The night before Christmas

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

The familiar Christmas poem is given a new twist with the addition of Santa Mouse, who resides in Santa's cap. The text is all there, encircled with red ribbons and candy cane borders. Cute illustrations show a mouse family nestled down on Christmas Eve only to awake at the clatter of hooves on the rooftop. After setting out the presents, Santa has a puff on his candy-striped pipe and Santa Mouse nibbles on a cookie. Watch out for that tabby cat, Santa Mouse! Then they are off again with Santa exclaiming "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night."

School Library Journal

PreS-K--With only a minimal change of wording, the classic poem is told from a mouse's perspective. Krupinski's charming gouache, watercolor, and colored-pencil illustrations show a cozy mouse couple settling in for the night when "there arose such a clatter...." Father mouse spies Santa, his reindeer, and a tiny Santa Mouse who rides in his hat. Santa comes down the chimney and starts to unload presents for the humans while Santa Mouse heads off for the mouse family quarters with his tiny pack. Full of quaint detail and endearing little mice (and even a wide-eyed cat), the illustrations carry the story. Unfortunately, Santa himself is bland and stiff, more a 19th-century characterization than a "right jolly old elf." Children who know and love the poem will enjoy this variant--especially as they discover the Borrowers-like uses that the mice find for unusual items in their home. Librarians with other standard versions of the poem may not need this mouse-eye view but it suffices as additional fare.--AC