Santa Mouse and the Ratdeer

by Thacher Hurd

On the night before Christmas all is not well at the Mouse North Pole, even Santa's ratdeer are in a grumpy mood, and when Santa's sleigh breaks down in the middle of the woods and his ratdeer take off, a little mouse named Rosie gets Santa back on course.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Holiday, Childrens, Humor, Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Thacher grew up in a family of children's book artists, and after attending the California College of Arts and Crafts, he began to turn his talent to picture books. He is the award-winning author of Mama Don't Allow, Art Dog, and most recently Moo Cow Kaboom! He has also written two board books, Cat's Pajamas and Zoom City. Thacher and his wife, Olivia, live in Berkeley, California.

from Author Page

Reviews

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bring on the Christmas books, where sappy cheer and happy endings no matter what provide a shallow and false sense of security that things just work out because reasons. In this one, Santa Mouse and his ratdeer were extremely ...unlikable. I'm not a fan of children's books that are dumbed down. Challenge kids to think and expand their vocabulary!

[S.N. Arly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun seasonally appropriate picture book, providing a nice break from some of the classics, which get a little tired after too many reads. The language flows and lends itself to reading aloud. It is also subtly subversive in wonderful ways: dad is the one who makes cookies (not mom). There are no religious overtones (I was in junior high before I realized Christmas was also religious holiday). The author did not shy away from big words, but the language is not clunky or confusing to younger readers.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the illustrations in this one, and it was really sweet. I guess the reason I'm not giving it 4 stars is because it was in an odd spot story-wise. Usually, you either want picture books to be really simple for very young kids or have more of a story for older kids, but this was in an odd place in-between. However, maybe the simpler language and sentences would be good for kids reading it themselves if they're learning to read!

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a stormy Christmas Eve at Mouse North Pole, and nothing seems to going right for Santa Mouse, and his ratdeer. The mood is gloomy and everyone is grumpy. What could possible put the cheer back in the holiday?

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Santa Mouse is having a rough night! Good thing the Ratdeer found Rosie to help out.

I especially enjoyed the poem at the end.

[K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good Christmas book that teaches the importance of kindness and having a positive attitude.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just intended for fun---this title describes Santa Mouse's rough Christmas Eve culminating in a crash into a snow bank. Rosie Mouse invites Ratdeer and Santa Mouse in for hot chocolate and warms up the day!

[Jussay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Besides the grouchy "Santa" and complaining "ratdeer", this book left me with nothing.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this non-traditional holiday story to second graders today and they got a kick out of grouchy Santa and the funny ratdeer names.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twizzlebum...hilarious.