A Carol for Christmas - Hardcover

Ages 5-8. This story, which takes place in Oberndorf, Austria, during the harsh winter of 1818, is based on the most common legend about the origins of "Silent Night" and is narrated by Jeremy, the oldest of 17 mouse children. Determined to find food, Jeremy follows the smell of cheese into the pastor's coat pocket. The pastor, meanwhile, declares he will write new lyrics for the Christmas Eve service if the organist will compose the music. When the parents of a new baby request a blessing, the pastor sets off (with Jeremy still in the pocket), hoping the cold air will inspire him. The grateful parents offer the pastor cheese, some of which he slips into his pocket. As he returns home, the words suddenly flow, and Jeremy at last is able to flee with plenty of cheese. The story's crisp, descriptive details add a sense of holiday magic, and the gentle, expressive watercolors capture the plights of both the mice and the pastor with warmth and humor. A solid addition for Christmas collections. Deborah Abbott

Narrated by a young mouse named Jeremy, Tompert's engaging story describes the legendary origin of Silent Night, first sung on December 24, 1818, in a church in Austria. Jeremy gives his family credit for the song's creation, since the gnawing of the hungry mice had destroyed the church organ. The mouse's animated account of the incident that finally inspires the local pastor to pen the celebrated carol is a charmer, yet the main attraction here are Kelly's enchanting watercolors, which deftly mingle humorous particulars and period detail. Ages 5-8.
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