Something for Christmas

A little mouse and his mother try to figure out what he can give to a special someone in this adorable Christmas tale, first published in 1958, and recently reprinted by The New York Review Children's Collection in 2011. As the two mice consider one possibility after another, only to reject it because the little mouse doesn't have the necessary supplies, it becomes ever more obvious who the "special someone" is. Finally, when seemingly all ideas are exhausted, the little mouse stumbles across the simple but precious gift that he has had in his power to give all along - the kind of gift that this special someone values above all else.

Although the identity of the special someone - the little mouse's own mother - is almost immediately show more apparent to the reader here, there is something deeply moving about the way that this pair interact. Mother Mouse clearly knows what is on her son's mind, but she plays along, gently leading him, through her suggestions and questions, to an understanding of what is important in the Christmas season. The artwork is simply charming, ably capturing the murine duo's close and loving relationship. All in all, Something for Christmas is a sweet little tale, one I would recommend to younger readers looking for holiday fare, as well as to anyone in the mood for stories that emphasize the importance of love, as opposed to material wealth. show less

Just about perfect.  Not too long, or short.  Sweet, but not twee.  Heartfelt and sincere, and perfectly fine for anyone who celebrates any gift-giving celebration in which the focus is meant to be love, not material gain.  (No mention of Christ.)  I don't know what the reprint looks like, but the original is a sweet little design that will fit in the smallest hands.

Loved reading this to my daughter when she was little. Fun to have a voice for the baby mouse and the mother mouse.