Christmas Mouseling

A mother's love shines in Chaconas's (One Little Mouse ) sweet Nativity story starring a pair of mice. Mother Mouse welcomes her new baby during a blustery storm that destroys their snug nest ("The north wind blew./ The snowflakes flew./ And the mouseling sneezed, Ah choo! Ah choo! "). Seeking shelter, she follows other animals going "to see a king." Hartung's (Dear Juno ), chilly images painted in oil glaze and a bevy of swirling snowflakes on a backdrop of blue turn to burnished hues of gold as the pair enters the welcoming stable, where the mouseling nestles next to the infant in the manger. Ages 2-up. (Sept.)