Della Ross Ferreri’s The Mouse Buffet: A Christmas Treat (9781534113381, $18.99) is especially lovely in its holiday illustrations by Tim Bowers, who brings to life the mice who enjoy a good buffet table as much as any human (“Dip the ladle. Slurp the punch. Candy canes! Crunchity crunch.”) The whimsical descriptions of mice that have fun raiding a holiday buffet will delight kids with their action-packed scenarios, food-laden encounters, and fun stories of mice on the run.

Plenty of creatures are stirring in this Christmas picture book. Ferreri’s rhyming text introduces readers to a bevy of mice who, in Bowers’ cartoon illustrations, look like they could be kin to Hanna-Barbera’s Jerry. They find a delectable spread of Yuletide goodies set out on a festive table, with nary a human in sight. The mice declare it a “mouse buffet” and, deciding that this must be their “lucky day,” tuck in with relish. “Pies and pastries! Where to start? / Let’s dig into this apple tart! / Dip the ladle. Slurp the punch. / Candy canes! Crunchity crunch.” While the singsong cadence falters a bit, the slapstick humor in the pictures will support readers’ engagement when the mice’s exuberant enjoyment of a gingerbread house and a bunch of grapes causes food items to fall from the table and disturb a resting cat. In a true Christmas miracle, however, the rodents don’t become a “mouse buffet” for the cat. Though our heroes attempt to make a grand escape by tunneling through a sumptuous-looking cake (and then blocking the hole with a gingerbread man), as it turns out, they have nothing to fear. “Merry Christmas!” cries the benevolent marmalade tom, to whom the mice reply, “Let’s all share!” Oh, what fun! (Picture book. 2-5)

While the cat’s sound asleep, the mice will… nibble, crunch, and slurp their way through a family’s sumptuous Christmas spread. Four rambunctious, hungry mice climb a chair (“scritchity scrat”) to reach a table laden with a cheery rainbow of desserts—from delicately decorated cut-out cookies to a large punch bowl accented with floating cranberries and orange slices. Potential tragedy strikes when a runaway grape (“boinga boinga!”) wakes the fluffy orange kitty loafing tableside, and the mice tunnel into a tall chocolate cake as refuge. Juxtaposed with the sure-to-pounce cat, scenes of the rodents—who look alternatingly euphoric and frantic—gobbling the kaleidoscope of goodies create a gentle suspense. And Ross Ferreri’s brief and bustling onomatopoeic outing serves up a sudden, surprise ending that’s delicious for all. Ages 6–7. (Aug.)

PreS-K–A spread of treats on a festive Christmas table is inviting to more than just human guests. While a big cat sleeps nearby, a conglomeration of mice scrambles atop the table, discovering cookies, candy, and more treats they are anxious to try. Each delectable bite enhances the joy the mice feel, making it increasingly difficult to keep their actions a secret. When the mice accidentally make a noise that effectively alerts the slumbering cat to their presence, they must bravely face the inevitable. Young children will appreciate this clever and approachable holiday tale, thanks to the design of the pages and the delivery of the narrative. Onomatopoeia, engaging font sizes and colors, and a rhyming structure tell the story while brightly colored, detailed illustrations draw readers’ eyes with mouthwatering images of food that looks nearly good enough to eat. The playful design and the story’s enjoyable delivery make it well-suited to be read aloud in a preschool environment. While festive Christmas treats are the focus of the story, there are few overt references to the holiday, which gives the book a more general appeal. VERDICT This is an enjoyable addition to story time collections, especially as a part of the Christmas holiday season.