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Searching... Dallas Public Library | + PRIMARY - BAUER (GREEN) | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
After Cat is accidentally shut outdoors on a cold, dark Christmas Eve, she makes a promise to Mouseling in order to share his warm bed.
Author Notes
Marion Dane Bauer was born in Oglesby, Illinois. She attended community college first, in her home town, and then went to the University of Missouri when she was a junior to study journalism. She quickly realized that journalism was not for her and changed her focus to the humanities and a degree in English literature. She switched one last time to focus on teaching english, which she did when she graduated college.
After her children were born, Bauer decided to try her hand at writing. She started out with a children's picture book, but discovered that youg adult novels were more to her taste. After making a career out of writing, Bauer became the first Faculty Chair at Vermont College for the only Master of Fine Arts in Writing program devoted exclusively to writing for children and young adults.
Bauer is the author of more than forty books for young people. She has won many awards, including a Jane Addams Peace Association Award for her novel Rain of Fire and an American Library Association Newbery Honor Award for On My Honor and the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota for the body of her work. Her picture book My Mother is Mine was a New York Times bestseller.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3When the excitement of Christmas causes Cat's human children to forget all about her, the miffed feline runs away to teach them a lesson. Finding herself in a frozen forest, she captures a young mouse by promising to tell him about Christmas, and Rabbit, Mother Mouse, Squirrel, and Bird convince her that she cannot eat Mouseling. This beginning chapter book offers drama, coziness, and a happy, hopeful ending. Hearn's lively watercolor illustrations are realistically rendered and add visual support for the spare yet effective text. A fine addition for newly proficient readers as well as for sharing with younger children.LF (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
When Cat is ignored during the excitement of Christmas Eve, she runs away to the forest. She's tempted to eat a baby mouse until a bear threatens to eat her. But as Cat tells the Christmas story, she and the bear agree to leave their prey in peace, and the mice invite Cat to sleep in their nest. Repetition makes the text accessible, but the animals' change of heart is distracting. Predominantly brown watercolor and ink artwork illustrates the story. From HORN BOOK Spring 1999, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
This easy-reader entry from Bauer (Alison's Fierce and Ugly Halloween, 1997, etc.) tells the story of a frosty, magical night in the forest that gives Cat a new reverence for all babies, regardless of their species. Hungry and shivering, Cat has been left outdoors by her owners on Christmas Eve. A fortuitous encounter with a naive young mouse means dinner, but Cat is first roped into explaining what Christmas is to the forest creatures. Cat experiences a quick reversal of fortunes when she becomes a prospective meal for grouchy Bear, who has been roused out of hibernation. A frantic explanation about the special Christmas baby leads Bear, Mama Mouse, and Cat to reflect on the miracle of babies, and Cat is invited into the mice's home to await morning. Separated into six easy chapters and designed for emerging readers, the book has an element of uncertainty to keep children engaged, and will also entertain a more accomplished audience. Hearn's plentiful full-color illustrations vividly portray the action and tenderness of the tale in a realistic style. A unique--even surprising--holiday story that locates the real spirit of Christmas. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Gr. 2^-3, younger for reading aloud. Cat feels neglected during the holiday rush and runs away from home. Hearing the cat grumbling about Christmas, a curious young mouse comes out of hiding to find out what Christmas is. Cat promises not to eat the tasty mouse morsel until after explaining about Christmas, but things take a turn when the animals' conversation wakes a hungry bear, who eyes Cat as a snack. Just as Cat is about to be eaten, she blurts out that Christmas is about "the Christmas baby." Suddenly reminded of her own naked cub, Bear rumbles back to her den, and Mousling returns safely to his mother. Bauer's able plotting makes the miraculous turnabout believable, and also the reversal that follows: Mama Mouse and Mousling allow Cat to snuggle with them. The action and feelings are well connected by the appealing pictures and the engaging text, which is printed in extra-large type, perfect for new readers. --Shelley Townsend-Hudson