When Mouse's snug winter home in the woods is destroyed, she finds refuge in a gingerbread house in a human family's home. Later, when Santa arrives, he gives Mouse a lovely new house "that will last a bit longer": a dollhouse. This cozy story will push all the right holiday buttons, especially with its warm illustrations dripping with holiday motifs and despite its somewhat robotically happy-looking humans.

What kind of house would be best for a mouse? This well-equipped rodent has a complete wardrobe, furniture, and even her own sled and backpack. Bratun's detailed paintings introduce a cute mouse character whose cozy home in a tree is ruined by a falling branch. She decamps to a nearby home and takes up residence in their gingerbread house, making new furnishings out of household materials. On Christmas Eve, Santa provides her with an even better home in a furnished dollhouse, and the little girl of the house leaves her a gingerbread mouse cookie as a present on Christmas morning. Little girls who like miniatures and dollhouses will enjoy this simple story, with three different houses full of tiny details. Includes a recipe for gingerbread cookies. (Picture book. 5-7)

PreS-Gr 1-When her home is destroyed by a falling branch, Mouse moves into a human house and discovers a gingerbread house that's just her size. Later that night, Santa arrives with a dollhouse, which becomes Mouse's permanent residence. The characters have stiff-looking grins showing pasty teeth, and the pedestrian text is filled with cliches.-S. P. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.