This is a sweet little story about Coco Mouse who discovers a Christmas tree without a star. The mouse goes through a few adventures in it'squest to place a star on the tree, meeting an owl, a squirrel and a mockingbird along the way. They all try to help Coco, but the mouse has to work out the answer himself. Beautiful images add to the enchantment.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.


Edition: Paperback
ISBN 978162EDITION0355992
PRICE $12.50 (USD)

Hmmm… What might have been a charming little tale of a forest mouse being adamant that the best tree in it needed a star on its top so the whole area could celebrate Christmas, ends up going to a slightly sweet nowhere, and comes with the worst photoshopping I’ve seen for years. There’s no real resolution, beyond chance, for the mouse’s quest, and the imagery left so much to be desired I think this is almost charitably getting two stars, it offers no joy to say.

This is a sweet little story about Coco mouse who lives in a forest, and is appalled by the realisation that the top of the giant fir has no Christmas star.

In his attempt to capture a star for the tree, so that the forest can enjoy Christmas, the little mouse meets an owl, a squirrel and a mockingbird, all of whom offer him assistance or counsel. And in the end, the mouse finds a solution to his dilemma, and the forest gets its Christmas star.

The story is simple, the illustrations are mixed media and interesting, and the messages are loud and clear - not to mention, appropriate and meaningful. A good book for children, that is poignant without being sentimental.

This sweet little picture book tells the tale of Coco Mouse’s attempt to fetch a star from the sky to top a tree in the forest on Christmas eve. He thinks that if he climbs the giant fir tree, he will be able to reach the stars. Because it is Christmas, he receives help and advice from the other animals, as he strives to achieve the seemingly impossible task. The interesting illustrations are created from collages of pictures of felt animals, and other items all combined in photoshop. The contrasts of the items are very interesting and provide a unique style that little children would not normally see. I recommend this tale for children 3-8. I was fortunate to be able to read an advanced reader copy from skyhook Press through NetGalley.

The graphics and illustrations are very beautiful. I loved how the mockingbird worked with Coco the mouse to help satisfy his goal for obtaining a Christmas star for the tree.

I'm always on the look out for great books for my young niece and nephew.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Skyhook Press for approving my request to read the advance read copy of On Christmas Eve: A Coco Mouse Tale in exchange for an honest review.

Somewhere between 3 and 4 stars, rounding up.

This is a sweet story for young children which is also beautifully illustrated. The story of Coco, a mouse, on Christmas Eve, a mouse who finds a fir tree which has no star on top, and he decides it must have one.

<i>’The forest needs a treetop star for Christmas Eve. If I climb the tree, I can reach up and fetch one. But it won’t be an easy climb. I’d better make a ladder of twigs for where I can’t find a foothold.’</i>

A squirrel arrives through the trees, and asks what he was doing, and when she finds out that he wants to climb the tree she offers him a nut. He climbs for an hour and sits to eat the nut she gave him.

He climbs another hour and sees an owl on a branch, and tells the owl why he is climbing the tree - to fetch a Christmas tree star. The owl laughs at him, telling him that stars are big and hot, too big and too hot for him.

He climbs for another hour, but was still nowhere near the top when a bird lands near him, so the bird gives him a ride on his back. When they land, the bird bursts out in song, and Coco is impressed. She tells Coco that she is a mockingbird, and that she heard that song from a mockingbird.

’I am only a mouse’ Coco says. ’But you heard a nightingale, and I heard <i>you</i>’, so with his paws stretched out, he sang to the stars.

Published: 01 Oct 2023


Many thanks for the ARC provided by Skyhook Press

A sweet, simple little book that helps children understand the importance of caring about others. And the mouse is just adorable

I love children's Christmas books. This one was sweet, but I wish it had had a little more to it. It just felt like it suddenly wrapped up. But overall it was cute and I enjoyed it.

My grandson picked this and loved it. Wonderful for my 9 years old grandson. Beautiful pictures.