A Mouse Called Miika (Boy Called Christmas) Paperback – October 18, 2022

If you’ve read A Boy Called Christmas, The Girl Who Saved Christmas,Father Christmas and Me and / or The Truth Pixie, you’ll have some idea of the charm and adventures in this latest in Matt Haig’s Christmas series.’Two brave mice, one quest for cheese…’An epic escapade, the story of a mouse named Miika who never knew his dad, and although he knew his mum, Ulla, was ’very, very very tired’ with thirteen little mice to care for, she fell asleep before she could get around to naming him. He was always hungry, the weakest and the smallest, the last one born, and the one who went largely ignored by his Mum. So one early morning, when the other mice are sleeping, he decides to leave his home in the tree. He pauses before leaving, saying goodbye to everyone, including his Mum, but no one is listening.He meets Bridget the Brave, who lives in another tree where she has piles of mushrooms and elf cheese, and an adventure begins.Like the other books in this series aimed at Middle School readers, there is a subtle message about the things in life that really matter, and the power attained by believing in yourself.

This is and adorable story for middle grade kids, but adults will also enjoy the lovable characters, enjoyable art, and the uplifting and positive message.

My child isn't a dedicated reader and She could not put this book down. She loved it! Highly recommended

Holiday gift

Two kids, in sixth and fourth grades, read this book, after really enjoying other Matt Haig books in the series. This one… hit different. Both of them said it was horrendously boring, not really about the things that happened in the other stories (or about Christmas), and mostly just about two mice arguing. They said that parts that should have been interesting—like travel between cities—were skipped over or mentioned in passing, while uninteresting dialogue stretched on. I’ll admit, I didn’t read this myself, but thought I’d leave the review given the vehemence of the kids’ reaction. (I didn’t read the others in the series either, but my kids really liked them, which made it all the more disappointing for them.)