TWO CHRISTMAS MICE

Willamouse and Annamouse are two civilized mouse ladies who each live alone in their own well-furnished burrows that, unbeknownst to them, share a common parlor wall. On Christmas Eve they are each snowed in all alone, eating large but lonely holiday dinners. Annamouse has a tree but no decorations; Willamouse has paper chains but no tree. When Annamouse plays “Silent Night” on her violin, Willamouse hears the music, digs through the wall and gleefully meets her neighbor. They combine their decorations and their parlors and then fall asleep on the sofa before Santamouse arrives with their gifts, which include a china tea set for the new friends to share. The story is told in a confident, chatty tone with some charming “as you know” asides to the reader, and the juxtaposition of the two mouse households is smoothly handled so it doesn’t become confusing. Roth’s paintings employ well-chosen details with a humorous touch: a mouse doll, tiny slippers by the door and a tray of sushi on the holiday dinner table. Since these new friends need a chance to use their new china tea set, Willamouse and Annamouse are, as you know, likely candidates to celebrate other holidays together in further installments. (Picture book. 3-6)