The Misadventures of Mistletoe Mouse

By Susan Bourrie

For Pre-K through 4th Grade—and children of all ages.

Synopsis:

Celebrate the Christmas season with the lovable and hardworking Mistletoe Mouse. After he befriends Molly Dolly, a doll who is left behind on Christmas Eve by Santa’s elves because they did not have her ready in time to go on Santa’s sleigh, the pair join forces and, with the help of an express reindeer, work to make terrible Christmases terrific.

During the following year, Mistletoe Mouse experiences one misadventure after another as he and Molly Dolly save the show when a little girl cannot sing her solo, comfort a grandmother whose grandchildren are caught in a blizzard, and teach boys and girls who cannot afford gifts for their parents how to make something even more valuable than presents.

Whether he is dangling from a tree, covered with seaweed, confronting a stranger, or scampering through a skyscraper, Mistletoe Mouse tackles every Christmastime surprise and challenge with energy and imagination.

More than 30 years in the making, The Misadventures of Mistletoe Mouse is a traditional and wholesome tale that is sure to please children of all ages.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Bourrie
• Release date: Dec 14, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370685561

Book preview

The Misadventures of Mistletoe Mouse

Revised Edition

Susan Bourrie

Copyright 2016 by Susan Bourrie

Revised edition copyright 2021 by Susan Bourrie

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re–sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy.

Editing, print layout, ebook conversion, and cover design by

DLD Books Editing and Self−Publishing Services, www.dldbooks.com

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Christmas tree photograph by Albie Bredenhann;

purchased from Shutterstock

Wood mouse photograph by Rudmer Zwerver;

purchased from Shutterstock

For

Mary Margaret and David Michael

Chapter One

First Christmas

Christmas can be a lonely day at the North Pole. Santa and his reindeer spend hours and hours resting after their long sleigh ride. And the elves who cleaned their workshop until very late like to sleep the next day.

It sure is quiet around here, a little mouse named Mistletoe thought. He let out a big yell to try to break the silence, but it seemed to close in around him until he almost couldn’t breathe.

Surely someone is up and about, he grumbled as he walked into Santa’s workshop.

Inside, a beautiful doll was sitting all alone. The other toys had been loaded on Santa’s sleigh and were being played with by boys and girls all over the world. Molly Dolly could not go on Santa’s sleigh. Her long, silky hair lay around her shoulders, waiting to be curled. Her white bow needed to be tied. And her shiny silver shoes were still on the cobbler’s bench. She was very sad. She missed all the other toys. She missed the elves and Santa. But most of all, she missed Christmas. One tiny snowflake tear glistened in the corner of her eye.

What are you doing here? Mistletoe Mouse asked. Hey, can’t you hear me? I said, what are you doing here?

The tiny snowflake tear in Molly Dolly’s eye grew and grew until it had no place else to go except down her cheek, where it melted.

Oh, dear, Mistletoe Mouse said.

A second later, Molly Dolly felt a warm, soft kiss where the snowflake tear had fallen.

Who are you? she sobbed.

I’m Mistletoe Mouse! he answered.

Mistletoe Mouse? Molly Dolly sniffled. That’s a strange name for a mouse.

Not really, he said. I am the tiniest mouse at the North Pole, and my job is climbing to the tops of trees and shrubs where the branches are all shoved together to get the mistletoe no one else can reach. I put the last of the mistletoe on Santa’s sleigh yesterday.

The mention of Santa’s sleigh made another snowflake tear start to form in Molly Dolly’s eye.

Oh! No! No! You mustn’t do that, Mistletoe Mouse said firmly. You mustn’t cry on Christmas Day. This is a day to be happy.

But how can I be happy? Molly Dolly cried. It’s Christmas Day, and I’m not ready. My hair isn’t curled. My bow isn’t tied. And my shoes are still over on the cobbler’s bench.

You still look beautiful to me, Mistletoe Mouse said, kissing her cheek again. But if you want all that other stuff done, I guess I’ll just have to do it.

He scurried over to the cobbler’s bench and slowly pushed and pulled and tugged and strained until he reached Molly Dolly with one of her shiny silver shoes. Then he hurried back to the cobbler’s bench and slowly brought her the other one. Here, he panted. Put these on.

Molly Dolly put on the shiny silver shoes and smiled. Oh, they are so beautiful! she said. They make me want to dance.

Mistletoe Mouse watched as Molly Dolly danced around the toy shelf. Sit down, now. Sit down, he warned. You will trip over that bow if you’re not careful. Come here and let me tie it for you.

Molly Dolly sat down on the edge of the shelf and dangled her feet over the edge. Mistletoe Mouse tried several times to tie the bow on her dress, but he kept getting caught inside the knot and had to ask Molly