A Carol for Christmas

Narrated by a young mouse named Jeremy, Tompert's engaging story describes the legendary origin of Silent Night, first sung on December 24, 1818, in a church in Austria. Jeremy gives his family credit for the song's creation, since the gnawing of the hungry mice had destroyed the church organ. The mouse's animated account of the incident that finally inspires the local pastor to pen the celebrated carol is a charmer, yet the main attraction here are Kelly's enchanting watercolors, which deftly mingle humorous particulars and period detail. Ages 5-8. (Oct.)