I have one last festive picture book to show you, and I’ve saved the most appropriate one for the night before Christmas…
Book: Mouse’s Night Before Christmas by Tracey Corderoy and Sarah Massini
Read before: No
Ownership: Review copy sent free of charge by Nosy Crow. All opinions my own.
Though this adorable tale starts with the classic opening lines of The Night Before Christmas, it becomes quickly apparent that there is, in fact, a mouse stirring… and that lonely little mouse has a real Christmas Eve adventure! There’s a really magical Christmassy feel as the mouse helps Father Christmas to deliver all the presents, and the present he is given for himself leads to a really sweet ending that highlights the everyday magic of friendship.
The story itself is really well-written, keeping to the rhyme scheme and structure of the original poem without any hiccups. I get very annoyed when picture book poems don’t scan (if it’s not working, just put it in prose!!), but this one reads beautifully and smoothly – it would be a delight to read aloud. It’s also gorgeous to look at, with rich, detailed illustrations that feel really Christmassy. Mouse is so sweet – he’s drawn really expressively and it’s fun to find him in the larger illustrations!
Full of Christmas magic, gentle adventure, and friendship, this is sure to become a classic you want to reread every year. Five out of five cats!
A Cat, A Book, and A Cup of Tea 