The Mouse Buffet: A Christmas Treat

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.)