In line with many children’s stories about Christmas Eve, Mitchell’s tale covers the plight of Santa and his reindeer when they get stuck in a brook and fear they will be unable to deliver the night’s presents. The deliveries are proceeding as scheduled until the reindeer spot a field mouse. Unable to stop themselves from chasing the mouse (much to Santa’s dismay), the reindeer barrel after the mouse, charging through snowdrifts and getting further and further off course. The mouse, knowing he can’t outrun the reindeer for long, decides to lead them across the thin ice of a brook. With the weight of the sleigh and all the night’s presents, the reindeer break through the ice, and they all get stuck in the slosh. Having turned the tables, the mouse gets a good laugh out of the situation; however, once he hears Santa’s complaints about ruining Christmas, he realizes the extent of their actions. Thinking quickly, the mouse wakes some hibernating bears who push logs in the brook to give the reindeer footing and use their strength to help pull the sleigh free. With Christmas saved, although running a little behind schedule, the reindeer cheer and decide the mouse deserves a gift. Santa reaches in his pack and presents the mouse with a huge chunk of cheese, declaring him Mouse of the Year.

The accompanying illustrations are done by Brenda Timms and do a good job of bringing the tale to life. These illustrations keep the work light and fun—despite the trouble the characters face—and are composed of traditional images of Santa and his reindeer rendered in a straight-forward, simple style. Overall, the illustrations are a nice addition to the story despite one image of a reindeer looking slightly intoxicated when pictured with Santa and another where the bear is awake before it must be woken up by the mouse. Our protagonist is drawn as a friendly and delightful brown field mouse whose expressions are clearly conveyed and felt by the reader. In contrast to the illustrations, the format of the text is, at times, problematic and occasionally detracts from the work.

Comparisons between Mitchell’s work and Clement Moore’s classic poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (later known as "Twas the Night Before Christmas") should be made as similarities are readily apparent. Not only do both concern Santa’s journey on Christmas Eve, but both are written as poetry. Whereas Moore’s is a long poem in standard couplets, Mitchell’s uses quatrains with an AABB rhyme scheme. Both work on lines averaging 11 syllables, although Moore’s is more lyrical while Mitchell’s lines sometimes get bogged down.

The number of holiday books grows profusely by the year, which can pose a challenge for new books to get noticed. Still, Mitchell’s work is fun and gives readers what they have come to anticipate in a Christmas Eve story involving Santa and his deliveries. Young children may enjoy seeing characters both beloved and familiar, and this title could easily be filling the space in the children’s section of your local library or bookstore.

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