaughter loved this rhyming story about a mouse with no name who becomes Santa's helper. Now, I think I'll have to leave out cheese for little Santa Mouse at Christmas! (And, yes, I'm happy to ready Christmas books any time of year!)

[Hannah Degn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tis the season for Christmas reading ✨

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet little Christmas story. Perfect for ages 2 to 6.

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are as cute as can be, though I worry that once Christmas is over, Santa Mouse will be returned to the big house where he will be lonely again.

[Connie Douglass · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my absolute favorites from when I was a child. I remember the lesson: even small good deeds are noticed, and I remember ever single illustration! I’m sure my pare read it to me a zillion times ❤️

[sarah singleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Santa Mouse 9 times in one day to my students and so I’m counting it towards my goodreads goal. 5 ⭐️, no notes. The kiddos loved it

[babyhippoface · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, my. I have had this book in my library for years but never read it. I took it out to hall duty with me this afternoon and read it in-between saying, "WALK" forty-two times. It's adorable. Seriously.

This completely cute little mouse is lonely in his big, old house. He has no friends but dreams of having many. As he gets ready for bed on Christmas Eve he thinks it would be nice to leave a gift for Santa, so he wraps his best piece of cheese he's been saving. Oh, and Santa is appropriately grateful.

This is short and sweet, sweet, sweet. Have to add this to my seasonal read-alouds for Kindergarten and PreK.

[Robbie Bashore · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites from childhood! I made all kinds of shrinky-dink ornaments from tracings of the illustrations! I was so excited to have my mother give it too me from somewhere in the archives of her home. I even bought the sequel, even though I didn't know it, just to see Santa Mouse's picture!

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a favorite of my daughter all the Christmases while growing up. At one time I could recite the whole book by heart. My daughter has continued to read it to her children and now her grandchildren

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

SANTA MOUSE is a cute rhyme about a mouse who did not have a name but does have a special piece of cheese. When Christmas comes, he decides to leave the cheese for Santa. Santa is touched and invites the mouse to help him deliver presents, naming him Santa Mouse. The book leaves the reader with the suggestion of leaving some cheese under the tree for when he visits the reader's house.

The illustrations in the book are simple with elegant borders and character vignettes with mostly white pages. The text is large and very clear, making it easy to read aloud.

What I loved: The illustrations are very vintage and lovely with a realistic looking Santa and mouse. This book certainly has nostalgia appeal for parents and grandparents who may remember the book (or similar style of illustrations) from childhood. The story is simple and easy for children to follow with a very sweet message of being generous. The text is very easy to read and has a good flow. The simplicity makes this ideal for toddlers.

Final verdict: Overall, this is a charming and vintage story of a generous mouse who now accompanies Santa, adding a little extra fun to the holidays. Easy to read with lovely illustrations, this is a nostalgic addition to Christmas-themed book collections.

Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was reminded of reading this as a kid when I saw it at my parents’ house. Sweet little story

[Cristina Quattrone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will be leaving cheese for Santa Mouse until the end of time.

[WillowRaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

A childhood favorite, and the reason I left a piece of cheese out with Santa's milk & cookies, and carrot for the reindeer!!

[Sherry Scheline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awe super cute little book. Makes me want to leave out cheese 🧀 on Christmas Eve. 🎄

[Rebekah Fearrien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a precious Christmas book!

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to my friend Robbie for reminding me of this. One of the first books my older daughter learned to read along to (i.e., saying the last word of the rhyming verses on the correct pages, pre-actual-reading).

[Emerson and Theodore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Santa Mouse is the cutest mouse you will ever see.
Classic and classy 1966 drawings. Wonderful!
Illustrations are superb.

[Adam Duclos · Rating 5 out of 5]

My family has read this together every Christmas for as long as I can remember, sometimes even now, long past leaving the nest. I know most of it by heart.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this sweet little book about a little guy.

[Fi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best Christmas book of all time, and I'm not even joking.

[Lisa Gemert · Rating 5 out of 5]

How does a mouse become one of Santa's most trusted helpers? Why should cheese take pride of place alongside cookies left out on Christmas Eve? This sweet, classic story explains everything!

Written in 1966 by Michael Brown and magically illustrated by Elfrieda Dee Witt, this is the original in what would be come a delightful collection of Santa Mouse books.

Inspired by pajama fabric featuring a tiny mouse, Brown's story has stood the test of time. The little mouse with no name has become a household name.

Were I starting a children's Christmas library from scratch, this picture book would be one of the first titles I would add. In addition to being a great story, it has the possibility of tradition built right in. Why leave out cookies alone when you can add cheese?

The book is also great for emerging readers, with plenty of white space on the pages.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a sucker for a vintage book. First published in ‘66, this would have likely been something I read as a child in the ‘70s, so I think the illustration style gets me nostalgic. Also, I love that this book is about the thoughtful act of a mouse to give Santa his piece of cheese - the cheese good enough to make angels sing, the cheese he has saved all year. It occurs to him that no one gives Santa gifts, so he decides to do just that, giving up his piece of cheese for the jolly old fellow. This books strikes just the right balance of Christmas excitement and joy with a gentle reminder that we should be thinking of others, too, during the Christmas season.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I respect GoodReads prerogative to exclude emojis from the review section. But rest assured that were they an option, this review would be all heart and smiley face emojis. I picked up this book in February because I am already counting down to Christmas and planning for that most over-orchestrated and emotionally inflated time of the year. I truly live for it! This book will definitely be on the list of gifts for all kiddos under three (four?) as well as tiny Christmas cheese plate for Santa Mouse.