Synopsis from Random House Children's Books:

Explore the Mouse house as they get ready for Christmas! It's Christmas Eve, and the Mouse house is full of activity. So when Papa tells the children that they can't find the decorations for a tree this year, the brothers and sisters band together to search for Christmas decorations around the house. Each spread shows a different room in the Mouse house. Open doors, windows, and cupboards to help the Mouse family make this Christmas the best--and most beautiful--one yet!

My 5-year old loved the idea that she was helping the little mice find 12 Christmas stars so they could get their Christmas tree; I think she was more interested in finding the stars than listening to the story istself. Inviting kids to help other kids (the little mice) was a nice touch too, versus just looking for missing objects. My daughter loved that connection. The pages in Christmas in the Mouse House have subtle flaps for kids to open, behind paintings, under pillows, in cupboards. But not all flaps reveal the missing stars; however, the stars themselves are shiny gold so there's no chance of missing one should it be hidden behind a flap. As there are 12 missing stars, my daughter had to count but also remember how many she found and how many more she had to look for.

The warm illustrations add to the homey Christmas feel as you explore the little Mouse house. The flaps do blend in well and could may tear easily with preschoolers, but older kids will enjoy the sense of discovery on their own.

You can add Christmas in the Mouse House to your personal library by visiting your local book store or visiting Random House Children's Books. Visit our Kid's Books section for other great book recommendations. What are you reading with your kids?

I have to thank Cassandra and Jessica at Random House Children's Books for my review copy.