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The Christmas Mouse book is a collaboration between two sisters. Janelle and Bethwyn are local to the South West of Western Australia, where they have raised families in Bunbury and Dardanup. Janelle adores all things Christmas, cats and travel. She is a passionate ballroom dancer with a love for all things Italian, particularly cooking. The Christmas Mouse is Janelle’s first published work after successfully self-publishing in 2022. Bethwyn is a gifted teacher, a talented artist, musician and writer. A creative spirit with a gentle soul.
Both share a passion for gardening and Thursday morning coffee catch ups.
‘The Christmas Mouse’ is a beautiful Christmas story for the entire family. Janelle Ruth Cicchillitti captures the feeling we all experience this time of year and the joy that Christmas brings. The setting, characters and story are universal and the students of St Brigid’s all could relate to their own Christmas homes and traditions. Christmas is a time of giving and being with the people that you love and the picture book beautifully captures the feelings and emotions that we experience at this time of year. I would highly recommend families add this to their Christmas stockings to share together.
This story is full of whimsy and joy, taking you through a the tiny mouses hopes of Christmas. You feel the delight and the Christmas spirit that the mouse feels. It is a beautiful book, no matter the time of year. A way for us to remember the joy in all these Christmas things we may take for granted. A glorious, happy, well written and gorgeously drawn story. Children will fall in love with the Christmas mouse and her moose friend.
A delightful tail (sic. tale) regarding childhood excitement of the anticipation of Christmas. The story includes both the pagan and religious icons of the Christmas story, giving it wider appeal. I hope we will see the characters created in this story again - Bruce the Moose and Christmas Mouse could have many more journeys around this theme. The font used will be familiar to younger readers - adding to the readability. The pencil strokes used in the illustrations lend a youthful charm to the story. The perfect book to read to your child on December 1, to start the countdown to Christmas day, or as '1' on your family advent calendar.
I have had the privilege to review this adorable book. The author and illustrator have captured the whimsy and wonder of what Christmas can bring to our lives. The hope the Christmas Mouse brings reminds me of being a child and (impatiently) waiting for Christmas day as it was/is a magical day filled with endless possibilities. Thankyou for bringing this to a wider audience and supporting peoples passion of writing!
I love how the author takes us on an emotional journey, making a connection with how we feel about Christmas. The main character, Miss Mousey, is sadden when there is no Christmas decoration in sight, fearing that she has missed it Miss Mousey goes on a journey to see if that is the case. Going through the journey you feel for Miss Mousey until she realises that she hasn’t in fact missed it, but its about to start all over again – joyous of joys!! I enjoyed the figurines mentioned - mouse the Bruce, Christmas Cats – most families will have some sort of Christmas decorations and I love how they have been illustrated within the story, so beautifully done. What a lovely well written and illustrated book about anticipating Christmas and the happiness it brings us all.
What a beautiful story and I just love the imagery created (on paper and in our minds). For the little kids and big kids alike!
I was told The Christmas Mouse story came about when Janelle wrote it for a family member who couldn’t make it home for Christmas. Bethwyn read the story, did the illustrations in secret, and made it into a book as a birthday surprise for her sister. It tells the timeless story about Christmas, and captures beautifully the mystery, excitement, happiness and joy of the Festive season and the Nativity. Things we all enjoy, captured in a story about something small, like the mouse, can mean something for us all. Parents everywhere reading this to their children, or Grandparents to their grandchildren, will smile, reliving their experiences of Christmases past. I know I did. I would thoroughly recommend this book to everyone who LOVES Christmas time.
A tale that hits close to home. The little mouse explores emotions relevant to the adult reader, of the importance of relationship and longing for the memorable moments when you can truely experience the love and joy that comes along with the festive season. While supporting an exciting journey for young readers with anticipation and the excitement of the time to come.
