Inside, Outside Christmas - Hardcover

Spowart, Robin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0823413705 ISBN 13: 9780823413706

Publisher: Holiday House, 1998

Synopsis

In a cozy, holiday concept book, a mouse family engages in activities both inside and outside that are associated with Christmas such as buying and hiding gifts.

About this title

Review

Christmas is indeed an inside, outside season. Just as children need the inside nesting and cozy holiday activities within the home, they also yearn for connection with the outside world--the rosy-cheeked pleasure of being in nature, the satisfaction of giving to a stranger in need, the anticipation of window shopping. Author and illustrator Robin Spowart highlights this duality by tracking the holiday activities of a busy little mouse family. Each spread contains an inside and an outside rhyming activity: "inside caring" (the mouse son bringing warm tea to his grandmother) and "outside caring" (the daughter mouse dropping a new doll into the barrel marked "Toys for needy mice"). Spowart's smudgy chalk drawings and big-eyed mice reflect the warm, fuzzy comforts of indoor joys as well as the frosty mysteries of a winter wonderland. The most touching spin comes at the end when Spowart overlaps the two worlds to remind children of the inward and outward love at the core of this bustling, homey season. (Click to see a sample spread. Illustrations (c)1998 by Robin Spowart. Permission from Holiday House, Inc.) (Baby to preschool) --Gail Hudson

From Booklist

Ages 1^-3. This festive picture book introduces Christmas activities inside and outside the house of a lively, loving mouse family. Each double-page spread features two rhyming phrases. On the left side of one spread, illustrating "Inside, munching," three little mice take cookies from the plate their mother offers and begin to eat them. On the right side, three other mice tromp down a snowy hill, illustrating "Outside, crunching." Simple enough for young children to understand, the rhythmic, rhyming text also provides a lot to talk about, such as the page "Outside, caring," with a picture of a little mouse putting her doll into a barrel labeled "Toys For Needy Mice." In the illustrations, strokes of overlapping lines in rich hues create their own rhythm of repeated shapes and graceful movements. Full of life, light, and brilliant colors, this picture book brightens the season with its unpretentious charm. Carolyn Phelan

About this edition

• Publisher: Holiday House
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0823413705
• ISBN 13: 9780823413706
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32