cover image Itsy Bitsy Christmas: You’re Never Too Little for His Love

Itsy Bitsy Christmas: You’re Never Too Little for His Love

Max Lucado, illus. by Bruno Merz. Thomas Nelson, $14.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-4003-2262-6

Lucado (The Crippled Lamb) tells the Nativity story from the point of view of mice siblings Itsy and Bitsy, who are marveling at all the people traveling through Bethlehem “to be counted.” Daniel the donkey says it’s a “big day, indeed,” because “The King is coming to Bethle-hem.” Snippets of mouse humor (“I’ve never seen inside the nose of a donkey”) add levity and personality to this rendering. Trained in animation, Merz (My Friend the Weather Monster) illustrates from the mice’s perspectives, using a loose, painterly style with subtle details in muted earth tones. Ages 4–7. (Sept.)