If You Take a Mouse to the Movies

Welcome to the hilariously hypothetical world of Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond. Everything has an impact on everything else in this world, so if you take a mouse to the movies, don't be surprised if you find yourself being run ragged by the exuberant little fellow's increasingly grand appetites. When we first met him in Numeroff and Bond's tremendously popular If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, he had more energy than a 2-year-old on lollipops. Now, in the excitement of the Christmas season, he's unstoppable. Going from movie theater to Christmas tree lot to the neighbor's yard for snowmouse-building, he's a very demanding mouse indeed--in only the best way, of course.

The freshness of the If You Give a... series is diminished only slightly as the sequels pile up. The dazed and earnest look on the face of the mouse's long-suffering friend makes a marvelous foil for the mouse's high-spirited expressions. Adult readers will chuckle as they recognize the ephemeral passions of a child, while children will simply love the unfolding chain of events. A perfect Christmas read-aloud for the impetuous youngster on your list. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter

• If You Give a Mouse a Brownie (If You Give... Books)
• If You Take a Mouse to School
• If You Give a Pig a Party
• If You Give a Dog a Donut
• If You Give a Cat a Cupcake (If You Give... Books)
• If You Give a Pig a Pancake
• If You Give a Moose a Muffin
• Fun with Mouse and Friends (6 Book Set)
• Merry Christmas, Mouse! (If You Give...)
• The Best Mouse Cookie (If You Give...)