Mortimer's Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson, Jane Chapman (Illustrator)

From Barnes & Noble

Mortimer isn't a picky mouse, but he does want a better home; his present abode under the stairs is just too cold, too cramped, and too creepy. Hunting for crumbs one day, he makes a promising discovery: In the middle of a large, well-lit room, he finds a huge tree covered with twinkling lights and, not far away, a rodent-sized house! It's true that his home-to-be is populated by statues of shepherds and lambs, but Mortimer is a mouse on a mission. Can he build his homestead in the family manger, or is he destined to learn a valuable lesson and find an even better home? A thoroughly charming, delightfully offbeat Christmas story by the creators of Bear Snores On.

From the Publisher

A holiday story to be cherished by families everywhere

Publishers Weekly

Twas the week before Christmas and all through the house, a restless creature was stirring: Mortimer the mouse. Tired of his "cold, cramped, creepy hole" under the stairs, Mortimer finds new mouse-size digs amongst a human family's Christmas decorations. The small "house" with a cozy manger bed already has some residents-statues of shepherds, animals and a baby-but Mortimer moves in anyway. Then he hears the humans read a story on Christmas Eve that makes a touched Mortimer realize how special the house really is. The creators of Bear Stays Up for Christmas turn out another cuddle-worthy winner. Ages 4-8. (Oct.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Karen Leggett - Children's Literature

Mortimer is a wee mouse living in a big house. During one of his daily wanderings to find crumbs, he climbs up the furniture and topples the Christmas tree decorations on his way to a house that is just his size: a manger scene. Day after day, he lugs the small statues out and makes room for himself in the manger itself. Day after day, people return the small statues to their places. Finally, Mortimer hears the Christmas story and realizes that the Baby Jesus belongs in the manger. After praying to Jesus to bring him a home as well, Mortimer spies that home: a gingerbread house. The illustrations are large and colorful, rather like the pages of a child's coloring book. This Christian story has bits of humor and compassion with a specific focus on praying to Jesus. It would be most appropriate for a church Sunday school or Christian school as well as family reading with very young children. 2005, Margaret K. McElderry/Simon & Schuster, Ages 3 to 6.

Kirkus Reviews

Little Mortimer Mouse craves a mouse-sized house of his own because his mouse hole is not a pleasant place-"Too cold. Too cramped. Too creepy." At Christmastime, Mortimer finds a house that is just the right size: a Nativity set with a little hay-filled bed that's a perfect fit. He moves the baby and the other statues out of the house each night so he can curl up in the manger until he overhears the Nativity story read out loud on Christmas Eve. Mortimer then realizes the meaning of the statues and the baby Jesus figure and offers a prayer to Jesus to send him a home of his own. Mortimer's prayer is answered in short order when he finds a gingerbread house set out for Christmas Eve. Mortimer is an appealing little creature in Chapman's illustrations, showing his determination to find a cozy bed, but the volume's greater appeal for families and schools will be as a simple but satisfying story that focuses on the true meaning of Christmas rather than on Santa or presents. (Picture book. 3-8)

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