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


From Publishers Weekly
Actor Jason Alexander reads Laura Numeroff's story in the If You Take a Mouse to the Movies Book and Tape set, which includes a paper-over-board mini-book edition, illus. by Felicia Bond, and music by Sarah Weeks "Mouse's Twelve Days of Christmas" and a medley of favorite Christmas songs. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Ages 3-6. Following the popular If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (1987), If You Give a Moose a Muffin (1991), and If You Give a Pig a Pancake (1998), Numeroff offers another lively cause-and-effect romp. When a boy takes a mouse to the movies, the mouse wants popcorn, which he strings together and wants to hang on the Christmas tree that the boy buys for him. On the way home, the mouse wants to play in the snow but then needs to warm up at home, where he sings Christmas carols and wants to decorate the tree. His popcorn string is missing, so he wants to make another, which reminds him of the movies . . . As with the previous titles, children will find both the bouncy speculative text and the colorful illustrations irresistible. In simple pictures filled with wit, Bond personalizes both the story and the characters, creating the earnest boy, eager to please his gleeful, hyper mouse. A charmer that's sure to get plenty of circulation. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description
Mouse is back for the holidays! A first sequel to If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, starring Mouse! The famous little mouse from the children's classic If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is back in another irresistible tale full of holiday antics. This time, if you take him to the movies, he'll ask you for some popcorn. If you give him the popcorn, he'll want to string it all together. Then he'll want to hang it on a Christmas tree. In the fourth in this mega-selling series, Felicia Bond and Laura Numeroff have created another high-energy story featuring the adorable and demanding mouse that has delighted millions of readers. Ages 10+


Card catalog description
Taking a mouse to the movies can lead to letting him do other things, such as making a snowman, listening to Christmas carols, and decorating the Christmas tree.


About the Author
Born in 1953, the youngest of three girls, Laura Numeroff grew up in Brooklyn, New York, surrounded by art, music, and books. By age nine, Laura started writing her own stories and drew pictures to go with them -- she would even make a book cover for them and write down the name of the publisher. She also spent a great deal of time reading and took weekly trips to the public library -- which was about five blocks from her house. At that time, her favorite possessions were her microscope, a box of sixty-four crayons, and her library card. At age fifteen, Laura decided to follow in her sister's footsteps and become a fashion designer. However, during her last semester in college, Laura decided to take a class in writing and illustrating books for children. She ended up graduating with a degree and a publishing contract for her first book! She has been writing now for 27 years and has written 16 books for children. Her best-selling If You Give a ... series has received critical acclaim and has become a favorite for children of all ages. She currently lives in Los Angeles, California.

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
The creators of one of the most successful children's book series ever produced -- the writer-illustrator team of Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond -- continue their If You Give A... series with yet another exploration of whimsical creatures -- a pushy mouse in this case -- and arbitrary whims. If You Take a Mouse to the Movies follows the same formula Numeroff has used in the previous books by showing how a single demand can snowball into a long list of exhausting needs. But this time out there is a Christmas theme and plenty of holiday hijinks to heighten the fun.

The language is simple but lively, lending itself well to being read aloud. The accompanying illustrations are both colorful and vivid, with plenty of details to keep curious young eyes busy as they seek out details mentioned in the story. It's a fun way for children to grasp the idea that their own demands may be taxing at times. And as an added incentive (not that one is needed), a portion of the royalties from If You Take a Mouse to the Movies benefit First Book, a national nonprofit organization for the promotion of children's literacy.

--Beth Amos

ANNOTATION

Taking a mouse to the movies can lead to letting him do other things, such as making a snowman, listening to Christmas carols, and decorating the Christmas tree.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

If you take a mouse to the movies, he'll ask you for some popcorn. When you give him the popcorn, he'll want to string it all together. Then he'll want to hang it on a Christmas tree. You'll have to buy him one....

The energetic little mouse from If You Give A Mouse A Cookie is back again, this time with a host of holiday antics. Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond have created yet another irresistible tale in the tradition of the best-selling If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, If You Give A Moose A Muffin, and If You Give A Pig A Pancake.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Actor Jason Alexander reads Laura Numeroff's story in the If You Take a Mouse to the Movies Book and Tape set, which includes a paper-over-board mini-book edition, illus. by Felicia Bond, and music by Sarah Weeks "Mouse's Twelve Days of Christmas" and a medley of favorite Christmas songs. (Oct.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Children's Literature