A CAROL FOR CHRISTMAS

This version of the birth of the carol ``Silent Night'' stars a crew of hungry church mice, whose nibbling at the organ keys forces pastor Joseph Mohr and his organist, Franz Guber, to write a new song for the Christmas service, a song suitable for guitar accompaniment. One of the mice happens to get trapped in the pastor's coat pocket and goes with him to visit a poor woodcutter's family. Even the mouse can recognize the scene inside the hut (complete with newborn baby) as a cräche. On the quiet walk home, the pastor is inspired to write the famous carol. Narrated by a mouse with a formal way of speaking, this retelling adds little to the traditional account, which is sweet and simple enough to stand on its own. The illustrator, however, draws mice better than people, so it all evens out. Pleasant, but not destined to become a holiday classic. (Folklore/Picture book. 5-8)