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Mistletoe: A Christmas Story
Celebrate Christmas with Mistletoe, a mouse who makes the perfect gift for her best friend from #1 New York Times bestselling author-illustrator.Mistletoe loves everything about Christmas--the twinkling lights, the cookies for Santa, and, most of all, the gently falling snow. Her best friend, Norwell, is an elephant who likes sitting by the fire and watching the snow from the comfort of his cozy house. On one particularly snowy walk, Mistletoe stops to appreciate the beauty and peace of a snow-covered world. She knows Norwell would love it too... if he weren't so afraid of the cold. Then she has an idea! Mistletoe knits from morning to night--when she's reading, when she's baking, and even in the bath (which isn't easy). By the time Christmas morning arrives, she puts down her knitting needles. Her gift for Norwell is ready--and it is perfect.Full of holiday cheer and filled with the true meaning of Christmas, here is a new story from master picture book creator Tad Hills that introduces two warm and funny characters to love.
40 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 29, 2020
4 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
About the author
Tad Hills
60 books126 followers“Whenever I picture myself [as a child],” says Tad Hills, “I am doing art. I spent a lot of time on my own making things, drawing, and painting.” Hills was not consciously trying to become an artist, rather his motives were innocent and pure. “I liked making things,” he says.
As a graduate of Skidmore College in New York with a degree in art, Hills describes himself as the ultimate freelancer. He’s done some acting, made jewelry, makes fake teeth for stage productions, dabbled in interior renovation, and illustrated book jackets for adult trade books. But Hills’ break into children’s publishing coincided with his wife Lee’s new position as the art director for Simon and Schuster’s children’s book division. “Lee used to ask me to try illustrating some books she couldn’t find an illustrator for,” Hills says. When Lee moved to Random House to start her own imprint with long-time friend and associate, Ann Schwartz, she encouraged Hills to write his own picture books. “I started with four stories,” says Hills. His break out book, Duck and Goose (Schwartz and Wade, 2006) was one of them.
The idea for Duck and Goose started with only a title—The Silly Goose, the Odd Duck and the Good Egg. As Hills developed the story, he realized his egg would have to be rather large to support Duck and Goose so they could hatch it. Hills also had to consider what would hatch out of such a large egg. A dinosaur? An ostrich? Additionally, Hills floated the title by his son’s kindergarten class and was rewarded with blank stares. Hills took the hint and changed his egg to a ball, and changed the title.
“For me, the writing is really difficult. I stare at a blank page for hours,” he says. “When Lee comes home and asks me about my day, I say it was okay. I wrote one sentence. . .But when I’m in the zone, I literally hear the dialogue between [Duck and Goose]. They were telling me what they wanted to say! That is the best feeling. That is when it’s not work. It’s fun!”
Hills paints with water-soluble oil paint on paper, using colored pencils for the last details. Although Hills’ Duck and Goose characters look simple enough, he drew hundreds of ducks and geese before finding a style with which he was comfortable. “The first ones [I drew] were older looking,” he says. “They looked like cigar-smoking tough guys.” Over a matter of months, Hills finally pared down Duck and Goose to their essential elements—circular heads, long rectangular legs, triangular feet, and door-shaped beaks. “When I apply the eyebrow,” he says, “I can express what Duck is feeling.”
As Hills’ two children grow, he finds himself drawn to how kids treat each other. “I didn’t tolerate meanness or injustice as a kid,” he says. In Duck, Duck, Goose (Schwartz and Wade, 2007), Hills creates a friendship triangle by introducing a new duck named Thistle. Together Duck, Goose, and Thistle give Hills’ observations a voice and provide several conversation starters for parents and children.
Hills writes from his home in Brooklyn, New York. Some days he doesn’t write at all, but tries to stay receptive to what he’s experiencing. “Most of my ideas come to me when I’m not looking,” he says. “It’s hard to get yourself to a point where ideas are out there and you can grab them.”
from http://www.patriciamnewman.com/hills....
As a graduate of Skidmore College in New York with a degree in art, Hills describes himself as the ultimate freelancer. He’s done some acting, made jewelry, makes fake teeth for stage productions, dabbled in interior renovation, and illustrated book jackets for adult trade books. But Hills’ break into children’s publishing coincided with his wife Lee’s new position as the art director for Simon and Schuster’s children’s book division. “Lee used to ask me to try illustrating some books she couldn’t find an illustrator for,” Hills says. When Lee moved to Random House to start her own imprint with long-time friend and associate, Ann Schwartz, she encouraged Hills to write his own picture books. “I started with four stories,” says Hills. His break out book, Duck and Goose (Schwartz and Wade, 2006) was one of them.
The idea for Duck and Goose started with only a title—The Silly Goose, the Odd Duck and the Good Egg. As Hills developed the story, he realized his egg would have to be rather large to support Duck and Goose so they could hatch it. Hills also had to consider what would hatch out of such a large egg. A dinosaur? An ostrich? Additionally, Hills floated the title by his son’s kindergarten class and was rewarded with blank stares. Hills took the hint and changed his egg to a ball, and changed the title.
“For me, the writing is really difficult. I stare at a blank page for hours,” he says. “When Lee comes home and asks me about my day, I say it was okay. I wrote one sentence. . .But when I’m in the zone, I literally hear the dialogue between [Duck and Goose]. They were telling me what they wanted to say! That is the best feeling. That is when it’s not work. It’s fun!”
Hills paints with water-soluble oil paint on paper, using colored pencils for the last details. Although Hills’ Duck and Goose characters look simple enough, he drew hundreds of ducks and geese before finding a style with which he was comfortable. “The first ones [I drew] were older looking,” he says. “They looked like cigar-smoking tough guys.” Over a matter of months, Hills finally pared down Duck and Goose to their essential elements—circular heads, long rectangular legs, triangular feet, and door-shaped beaks. “When I apply the eyebrow,” he says, “I can express what Duck is feeling.”
As Hills’ two children grow, he finds himself drawn to how kids treat each other. “I didn’t tolerate meanness or injustice as a kid,” he says. In Duck, Duck, Goose (Schwartz and Wade, 2007), Hills creates a friendship triangle by introducing a new duck named Thistle. Together Duck, Goose, and Thistle give Hills’ observations a voice and provide several conversation starters for parents and children.
Hills writes from his home in Brooklyn, New York. Some days he doesn’t write at all, but tries to stay receptive to what he’s experiencing. “Most of my ideas come to me when I’m not looking,” he says. “It’s hard to get yourself to a point where ideas are out there and you can grab them.”
from http://www.patriciamnewman.com/hills....
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
December 22, 2021
A super cute story of the joy of giving between friends. It’s always better to give than receive!
Read
November 3, 2020That last page. <3
January 4, 2021
At first I thought this book was just your sweet, albeit average story about putting friends before yourself.....but the last illustration just makes me laugh. An elephant in a knitted onezie! It was the most adorable picture ever.
Tad Hills illustrates the Rocket Learns to Read books and now having a mouse and an elephant through his eyes was such fun. And a sweet story of friendship and love what else do you want at Christmastime <3
Tad Hills illustrates the Rocket Learns to Read books and now having a mouse and an elephant through his eyes was such fun. And a sweet story of friendship and love what else do you want at Christmastime <3
December 21, 2020
Very cute story with bold illustrations.
What I didn't like was that some pages were heavy on the text while others did not.
Just a personal dislike but overall a very pleasant Christmas picture book.
What I didn't like was that some pages were heavy on the text while others did not.
Just a personal dislike but overall a very pleasant Christmas picture book.
October 3, 2020
tad hills is so great at creating sweet books with illustrations kids can look at over and over. such a gentle tale that focuses of the meaning of christmas - love and kindness.
December 11, 2020
This is the cutest Christmas story I've read in a very long time!
December 21, 2020
A sweet Christmas friendship story.
February 18, 2021
Best snow suit ever!
December 4, 2021
A sweet story of finding a way to be with your friends, even when you have different ideas of what constitutes weather to be out in (relatable)😉 .
December 24, 2022
Such a sweet Christmas picture book! Worth seeking out. I love Tad Hills’ books.
January 6, 2021
I wrote my review and it never saved, it was just stuck spinning here. :(
I'm going to see if this will post before I try to remember and write it all out again.
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I picked this book up during check-in the other day. The cover is just so cute, and I didn't get all my Christmas energy out this year.
Mistletoe loves the snow, and her friend Norwell loves being cozy and warm inside. (Can we talk about how cute it is that an elephant and a mouse are friends? Because elephants are supposed to be afraid of mice.)
It's almost Christmas, and Mistletoe knows just what to make for her friend. She knits and she knits, and then it's finally Christmas. She gives Norwell an elephant-sized, hand-knitted, multicolor striped onesie! So he can be toasty and warm in the snow. And he is, when they go out together. (I worry for his trunk getting cold though. He needs a trunk warmer.)
A cute book about friendship. We can respect our differences, but sometimes we can also help our friends extend their comfort zones when we do it with genuine understanding and love.
I enjoyed looking at the details in the illustrations, like Mistletoe's tiny teacup at Norwell's house, the picture on Mistletoe's mantle of her and Norwell, the ornaments on the trees, and... I think I had another thing before my first review disappeared. Also, if you look at the back endpapers, there are *two* sets of footprints in the snow, one tiny and one big.
[CQS 2 of 4]
I'm going to see if this will post before I try to remember and write it all out again.
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I picked this book up during check-in the other day. The cover is just so cute, and I didn't get all my Christmas energy out this year.
Mistletoe loves the snow, and her friend Norwell loves being cozy and warm inside. (Can we talk about how cute it is that an elephant and a mouse are friends? Because elephants are supposed to be afraid of mice.)
It's almost Christmas, and Mistletoe knows just what to make for her friend. She knits and she knits, and then it's finally Christmas. She gives Norwell an elephant-sized, hand-knitted, multicolor striped onesie! So he can be toasty and warm in the snow. And he is, when they go out together. (I worry for his trunk getting cold though. He needs a trunk warmer.)
A cute book about friendship. We can respect our differences, but sometimes we can also help our friends extend their comfort zones when we do it with genuine understanding and love.
I enjoyed looking at the details in the illustrations, like Mistletoe's tiny teacup at Norwell's house, the picture on Mistletoe's mantle of her and Norwell, the ornaments on the trees, and... I think I had another thing before my first review disappeared. Also, if you look at the back endpapers, there are *two* sets of footprints in the snow, one tiny and one big.
[CQS 2 of 4]
December 27, 2020
Elementary teachers would do well to stock their classroom bins and shelves with picture books from Tad Hills. His stories are always relatable and touching while providing positive messages and examples. In this one, perfect for sharing aloud during the Christmas holiday season, readers meet two friends with very different interests or ideas about what makes for a good time. But they still manage to share some special moments. Mistletoe (a mouse) loves the cold weather and snow, but her friend Norwell (an elephant) does not. When Norwell isn't eager to join her outside, Mistletoe comes inside for a snack ["...a drop for me, and a cookie crumb..." (unpaged) with the intention of persuading her friend to come outside. But even though she makes it all sound inviting, Norwell can't be budged. On the way home, Mistletoe has a brainstorm, and then embarks on an ambitious knitting project that will result in something to keep her friend warm. Youngsters will find it rather endearing that such a small creature would take on such an enormous project, highlighted by the text and colorful digital images that show Mistletoe knitting everywhere and almost constantly. The double-page spread showing her snuggled under her finished knitting and the following pages that show how hard she must work to wrap up her present, ease it through the door, and then drag in on a sleigh to Norwell's house show how much a labor of love all this has been. And judging from Norwell's gift to Mistletoe, these two friends know each other well. Indeed, they do. Now Norwell won't have to miss out on walks in the snow with his friend. Readers will want to check out the endpapers; the first ones show only Mistletoe's tracks in the snow, and the last ones show the light prints made by her but accompanied by Norwell's larger and heavier ones.
November 21, 2024
“Mistletoe: A Christmas Story” written and illustrated by Tadd Hills (Copyright 2020, Schwartz & Wade Books) celebrates Christmas with a snow-loving mouse named Mistletoe and her best friend, an elephant named Norwell. When snow begins to fall and it finally “feels like Christmas,” Mistletoe asks Norwell to come outside and play. Norwell, thinking it’s too cold, gets her to come inside instead, where they share a warm fire, have tea and cookies, and decorate his Christmas tree together. On her way home, Mistletoe has an idea for the perfect Christmas gift for her friend. After much hard work, she finishes it just in time for Christmas. When they exchange gifts, Norwell gives Mistletoe a painting that pictures her standing in snow, because she loves snow. She gives him a colorful snowsuit that she knitted so he would be warm while they’re out walking together in the snow. This sweet book, with its cheerful illustrations that were created in the Procreate digital app, shows the fun of sharing Christmastime with friends. This review was originally published as part of my "Picture Book Favorites About Christmas" blog post at www.cindyovercast.com.
January 13, 2021
Celebrate Christmas with Mistletoe, a mouse who makes the perfect gift for her best friend from #1 New York Times bestselling author-illustrator.
Mistletoe loves everything about Christmas--the twinkling lights, the cookies for Santa, and, most of all, the gently falling snow. Her best friend, Norwell, is an elephant who likes sitting by the fire and watching the snow from the comfort of his cozy house. On one particularly snowy walk, Mistletoe stops to appreciate the beauty and peace of a snow-covered world. She knows Norwell would love it too... if he weren't so afraid of the cold. Then she has an idea! Mistletoe knits from morning to night--when she's reading, when she's baking, and even in the bath (which isn't easy). By the time Christmas morning arrives, she puts down her knitting needles. Her gift for Norwell is ready--and it is perfect.
Full of holiday cheer and filled with the true meaning of Christmas, here is a new story from master picture book creator Tad Hills that introduces two warm and funny characters to love.
Read
October 9, 2020 As mentioned in the first post, in times of darkness, especially on a global level, people will seek and embrace the joy of celebrations. These observances remind us of family, unity, and connectivity. They remind us of past, present, and future miracles.
Four September publications draw our attention to three holidays. They present the best each event offers. They individually and collectively are a form of light.
The best part of the shift in any season is to be able to share it with a best friend. The joys of the Christmas holiday and its traditions are amplified when you enjoy making it special for someone else. This spirit of giving is richly portrayed in a new book by author illustrator Tad Hills. Mistletoe: A Christmas Story (Schwartz & Wade Books, September 29, 2020) is as charming as the two characters we meet.
My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...
Four September publications draw our attention to three holidays. They present the best each event offers. They individually and collectively are a form of light.
The best part of the shift in any season is to be able to share it with a best friend. The joys of the Christmas holiday and its traditions are amplified when you enjoy making it special for someone else. This spirit of giving is richly portrayed in a new book by author illustrator Tad Hills. Mistletoe: A Christmas Story (Schwartz & Wade Books, September 29, 2020) is as charming as the two characters we meet.
My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...
December 13, 2020
Mistletoe, the mouse, loves the cold and the snow. “What a beautiful day! Finally, it feels like Christmas.” Mistletoe goes to visit her friend Norwell, the elephant, and while he is glad to see her, he doesn’t want to go outside. “It sure looks cold out there ... Too cold for an elephant.” So Mistletoe spends the afternoon in Norwell’s house, drinking tea and helping him decorate his tree, but no matter what she says, Mistletoe just can’t entice Norwell to go outside. On her walk home, she Mistletoe feels sad that Norwell isn’t able to enjoy the outdoors, especially the peaceful joy of listening to falling know. That gives Mistletoe an idea for the perfect Christmas gift for Norwell.
Sweet story about understanding who your friends are.
Sweet story about understanding who your friends are.
December 15, 2020
Mistletoe the mouse loves Christmas - especially the falling snow. She wants to share a winter walk with her friend Norwell (an elephant), but he doesn't like the cold. After spending a pleasant day together - inside - Mistletoe comes up with a plan to get her friend outside. She raids her yarn stash and starts knitting, and by Christmas morning she has an elephant-sized something-or-other (we don't actually know what it is until Norwell puts it on and is pictured outside (finally!). A sweet Christmas story.
December 4, 2020
This is the cutest story! My mom is a huge fan of crochet, and one of her favorite things to say is that, "you can never have too much yarn." I picked this one up to see it would be a good one to share with my favorite little humans, and when Mistletoe, the little mouse main character used my mom's signature line, I knew this book had to come home with me. Such a cute story about friends and sharing and the spirit of Christmas.
December 13, 2020
This was an absolutely delightful story about a little mouse making a very special gift for her elephant friend so that he will be comfortable and warm coming out to play in the snow with her. It is fun to make guesses about what she is making but when you turn the final page at the end and see what she has made, it will make you laugh out loud! It was such a great and unexpected surprise! I love the sweet illustrations and the wonderful message about friendship.
December 28, 2020
Picture book. Mistletoe the Mouse and Norwell the elephant are best friends. But while Mistletoe wants to play out in the snow, Norwell wants to stay inside by the fire. For Christmas, both friends gift the other something that recognizes this difference: Norwell gives Mistletoe a drawing of her in the snow and Mistletoe uses all of her yarn to knit Norwell a custom suit to keep him warm in the snow. A cute tale of friendship.
January 9, 2021
This is a nice, simple, cozy Christmas tale. Central conflict is between Mistletoe the mouse who loves to be outside in the snow and her elephant friend, Norwell, who thinks it looks too cold outside. Mistletoe so wants her friend to experience how awesome snow is that she devises a super sweet and adorable Christmas surprise which she gifts Norwell on Christmas day. You won't cry but you might audibly exclaim "awww" at the end of the book. Great for a winter bedtime story!
August 22, 2023
This is a delightful story about a mouse who loves to walk in the snow. She tries to convince her elephant friend Norwell to join her. He is reluctant to go outside, but invites her into his home for tea and cookies. She is sad he won't walk in the snow outside but soon decides there is something she must do to help remedy the situation. The illustrations are colorful and sweet. This would be a great read-aloud for the holidays. Highly recommended for Grades K-3.
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November 2, 2020This book is absolutely precious. The ending cracked me up. It is a really sweet story about friendship between a mouse and an elephant! The only thing I'm against is the book jacket saying this is the true meaning of Christmas. Does there have to be only one meaning? Does this book showcase the true meaning?
December 5, 2020
Mistletoe, a mouse, is so excited about the snow and urges her friend, Norwell, an elephant, to join her outside. However, it is too cold for Norwell so Mistletoe comes up with a plan. A gently humorous picture book (although the last page is laugh out loud funny!) about friendship and gift giving. Just right for the Christmas season!
December 9, 2020
Such a cute story and love the ending. I do always find myself wanting more from Hills’ illustrations though. It’s so subjective, but I want more details. The spreads have an almost sad sense to them because it feels things are too empty, sparse, gray. Even Mistletoe’s mini mantle with one lone photo of Norwell. Lovely story nonetheless and my kids enjoyed it as well.
January 10, 2021
We love the Duck and Goose books so I bought this book based on Tad Hills alone. It is an excellent story of friendship and love. A wonderful story about giving meaningful gifts made out of love. It has excellent illustrations that are as bright and warm as those from the Duck and Goose books. Wonderful book.
December 11, 2022
The illustrations in this book are so magical and colorful. It's really cute when the two main characters are an elephant and a mouse. Especially since most elephants are scared of mice. Cassie really enjoyed this story and trying to guess what Mistletoe was creating for the elephant that would keep him warm. We also used this story to talk about how it wasn't money spent on presents that make it special but those who are helping another. Cassie really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend you to check it out.
December 26, 2023
"You can never have too much yarn," she says to herself.
One of my dear friends sent me this book last Christmas - it is a perfect fit for me. And a delightful, sweet story I loved reading again this year.
Two friends who know each other well and who find ways to help the other feel comfortable!
One of my dear friends sent me this book last Christmas - it is a perfect fit for me. And a delightful, sweet story I loved reading again this year.
Two friends who know each other well and who find ways to help the other feel comfortable!
November 4, 2020
This picture book is super cute!! Mistletoe loves snow but her friend Norwell likes to be warm. So Mistletoe sets out to make the perfect Christmas gift for Norwell.
Readers will enjoy the warm, fuzzy, and adorable characters.
Readers will enjoy the warm, fuzzy, and adorable characters.
December 7, 2020
Sweet story about a mouse who loves to play in the snow and an elephant who prefers to stay inside. Mistletoe knits a surprise gift for her friend and in the end he wears the many colored snowsuit to join her outside.
Lovely illustrations.
A terrific read aloud for December.
Lovely illustrations.
A terrific read aloud for December.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews