A young mouse refuses to go to sleep."Go to bed," whispers the cat. "It's the night before Christmas." But, despite the unseen narrator's assertion that "not a creature was stirring," wide-eyed, big-eared Mouse is far too exuberant to snooze. He proceeds to ride a tricycle around the tree, crack nuts, and nibble cookies. Tiny vignettes depicting his Yuletide antics are followed by a full-page spread in which Mouse rushes out onto a snow-filled street with a full marching band. As he makes merry, everyone-from the house to the city to the whole world-exhorts him to "GO TO BED." So he does…but not for long. He just can't sleep! Hopping aboard the Christmas train, he crashes into Santa himself! Can Santa convince our hero to finally head to bed? Echoing the language of the poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas," the tale comes to a close. The falling action goes on a bit too long, although the art alone will be enough to keep the attention of holiday lovers, and the enthusiasm of all involved makes for an enjoyable romp. Warm, festive reds, oranges, and greens ground the digital illustrations. An especially funny moment sees Mouse attempting to get some shut-eye. Awash in blues and black, the artwork sets it apart from the rest of the story, creating a welcome respite. Santa is light-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)Fun Yuletide fare for the up-all-night crowd. (Picture book. 3-6)

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K-Gr 2 —A fun take on the Christmas classic 'Twas the Night Before Christmas that will have readers laughing and guessing what mischief might happen next. Poor Mouse cannot help himself as he more than stirs throughout the entire house, causing quite a bit of mayhem in his wake. Mouse tries to get to sleep, but after some fidgeting, he is back to stirring—oh, and the trouble he causes! Children will easily relate to how difficult it is to get to sleep and dream of sugar plums when they are too excited for the arrival of a special visitor. Hogan's illustrations bring color schemes of vintage wrapping paper to life, lending to the joy of reading this tale. Children will join in on the chorus of "Go to bed," that Mouse hears from the other characters. This story can also be used in lessons to compare and contrast with the original poem. VERDICT A fun addition for libraries in need of more holiday literature.—Darla Kaminsky