The Song of the Christmas Mouse

Rick, about 12, has discovered a unique wild mouse that might replace his pet that died. But the arrival of his bratty seven-year-old cousin, Hattie Lou, for the holidays nearly ruins his plans when she tears up the mouse's woodpile house. She also steals his brand new Canadian Flyer sled, wrecks it, and breaks her leg. Thethe insensitive little girl and her furious cousin reach a moment of peaceful rapport on Christmas Eve, however, when both see the tiny mouse come in through an open window following a trail of crumbs. In a plausible but magical scene, the mouse cavorts in the tree taking joy in its well-fed freedom. This quiet story features well-realized child characters, sympathetic parents who stay mostly out of the picture, and a snowy but unspecific setting. Fifteen short chapters, plus Diamond's winsome illustrations, make this just right for before-Christmas reading aloud in families who need books with a wide age-range appeal.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Animal lovers will be drawn to this heartwarming winter tale about a boy's quest to befriend an orphaned field mouse. When Rick first spies the tiny striped creature perched atop a bird feeder, he thinks the animal must be the offspring of Lucy, a pet mouse that ran away. Motivated by compassion and a sense of responsibility, Rick is determined to save the mouse from starvation and the cold, but his attempts to rescue and tame it are thwarted by seven-year-old Hattie Lou, Rick's mischievous, meddling cousin. Alternately expressing the points of view of Rick and the unusual mouse, Murphy (the Dragonbards trilogy) adroitly relays ideas about discovery, survival and sacrifice. Engaging prose and an agreeable cast of characters more than compensate for the bland illustrations; they bring to life the magic of Christmas by exploring the joys and disappointments the holiday season offers one special boy. Ages 7-10.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.