Mary Engelbreit's a Merry Little Christmas

January 1, 2007
There's one rhyme per letter in this saccharine alphabet book depicting mouse family members and their animal friends celebrating a traditional Christmas: "G is a gingerbread cottage. How grand! / The best decorations are those made by hand." Engelbreit fans will find plenty of diminutive details in the busy illustrations, which portray cozy interiors or snow-covered woodland scenes.

(Copyright 2007 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

October 1, 2006
PreS-Gr 3-In this jolly rhyming celebration, the creatures are stirring, and all of them are miceeven Santa and his elves! This warmhearted, holiday alphabet book is an attractive and worthy selection. The lyrical text has a nice flow, although the rhyme scheme is not always perfect. The emphasis is on simple joys such as singing, skating, and creating homemade treats and decorations. P is for presents, but the children take great delight in having wrapped them to give to others. Cheery and secular, this title will work well as a read-aloud for large groups, but the intricacy of the artwork makes it even more suitable for one-on-one or small gatherings. The colorful pictures are full of tiny details worth poring over."Linda Israelson, Los Angeles Public Library"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.