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Mortimer Mouse
Mortimer's Christmas Manger
Finding the perfect place to live underneath the Christmas tree, Mortimer the mouse pushes the people figurines out of the Nativity scene and makes himself at home, but when he learns the story of the birth of Christ and the magic of that special night, Mortimer quickly reestablishes the manger scene and happily moves on his way.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published October 4, 2005
About the author
Karma Wilson
108 books527 followersKarma Wilson grew up an only child of a single mother in the wilds of North Idaho. Way back then (just past the stone age and somewhat before the era of computers) there was no cable TV and if there had been Karma could not have recieved it. TV reception was limited to 3 channels, of which one came in with some clarity. Karma did the only sensible thing a lonely little girl could do…she read or played outdoors.
Playing outdoors was fun, but reading was Karma’s “first love” and, by the age 11, she was devouring about a novel a day. She was even known to try to read while riding her bike down dirt roads, which she does not recommend as it is hazardous to the general well being of the bike, the rider, and more importantly the book. Her reading preferences were fantasy (C.S. Lewis, Terry Brooks, etc…) and historical fiction (L.M. Montgomery, Laura Ingalls Wilder, etc…). Those tastes have not changed much.
Karma never considered writing as a profession because her mother was a professional writer which made it seem like mundane work. At the age of 27 she realized that she still loved well-written children’s books of all kinds, from picture books to young adult novels. By that time Karma was a wife and the mother of three young children. Trips to the library with her kids were a combination of emotions…a good book meant fun for all! But so many of the books weren’t what her children wanted to listen to.
Then a tax refund changed everything. With the money the family decided to invest in a computer. Karma was forced to learn to type. Combining her desire to make the expensive computer pay for itself, her new-found typing skill, and her love of children’s literature, Karma started writing for children. She wanted to put a few more good books on the library shelves and pay off that computer! Countless rejections and three years later Karma was finally accepted by book agent Steven Malk (who had already rejected her once, which she never lets him forget). Her first book, Bear Snores On, was released in 2002. The computer was paid for!
Since then Karma has had more than 30 books accepted for publication. Many of those are on the shelves of libraries and bookstores around the world. Her books have received numerous state and national awards, been translated into dozens of languages, and a few have made an appearance on the New York Times bestseller list. Karma sincerely hopes that her books bring joy to children and families everywhere.
Karma writes humorous, rhythmic picture books for the very young, and humorous and wistful poetry for the primary grades.
These days Karma lives with her handsome husband Scott, and her three not-so-young-anymore children, two dogs, two chickens and one cat on some modest but lovely acreage in NW Montana. Her hobbies include reading (of course), photography, baking, yoga, and a passion for Mixed Martial Arts.
Playing outdoors was fun, but reading was Karma’s “first love” and, by the age 11, she was devouring about a novel a day. She was even known to try to read while riding her bike down dirt roads, which she does not recommend as it is hazardous to the general well being of the bike, the rider, and more importantly the book. Her reading preferences were fantasy (C.S. Lewis, Terry Brooks, etc…) and historical fiction (L.M. Montgomery, Laura Ingalls Wilder, etc…). Those tastes have not changed much.
Karma never considered writing as a profession because her mother was a professional writer which made it seem like mundane work. At the age of 27 she realized that she still loved well-written children’s books of all kinds, from picture books to young adult novels. By that time Karma was a wife and the mother of three young children. Trips to the library with her kids were a combination of emotions…a good book meant fun for all! But so many of the books weren’t what her children wanted to listen to.
Then a tax refund changed everything. With the money the family decided to invest in a computer. Karma was forced to learn to type. Combining her desire to make the expensive computer pay for itself, her new-found typing skill, and her love of children’s literature, Karma started writing for children. She wanted to put a few more good books on the library shelves and pay off that computer! Countless rejections and three years later Karma was finally accepted by book agent Steven Malk (who had already rejected her once, which she never lets him forget). Her first book, Bear Snores On, was released in 2002. The computer was paid for!
Since then Karma has had more than 30 books accepted for publication. Many of those are on the shelves of libraries and bookstores around the world. Her books have received numerous state and national awards, been translated into dozens of languages, and a few have made an appearance on the New York Times bestseller list. Karma sincerely hopes that her books bring joy to children and families everywhere.
Karma writes humorous, rhythmic picture books for the very young, and humorous and wistful poetry for the primary grades.
These days Karma lives with her handsome husband Scott, and her three not-so-young-anymore children, two dogs, two chickens and one cat on some modest but lovely acreage in NW Montana. Her hobbies include reading (of course), photography, baking, yoga, and a passion for Mixed Martial Arts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
December 8, 2024
3,5⭐️/5⭐️
December 18, 2014
Mortimer's a little mouse,
He longs so much for his own house.
He now resides inside a hole
That's dark and damp
Without a soul.
Each day he looks for crumbs and bits
And spots a little house that fits.
The house is high
He starts to climb
He reaches it in record time.
But what he finds there
Baffles him,
Little people are within.
Animals and a baby sleeps ....
No one talks, no not a peep.
The tiny baby's little bed
Is just his size and he is lead
To tug and pull
The statues out
Crawl in the bed
And without a doubt...
Mortimer has found a home
The next few days
He starts to roam
Finds cookie crumbs and lots of snacks
But strangely finds the statues back.
He drags and shoves them, clears the house
Quite a task for a little mouse.
Then one night he hears a story
Of a little babe that came from Glory
He came to save the world from sin
But there was not a room for him.
Baby Jesus was his name
And suddenly Mortimer felt great shame.
He knew whose bed he had overtaken
He knew baby Jesus had felt forsaken
He made up his mind right then and there
To give up his dream and not despair.
Mortimer prayed and asked as he fled
For a house of his own and a comfy bed.
Then Mortimer spied an amazing house
One just perfect for a little mouse.
No statues or animals,
All candy and s-t-e-a-d-y
He climbed up to inspect it....
And smiled .... move-in ready!
He longs so much for his own house.
He now resides inside a hole
That's dark and damp
Without a soul.
Each day he looks for crumbs and bits
And spots a little house that fits.
The house is high
He starts to climb
He reaches it in record time.
But what he finds there
Baffles him,
Little people are within.
Animals and a baby sleeps ....
No one talks, no not a peep.
The tiny baby's little bed
Is just his size and he is lead
To tug and pull
The statues out
Crawl in the bed
And without a doubt...
Mortimer has found a home
The next few days
He starts to roam
Finds cookie crumbs and lots of snacks
But strangely finds the statues back.
He drags and shoves them, clears the house
Quite a task for a little mouse.
Then one night he hears a story
Of a little babe that came from Glory
He came to save the world from sin
But there was not a room for him.
Baby Jesus was his name
And suddenly Mortimer felt great shame.
He knew whose bed he had overtaken
He knew baby Jesus had felt forsaken
He made up his mind right then and there
To give up his dream and not despair.
Mortimer prayed and asked as he fled
For a house of his own and a comfy bed.
Then Mortimer spied an amazing house
One just perfect for a little mouse.
No statues or animals,
All candy and s-t-e-a-d-y
He climbed up to inspect it....
And smiled .... move-in ready!
January 6, 2017
A sweet picture book for children to help personalize the true meaning of Christmas. Through Mortimer, a mouse hoping for a new home for himself, the reader explores the nativity story and "making room" for Jesus. A wonderful book with bright, delightful illustrations!
January 9, 2024
First sentence: In a big house lived a wee mouse named Mortimer. He dwelled in a dark hole under the stairs. Nobody ever noticed little Mortimer. And Mortimer liked it that way. But he didn't like his hole. "Too cold. Too cramped. Too creepy," squeaked Mortimer.
Premise/plot: Mortimer is in search of a new home, a better home. To his surprise, he finds such a home…easily. But it's a home filled with statues. There is even a statue of a baby of all things?! The baby is easily shoved OUT of the way. And Mortimer settles into a MOUSE-SIZE bed, happy at last. But will that happiness last? And why do the humans keep putting the statues back up day after day?!
My thoughts: When Mortimer encounters Jesus (Or "statue-baby-Jesus") for the first time, his response was quick: THERE'S NO ROOM FOR YOU HERE, OUT YOU GO. I think Mortimer's response is the natural human response to the actual Jesus. People may "have room" for baby Jesus a couple of days each December. Shoved in amongst other activities or festivities. But is there a place for Jesus in their actual lives, year round? Not just the baby Jesus, the harmless, inoffensive Jesus. But the born-to-die, Savior-Rescuer. (Jesus can't be squeezed into little corners, little pockets of our lives. He's the LORD of the universe. But I digress.)
Mortimer has a second encounter with Jesus. This time it's the Jesus of the Word. He overhears the family reading the Christmas story. He learns who Jesus is, he learns what Jesus came to do. This changes everything…for Mortimer. Jesus must come. He must go. They can't both sleep in the manger. And Mortimer surrenders what was never really "his" to Jesus. He also offers up a prayer.
The story has a happy ending because the family has been busy making a gingerbread house. Of course Mortimer thinks it's a direct answer to his prayers!
Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Total: 9 out of 10
Premise/plot: Mortimer is in search of a new home, a better home. To his surprise, he finds such a home…easily. But it's a home filled with statues. There is even a statue of a baby of all things?! The baby is easily shoved OUT of the way. And Mortimer settles into a MOUSE-SIZE bed, happy at last. But will that happiness last? And why do the humans keep putting the statues back up day after day?!
My thoughts: When Mortimer encounters Jesus (Or "statue-baby-Jesus") for the first time, his response was quick: THERE'S NO ROOM FOR YOU HERE, OUT YOU GO. I think Mortimer's response is the natural human response to the actual Jesus. People may "have room" for baby Jesus a couple of days each December. Shoved in amongst other activities or festivities. But is there a place for Jesus in their actual lives, year round? Not just the baby Jesus, the harmless, inoffensive Jesus. But the born-to-die, Savior-Rescuer. (Jesus can't be squeezed into little corners, little pockets of our lives. He's the LORD of the universe. But I digress.)
Mortimer has a second encounter with Jesus. This time it's the Jesus of the Word. He overhears the family reading the Christmas story. He learns who Jesus is, he learns what Jesus came to do. This changes everything…for Mortimer. Jesus must come. He must go. They can't both sleep in the manger. And Mortimer surrenders what was never really "his" to Jesus. He also offers up a prayer.
The story has a happy ending because the family has been busy making a gingerbread house. Of course Mortimer thinks it's a direct answer to his prayers!
Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Total: 9 out of 10
December 5, 2013
Well, if Mortimer isn't the cutest little mouse ever, I don't know who is (no disrespect, Mickey, but this Mortimer has a sweet little face and cries big, sad tears).
Mortimer's dark hole in the wall is too cramped, too cold, and too creepy. He wants a cozy house. One day he spots a brand new house just his size, on a table next to a green tree covered in twinkling colored lights with a shiny star on top. But this house is full of statues! Mortimer tugs and lugs and clears every last statue out, even the baby in the wooden bed. But the next day, when he returns from scavenging for snacks, Mortimer finds that the statues are all back where they started! More lugging and tugging!
Only when he overhears a person reading the Christmas story aloud does Mortimer realize who he's dragging out of that little manger, and his tiny heart breaks as he begins to understand the real meaning of Christmas and what the nativity represents.
I wish Karma Wilson had written this book about 18 years ago, because it would have been in my collection at home for my little girls. Of course, the girls would have made sure we had a gingerbread house every single year, just for the Mortimers in our house. Serious cuteness here.
Mortimer's dark hole in the wall is too cramped, too cold, and too creepy. He wants a cozy house. One day he spots a brand new house just his size, on a table next to a green tree covered in twinkling colored lights with a shiny star on top. But this house is full of statues! Mortimer tugs and lugs and clears every last statue out, even the baby in the wooden bed. But the next day, when he returns from scavenging for snacks, Mortimer finds that the statues are all back where they started! More lugging and tugging!
Only when he overhears a person reading the Christmas story aloud does Mortimer realize who he's dragging out of that little manger, and his tiny heart breaks as he begins to understand the real meaning of Christmas and what the nativity represents.
I wish Karma Wilson had written this book about 18 years ago, because it would have been in my collection at home for my little girls. Of course, the girls would have made sure we had a gingerbread house every single year, just for the Mortimers in our house. Serious cuteness here.
December 9, 2015
My first grader checked this out from her school library today so we read it for a bedtime story. I will be buying to add to our Christmas library. It was sweet but not cheesy. It illuminates the Christmas story in a way that children can relate to. We all felt warm and quiet as the story progressed, particularly as Mortimer realized who the baby in the manger was. It was refreshing to read a children's Christmas book that was about Jesus, not Santa Claus. We loved it.
November 20, 2016
This was such a good book to read! I liked that it brought the story of Christmas into it. It showed how Jesus came to save us and He will show us what we need! Very cute story for Christmas!
January 10, 2017
Read with Naomi and Julia.
December 14, 2018
Excellent job introducing the Christmas story to little ones without overwhelming them.
December 15, 2018
A really sweet story, but I just can’t handle the thought of a mouse living in my nativity.
January 6, 2020
Precious
December 25, 2025
adorable and funny and uplifting!
November 19, 2020
I’m using this book to teach the kids at my church on “love” Sunday this Advent. I’ve absolutely fallen in love with sweet little Mortimer. This book had all the Christmas sentiments (including a light telling of the nativity story) without being overtly traditional.
December 1, 2023
It's really cute, but the mouse being guilted over taking the baby Jesus statue out of the manger feels wrong. And a mouse settling in the gingerbread house is probably more alarming than one settling into the manger display
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2017
Nicely illustrated.
November 21, 2017
I love this sweet story of a little mouse named Mortimer who keeps moving the members of the nativity and sleeping in the manger. He hears the story of Jesus and has a change of heart.
December 8, 2013
This is my favorite Christmas story. Mortimer is a mouse who lives in a cold, creepy hole under the stairs. One day he discovers a house that is the perfect size for him; one problem there are people living in it! After careful investigation, Mortimer discovers they are only statues and proceeds to take over. One night while hiding near his new home, he hears a story about a man and woman and a baby. There was no room for this baby and he was born in a stable. Mortimer realizes that the baby he keeps "lugging and tugging" out of his house is Jesus. Overcome with sadness, Mortimer gives "his" house back to baby Jesus and prays that Jesus will bless him with a nice warm house to live in.
I love this story, Karma Wilson does a great job telling the story, so that even older kids will be interested. The illustrations are super detailed and fun.
I love this story, Karma Wilson does a great job telling the story, so that even older kids will be interested. The illustrations are super detailed and fun.
January 4, 2012
The story of Mortimer, a mouse who doesn't like his cold, dark, and creepy home in the wall. He goes searching for a new home, only to find a nice house that is filled with statues. He pushes them all out, including the baby that was in the bed of straw, and makes it his home. Each evening he returns to find his new house once again full of the statues, and so he removes them. Then one night, he overhears the story of baby Jesus, and he realizes who he has been taking out of his house. He pts all the statues back and goes in search of a new home.
Very cute, and I love that it centers on Christ. It is sometimes hard to find Christmas books that are not all about Santa - and I like Santa books, mind you, but it is nice to have some that have the true meaning of Christmas :).
Very cute, and I love that it centers on Christ. It is sometimes hard to find Christmas books that are not all about Santa - and I like Santa books, mind you, but it is nice to have some that have the true meaning of Christmas :).
December 3, 2016
Mortimer is a little mouse looking for a new home. When he spies a Nativity setting he has no hesitation in throwing baby Jesus out of the manger and settling in for a long nap. He does this every night until one evening he hears the human family of the house reading the story of the first ever Christmas. Feeling very sorry for his actions, Mortimer reinstates the baby Jesus to his rightful place in the manger, and prays that God will find him a new home. The next day he finds the most beautiful house of all…
“Mortimer sniffed. Mortimer snuffled. A tear rolled down his furry cheek. ‘There was no room for you in the inn. But I know where there is room.’ he said.”
November 29, 2017
Super cute story about a mouse who finds the real reason for Christmas. Mortimer finds the nativity scene and doesn’t understand why these strange people are living there. He moves them out every day and sleeps in the Manger. He goes out exploring during the day and cannot figure out why they are back in heir spot when he returns. One night, he comes “home” to the stable and hears the family reading the Christmas story. He realizes who those people are- statues of important people, especially the baby whose bed he was stealing. Mortimer leaves, feeling alone, and decides to pray and ask that baby to help him find a place for him to belong. His prayer is answered in a cute way. This is quickly becoming one of my top 2 or 3 Christmas books!
December 27, 2018
2015 - A cute new addition to our Advent reading countdown. I found this one last year after the Christmas season and decided to add it to our collection. It is a fun read about Mortimer the mouse and how he is looking to find a new home that is warm and cozy instead of his cold one. I love how he finds a new place and rearranges things to suit his needs, but then how he hears a story and realizes what house he took over. He puts everything back with understanding now for the new king who sleeps in the manager. The illustrations are bright and cheery too. This book will be part of our countdown each year.
October 10, 2007
A Christmas story that is actually has to do with the Savior. What a concept! Mortimer crawls out of his "cramped," "creepy" hole in search of a new home, when he comes upon the family manger. Not understanding what it is, he pushes out all the figurines and sleeps in the cozy hay in the manger, but each day, while he searches the house to crumbs to eat, he returns to the manger to find the figurines set up again. And frustrated he drags them back out... until he hears the father read the Christmas story, and he realizes whom he has been leaving "no room" for. Tender story.
December 10, 2010
I started a Christmas picture book collection for my kids, and this was one of my first purchases a few years back. This is such a cute story - Mortimer dislikes his cold, lonely mouse hole and when he finds the manger scene, he thinks it is the perfect replacement- until he hears the story of the first Christmas. Such a great way to talk about the Nativity. The writing is a little more lengthy than Wilson's Bear books, but still just as good. I haven't found a Karma Wilson book yet that we don't love.
November 29, 2017
What a cute Christmas book ~ Mortimer Mouse is trying to find a warm home and finds a manger scene and keeps moving the figures out, but they are back in place the next day. Morimer learns about the manger scene.
Can't wait til it gets closer to Christmas for my grandson to get to hear the story.
I am checking out numerous children's Christmas books. I need 12 to wrap for the 12 days before Christmas and then my daughter's family can read a book a night before Christmas...such fun.
12/12/16 My grandson loved it...
Can't wait til it gets closer to Christmas for my grandson to get to hear the story.
I am checking out numerous children's Christmas books. I need 12 to wrap for the 12 days before Christmas and then my daughter's family can read a book a night before Christmas...such fun.
12/12/16 My grandson loved it...
December 14, 2011
This year, my 5 year old has asked to read this book again and again. It is a really cute story highlighting the real reason for Christmas. It tells the story of Jesus birth in an accessible way and invites children to make room for Jesus in our Christmas celebration. I use a "mouse" voice for Mortimer and my son really likes the squeaky "no, no, no" when Mortimer can't find room in the stable for him.
November 11, 2007
Mortimer the mouse is tired of his cold, dark hole and finds a perfect new place to sleep-- a tabletop nativity scene. Every night he removes all of the statues to make room, until he hears the Christmas story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room. He puts all the pieces back and prays for a new home... which appears in the form of a gingerbread house. Giggle. CUTE!
December 30, 2009
I love this little book. The story of a little mouse who is looking for a warm place to sleep around Christmas. He moves into the manger scene and takes Jesus out of the hay. Eventually, he hears the story of Christ's birth, though, and he decides to make room for Jesus. He then is rewarded with an even better place to stay--a gingerbread house!
January 11, 2011
This was much cuter than I had anticipated. H had picked out a bunch of "junk" books while we were both browsing at the library. I let her borrow them all. I assumed this would be in that "ok" category, but it was much more charming than I had anticipated. It is now in our permanent collection for December reads.
December 19, 2010
Mortimer lives in a dark hole until he spies a house just his size near the Christmas tree. He moves all the occupants from the stable...until he overhears the story of Jesus. Warm ending...too much Christian theme to bring out for library storytime...may be perfect for outreach to Christian education preschool.
January 2, 2012
This was my favorite from this year's pile of Christmas books. I love Wilson and Chapman and their expressive characters (like Bear and Mole and Badger), and maybe it's because we just finally rid our house of its rodent residents and I'm feeling more generous toward mice, but I found this to be a wonderful glimpse of Christmas magic.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews