“If You Take a Mouse to the Movies" by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond, Harper Collins, 32 pages

Read aloud: age 3 and older

Read yourself: age 7 and older

In the same spirited tradition of Numeroff and Bond's other best-selling books, this offering has a fun Christmas theme that will keep kids smiling from page to page.

If you take a mouse to the movies, he'll ask you for some popcorn, which he'll want to string all together. Then he'll want to hang his popcorn string on a Christmas tree. Of course, that means you'll have to go buy a Christmas tree. Before you get the tree home, this feisty little mouse will see a snowman and want to make one of his own and then a giant fort out of snow. At this point he'll be tired and cold, and you'll be homeward bound, only to discover that this loveable and energetic mouse still has endless things he'll want to do.

LIBRARIAN'S CHOICE

Library: Salem Free Public Library, 264 Hartford Rd., Salem

Library Director: Rachel Gaither

Choices this week: "Bats at the Library" by Brian Lies; "Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School" by Mark Teague; "The Spiderwick Chronicles" series by Tony DiTerlizzi

AT THE BOOKSTORE

"The Night Before Christmas" by Clement Clarke Moore, illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger, mini-minedition, 2014

Read aloud: age 3 and older.

Read yourself: age 7 and older.

" What sets this edition apart from others are the marvelous illustrations by none other than Lisbeth Zwerger. Zwerger is the recipient of Hans Christian Anderson Medal for children's book illustration, and once you open this book you'll see why; her magical illustrations whisk readers/listeners away to an enchanting place like no other.

"Claude on the Slopes" by Alex T. Smith, Peachtree, 2014, 96 pages, $12.95 hardcover

Read aloud: age 6 to 9

Read yourself: age 8 and 9

Claude the dog and his best friend, Sir Bobblysock, have adventures every day. One snowy morning Claude and Sir Bobblysock decide to go to the Snowy Mountains Winter Sports Center. There, they encounter many new sights and winter sports such as sledding and skiing. They also meet the man in charge of Mountain Rescue, Sidney Snood.

After Sir Bobblysock wins the snow-sculpting contest, the two friends don't think the day can have any more excitement in store for them. But when Claude accidentally causes an avalanche, Claude knows what he must do.

The fourth adventure in the Claude series, this delightful and funny wintertime story is bound to keep kids hooked from the first page to the last.

kendal@sunlink.net