RED & GREEN

Mouse explores a house filled with Christmas spirit before helping himself to a little sweet treat that might have been intended for someone else.

In this tale that follows the format of “ ’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” Mouse notes seasonally significant changes around his house. There are new wreaths, a poinsettia, and a plate of delicious cookies, which Mouse samples before snuggling into a mitten to sleep. But Mouse realizes he may have bitten off more than he could chew when Santa bellows, “Who ate my treat?” While festive, the narrative is slight, more list than story, and the rhyme occasionally scans awkwardly. We get only a quick glimpse of Mouse’s tail early on and no actual mouse sightings until near the end, which may be confusing for younger listeners. If the story is a bit lackluster, the art is anything but. In quintessentially Ehlert style, elaborately edged collages, uniquely shaped pages, and intricate die-cuts burst with yuletide cheer. A sharply crimped Christmas tree adorned with shiny foil decorations is perfect for the holiday season, while a bold and dynamically cut snowflake is a visual and tactile delight. At times, the graphic collages bolster each other so that a gently rounded snowman looking at a smiling crescent moon creates a layered, three-dimensional feel.

Despite the ho-hum story, the merry art will keep little readers engaged.