#1225 in our old book database. Rated: Indifferent.

This book arrived in our library by way of my wife's childhood, so I have no sentimental attachment to it, but I do like the idea of near-sighted moles becoming fixated on seeing stars and deciding to take advantage of this newfangled present delivery system they've heard about run by a fat man in a red suit. I do like the mouse's amusing description of Christmas traditions, and Delver's haggling in his letter to Santa. It's a little off-putting that the crux of the story depends on a predator not following his instincts when being presented with easy prey, but as my wife points out, he was probably overcome by the Christmas spirit. So it works. ( )

"Harley Mole and his son Delver did straight mole work. They tunneled and they dug and they brought home the groceries." So begins this immensely engaging Christmas story devoted to the doings of the solidly working class Mole family. A brooder or a thinker, depending upon whether you asked his mother or father, young Delver had a curiosity about the world around him, a curiosity that found its focus when he learned of the far-distant stars, and conceived of a desire to see them. But how could a mole, who lived underground and who was terribly nearsighted, ever see these shimmering celestial bodies? By using a telescope, of course! And how was he to obtain that telescope? By asking the fat man in a red suit, who visited the people aboveground once a year with gifts. And so began a process whereby the entire Mole family worked hard to make Delver's dream come true, laboring to build a chimney for this odd gift-giver, while evading the claws of Ephraim the Owl...

Having simply adored Russell and Lillian Hoban's stories about Frances the badger when I was a little girl - Bread and Jam for Frances was a particular favorite, although I loved them all - I was more than willing to give The Mole Family's Christmas a try, when it came so highly recommended by my goodreads friend Miriam. I'm glad that I did, because I discovered a true gem! The narrative here is immensely entertaining - humorous in that delightfully deadpan way I have come to associate with the Hobans. I chuckled aloud at the mouse's description of the odd human customs involving the fat man in a red suit, and his conclusion that "it's quite an odd thing, really, but he does it only once a year, and nobody seems to mind." The best of animal fiction can convince you that you are truly getting a different species' perspective, often making the familiar seem unfamiliar in thought-provoking ways, something Russell Hoban manages here with wit and charm. I appreciated that the animal characters in The Mole Family's Christmas are not depicted as if they live in some sort of woodland utopia - in this fictional world, as in the real one, owls hunt mice and moles - but that the predator animal isn't completely vilified. He even gets his own gift from Santa! When I compare this title to the more recent Waiting for Santa, a picture-book I read a few days ago, which features lots of unlikely cross-species friendship amongst a group of animals waiting for Santa, I can't help but conclude that the Hobans display, through stories such as this, so much more respect for their young readers, than the creators of sweeter fare. Which isn't to say that there isn't sweetness here, because there is... it's just leavened with salt.

The artwork by Lillian Hoban is every bit as appealing and the text by Russell, capturing the talpine charm of the main characters - right down to their wonderful work outfits! - and the beauty and enchantment of the world around them, whether underground, above ground, or high above ground (in the sky). Here are Harley and Delver heading off to work:



All in all, a delightful book, one I would recommend to all young children who enjoy animal stories, to all Hoban fans, and to anyone searching for engaging, slightly quirky Christmas titles. ( )

Nice, sentimental read. Highly recommended for creating the spirit of Christmas. ( )

This book is from Tara & Corbett when they were young.

Pretty darn cute, and smart. As always in children's stories about wild animals, the fact that these animals are prey and predators make for some awkwardness, but Ephraim Owl's role was reasonably satisfying. And yes, the way the stars 'gimmer and shine' really is like singing. ( )