Together at Christmas
PreS-Gr 1-Spinelli's gentle rhyming countdown starts out with 10 shivering mice huddled together in the snow on Christmas Eve. One by one, they leave the group to find various shelters. After all have found refuge, however, they realize that they do not want to be alone on this particular night, so the little creatures venture into the cold once more to cavort and sing. During these antics, one of the mice spies a hollow log with an ample stash of colorful berries, where they can all nest safely together. Successfully avoiding both religious references and iconic materialism, this soothing read-aloud is brought to life by the soft-hued, pastoral illustrations. Lee's subtle interplay of light and shadow gives depth to the visual drama as the charming mice interact with nature and one another.-Linda Israelson, Los Angeles Public Library α(c) Copyright 2011.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.