Little Mole's Christmas Gift
(Little Mole)

In this latest installment of the Little Mole series, the title character--a gray, dot-eyed critter in a striped hat, green sweater, charcoal pants, and galoshes--discovers "the biggest, the best, the most beautiful mushroom he had ever seen," the optimal Christmas present for Mama. But as he trudges through the snow on his way back to the burrow with the white-spotted, red-capped mushroom, he encounters Little Squirrel, Little Mouse, and Little Chipmunk, who each have a need that Little Mole can fulfill--at the expense of his gift. Textured digital illustrations suggest crayon and colored pencil drawings; Little Mole and Mama are the only animals fully dressed and housed, but the other woodland creatures are expressive and anthropomorphic, too. While the conclusion may feel a tad abrupt, this compassionate Christmas fable emphasizes classic morals: that the heart behind a gift matters more than the gift itself. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)