SANTA MOUSE AND THE RATDEER

In a clever departure from typical holiday fare, Hurd (Zoom City, p. 197, etc.) puts a new twist on an old favorite. Santa Mouse is having a terrible Christmas Eve and his ratdeer, with names such as Blunder, Basher, Lousy, Bugsy, and Twizzlebum, have an attitude. Stomping around in a fashion not unlike an enraged toddler, Santa tries to find his underwear, socks, hat, and map. A crash landing in the woods is all the impetus the irritable ratdeer need to abandon Santa for the beach. Only the generous nature of a mouse, little Rosie, saves Christmas; her offer of hot chocolate and cookies thaws the cranky ratdeer's frozen hearts and revives everyone's holiday spirit. Hurd's full-color illustrations contain many humorous details, especially in the inserted comments of the disgruntled ratdeer. In the cozy drawings of Santa and friends enjoying Rosie's hospitality, Hurd does for Santa what Seuss did for the Grinch--creates a holiday tale with as much wit as it has heart.