Little Mole's Christmas gift

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.)

Little Mole has a great big heart. Little Mole has found an enormous mushroom in the woods and decided to give it to his beloved Mama for Christmas. After he works hard to pick it, he encounters several woodland creatures in need as he carries the large, red-and-white mushroom home to his mother. Bit by bit, he gives away parts of the stem to hungry Little Squirrel and to tired Little Mouse, who needs somewhere soft to rest his head. Then he gives the cap to Little Chipmunk to use as an umbrella. By the time he reaches his mother, Little Mole has only a tiny piece of the mushroom left for her. She is nonetheless pleased and says she will make them soup for their Christmas dinner. Her gratitude only increases when Little Mole sadly tells her what happened to the rest of the big mushroom. A proud Mama says, "your kindness is the biggest, most perfect Christmas gift I have ever received," which provides Little Mole with affirmation, reassurance, and a holiday lesson about the importance of generosity. The softly textured illustrations reinforce the gentle coziness of the story. The animals are anthropomorphic, though only Little Mole and Mama are fully dressed; most of the animals Little Mole encounters wear nothing, underscoring their relative neediness next to the moles' evident prosperity. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9.3-by-18.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 39.1% of actual size.) A warm wintertime read with a message for any time of year. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.