Mouse's Night Before Christmas by Tracey Corderoy (Children's Picture Book Review)

 

Mouse's Night Before Christmas
by Tracey Corderoy
Published by Nosy Crow Ltd
on October 13, 2019
Genre: Children's, Picture Books
Length: 32 pages
Ages: 2 - 5 years

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Synopsis:
It's Christmas Eve, and everyone is fast asleep except for a lonely mouse that lives in the grandfather clock. When Santa arrives, lost in a blizzard and called by Mouse's wish, it's Mouse who is there to show Santa the way. 

Our Thoughts:

This adorably illustrated picture book has many similarities to the classic  'Twas the Night Before Christmas' rhyme, but this gorgeously illustrated picture book but looks a little closer into the well-known story, at the mouse that lives at the bottom of the grandfather clock. This cute little mouse has a special Christmas wish and when Santa loses his way, Mouse knows just how to help!  

This is a sweet little Christmas Eve story with lovely illustrations that takes us on an adventure with Santa and has a heartwarming ending!

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Claris: Holiday Heist: The Chicest Mouse in Paris by Megan Hess (Children's Picture Book Review)

 We received a copy of this picture book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Claris: Holiday Heist
The Chicest Mouse in Paris
(The Claris Collection #3)
by Megan Hess
Published by Hardie Grant
on October 6, 2020
Genre: Children's, Picture Books
Length: 48 pages
Ages: 3 - 8 years

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Synopsis:
A sweet little mouse takes on a cheeky cat burglar with holiday cheer! Can Claris and Monsieur save the day - the New York way?


Our Thoughts:

Claris, the 'Chicest Mouse in Paris' is visiting New York City with her owners and their pet cat, Monsieur, for Christmas when they spot a holiday heist at the jewelry store! Claris and Monsieur are determined to stop the thief and ensure that everyone has a fantastic holiday, all while looking fabulous! 

The fourth book in the Claris: The Chicest Mouse in Paris series from acclaimed fashion illustrator, Megan Hess, is a beautiful picture book with a gorgeous, shiny cover and is filled with popular fashion brands and gorgeous dresses, winter coats, and more for those that love all things fancy! 

This book is especially perfect for the holiday season but this series is absolutely perfect for any fashion-loving Little!
My daughter loves to draw fashion and thought this was incredibly inspirational. She was astonished and 'tickled pink' to find out that the author is a fashion designer!

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Secret Santa by Andrew Shaffer (Adult Horror Book Review)

I won a copy of this book from the publisher in a giveaway on Instagram. All thoughts and opinions are my own.  

Secret Santa
by Andrew Shaffer
Published by Quirk Books
on  November 10, 2020
Genre: Adult, Horror
Length: 220 pages

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Literary Awards:
Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Horror (2020)

Synopsis:
The Office meets Stephen King, dressed up in holiday tinsel, in this fun, festive, and frightening horror-comedy set during the horror publishing boom of the '80s, by New York Times best-selling satirist Andrew Shaffer. 

My Thoughts:

Lussi Meyer stumbles her way into a job as a senior editor at the old-fashioned Blackwood-Patterson publishing house after working in horror for years. She is tasked with finding the next Stephen King and is determined to find her place but the job starts out rough with an unexpected death, an injured intern, and what seems to be hazing from coworkers that includes a sinister Secret Santa gift that Lussi quickly recognizes. 

I'm not big on 'holiday reads' but this was quick and fun, with a hint of comedy, and perfect for the Christmas season in a spooky Krampus sort of way.
I don't want to give away any important plot but this story has some ancient German folklore that includes a certain terrifying Christmas witch that is said to remove the insides of their victims to replace them with rocks or straw or even garbage. I ended up doing a little research on it and that made the story that much more horrific! 

Many thanks to Quirk Books for the chance to read this!

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Pick A Pine Tree by Patricia Toht & Jarvis (Children's Picture Book Review)

 

Pick A Pine Tree
by Patricia Toht
Illustrated by Jarvis
Published by Candlewick Press
on September 19, 2017
Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Holidays
Length: 40 pages
Ages: 3 - 7 years

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Synopsis:
A festive read-aloud beginning with all the joy and excitement of Christmastime--beginning, of course, with picking out a tree! 


Our Thoughts:

Pick a Pine Tree is the perfect picture book to start off the holidays in a festive and joyful mood or to learn more about the beloved tradition of choosing and decorating a Christmas tree! 

From picking out a special tree to stringing lights and hanging bulbs to topping it with something special, this whimsically illustrated picture book covers everything about this bright and merry tradition.

We had 'tree issues' for the first time this year and didn't get our tree up or LIT right away even though the festivity was much needed, so this was extra fun to read and get us into the spirit as we waited! 
I think this would be a wonderful addition to any Christmas or winter-themed shelves. It has a nostalgic quality that I believe will make it a favorite for years to come! 

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The Greatest Gift (Heartwood Hotel #2) by Kallie George (Children's Fiction Book Review)

The Greatest Gift
(Heartwood Hotel #2)
Written by: Kallie George
Illustrated by: Stephanie Graegin
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
on July 3, 2017
Genre: Children's, Fantasy, Animals
Length: 176 pages
Ages: 7 - 10 years

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Synopsis:
Mona the mouse has finally found a place to call home, the cozy Heartwood Hotel, where she works as a maid and sleeps snuggled up in a room with her best friend. Following the festive St. Slumber celebration, most of the guests have settled in to hibernate, and the staff is looking forward to a relaxing winter. But disruptions abound, from a difficult duchess to a mysterious midnight snacker. As the snow stacks higher, Mona will have to gather friends both old and new to keep the peace, finding help in some of the most unexpected places. 

My Thoughts:

Mona the Mouse has settled into her daily routine as a maid at the Heartwood Hotel and winter has come, meaning most of the animals are hibernating, but a demanding duchess appears, food keeps disappearing, and Mona is determined to find the perfect gift for her friends at the Heartwood.

The Greatest Gift is the fantastic and heartwarming sequel to A True Home, in which we were introduced to Mona the Mouse, an orphan that is swept away in a storm and ends up at the Heartwood Hotel, where she is taken on as a maid. There, she finds her place in the busy oak tree hotel and makes a few friends along the way.

In this sequel, Winter has descended upon the Heartwood, and a majority of its patrons are hibernating, but there's always plenty of work for Mona, Tilly the Squirrel, and the others. Mona is determined to make the perfect gift for the Heartwood but with the extra patrons and sneaky night-time snackers, she has her work cut out for her. But when her friends are in danger, Mona steps up and makes big sacrifices to save them and others in need.

This series is a quartet set in each of the four seasons and has plenty of adorable woodland creature characters to fall in love with! We've enjoyed the first two very much and can't wait to continue! 

See our thoughts on 'A True Home'!

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Little Mole's Christmas Gift by Glenys Nellist (Children's Picture Book Review)

Little Mole's Christmas Gift
Written by Glenys Nellist
Illustrated by Sally Garland
Published by Beaming Books
on October 6, 2020
Genre: Children's, Picture Books
Length: 32 pages
Ages: 3 - 6 years

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Synopsis:
While Little Mole is bringing home a beautiful mushroom as a Christmas gift for his mother, he encounters woodland friends in need and shares the mushroom with them. 


My Thoughts:

Little Mole picks a big beautiful mushroom as a gift for his mother for Christmas, but he runs into friends that need help and by the time he gets home his gift is not quite what he had hoped it would be.  

Little Mole's Christmas Gift is about a sweet little mole with a huge heart and a helping hand that can't leave a friend in need, no matter what. 

This is a wonderful book for nurturing empathy and kindness and has adorable illustrations that makes this a wonderful story for any time of year but is especially perfect for Christmas! 

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Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake (Children's Chapter Book Review)

 

Skunk and Badger
(Skunk and Badger #1)
Written by Amy Timberlake
Illustrations by Jon Klassen
Published by Algonquin Young Readers
on September 15, 2020
Genre: Children's, Chapter Books
Length: 126 pages
Ages: 8 - 12 years

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Synopsis:
Wallace and Gromit meets Winnie-the-Pooh in a fresh take on a classic odd-couple friendship, from Newbery Honor author Amy Timberlake with full-color and black-and-white illustrations throughout by Caldecott Medalist Jon Klassen. 


My Thoughts:

Badger lives a quiet and lonely life in his Aunt Lula's brownstone in North Twist and fills his days with 'Very Important Rock Work' until the day that Skunk shows up with permission from Aunt Lula to live there. Badger doesn't want a roommate, especially not a skunk that might spray or mess with his things or invite one hundred chickens to tea, but Badger soon learns a lesson in humility, sacrifice, and friendship.

This is a humorous but heartwarming story about two rather different creatures forced into rooming together, with some funny and not-so-funny consequences. Badger is rather fond of his solitude and isn't at all thrilled by the new houseguest and his rather exuberant cooking or his need for more space. But Badger soon realizes that his way isn't the only way and a true friendship is born.

With the fantastic message of unity mixed with Jon Klassen's lovely illustrations, this story has a truly classic feel to it and I wouldn't mind coming back to it in the future! I hear this is the start of a series as well and am looking forward to reading more about these two!

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