Mortimer's Christmas Manger

by Karma Wilson, Jane Chapman (Illustrator)

Overview

It's Christmastime, and Mortimer Mouse, unhappy in his cramped, cold hole, goes in search of a new home. He spies a nativity scene that looks just right for him, so he moves the statues out and settles himself into the manger! But when he hears the Christmas story being told and realises that the statues are of Mary, Joseph and Jesus, he understands that the crèche is meant for them and returns everything to its rightful place. Then, suddenly, a Christmas miracle occurs and Mortimer discovers a new home, at last!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442426399
Publisher:	Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication date:	11/16/2010
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	24 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Karma Wilson is the bestselling author of several picture books, including the Bear Books series; Where Is Home, Little Pip?; and A Dog Named Doug. Karma lives in Montana.

Jane Chapman is the illustrator of over one hundred books for children, including Dilly Duckling by Claire Freedman and I Love My Mama by Peter Kavanagh, as well as Karma Wilson’s Bear Books series and Mortimer’s Christmas Manger. She lives with her family in Dorset, England. Visit Jane at JaneKChapman.com.

Editorial Reviews

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.

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.

Publishers Weekly

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)

Kirkus Reviews