Halloween is over.
Thanksgiving’s nearly here.
What a perfect time to spread
A little Christmas cheer!
After a 3 week break for Halloweensie, Perfect Picture Book Friday is back, and have I got a holiday treat for you!
(And due to the break, if anyone has published any perfect picture book posts over the last 3 weeks, you are welcome and encouraged to add them to today’s list!)
Also, one quick note: I know I promised the Halloweensie Winner’s post Wednesday or Thursday, but I had dog medical drama and ended up getting it done so late Thursday I thought it would interfere with this post, so I am going to schedule the Winner’s post for tomorrow (Saturday) morning. So sorry for the delay!
AND, the Guidelines for the 15th Annual Holiday Contest will go up on Sunday (good lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise! 😊)
Now!
Wait until you see this!
Are you ready? 😊
Title: The Mouse Buffet: A Christmas Treat
Written By: Della Ross Ferreri
Illustrated By: Tim Bowers
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press, fiction, August 1, 2025
Suitable For Ages: 3-8 (but really, who can resist a book this cute! 😊)
Themes/Topics: Holidays (Christmas), gentle suspense, language fun (onomatopoeia, rhyme), humor
text copyright Della Ross Ferreri 2025, illustration copyright Tim Bowers 2025, Sleeping Bear Press
Opening:
“Sneak a peek. Lookee, lookee!
Way up there – a Christmas cookie!”
text copyright Della Ross Ferreri 2025, illustration copyright Tim Bowers 2025, Sleeping Bear Press
Brief Synopsis: [from the publisher] “A group of adventurous mice decides the family buffet is the perfect way to celebrate the holidays, as long as they can avoid the family cat.”
text copyright Della Ross Ferreri 2025, illustration copyright Tim Bowers 2025, Sleeping Bear Press
Links To Resources: Here’s a link to activities from the Sleeping Bear Press website: https://sleepingbearpress.com/teaching_guides?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=The+Mouse+Buffet&commit=Search
text copyright Della Ross Ferreri 2025, illustration copyright Tim Bowers 2025, Sleeping Bear Press
Why I Love This Book: What is NOT to love about this delightful book?! It’s a fun, holiday story with a mouth-watering glimpse of Christmas treats of all kinds, mischievous mice, a (mostly) sleepy cat (with potentially worrisome intentions), just enough suspense to keep little ones turning pages without feeling like anything really bad will happen (it’s a picture book, after all!), a clever solution, and a perfect ending! The rhyming text makes for a fabulous and engaging read-aloud. The art will have little ones completely absorbed – the mice are SO cute, all those goodies look SO tasty, and there are tons of details to look at while they listen. I love the expressions on the gingerbread man’s face! 🤣 Not only do I give this book 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️s, it also gets 5 stars and a 2 thumbs up from my 3 1/2 year old granddaughter who requests it be read continually and says, “Those mice are smart!” and “What is the cat’s name?” and “I love the gingerbread man, but how does he eat his candy cane?” (because these are the things that inquiring minds want to know!) Her favorite page is when the mice are in the gingerbread house and one is eating a gumdrop (please see image above 😊) So there you have the expert review 😊
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊
Della Ross Ferreri is a teacher and children’s writer. She is the author of picture books, board books and early readers, as well as magazine stories, poems and action rhymes. Honors for her books include a CYBILS Award finalist and Bank Street College Best Children’s Books of the Year. Della loves spending time with her husband and three children, reading, writing, movies, traveling, playing disc golf and taking leisurely walks. She lives with her husband in the beautiful Hudson Valley in New York. For more information about Della and her school visit programs, please visit her website: https://www.dellarossferreri.com/
Author Della Ross Ferreri
Susanna Leonard Hill 
If I lick the pages, would anyone blame me? I’m drooling over the illustrations! That would be fun to read to my grandchildren.
I know, Brenda! Aren’t the illustrations delicious?! And I can promise your grandkids will love it – mine do! 🙂
Tim’s illustrations are delectable! I hope your grandchildren love it!
Scrumptious! Delightful! Fun! I need an invite to this delicious story. Count me in. Happy Holidays. Lots of love coming your way.♥️
You will love it, Robin! Maybe your local library has it, or you can request they get it!
My little nephew proclaimed, “I want a mouse buffet for breakfast!”
And I told him, “Invite me, too!” 🙂
This looks adorable and yummy! And, yes, I’d love to read to my grandchildren!
Adorable and yummy is a perfect description, Barb! And your grandchildren would love it, I am sure!
Thank you, Barb! I hope your grandchildren love it!
What a deliciously adorable tale! My granddaughter has a huge sweet tooth and will love seeing the mice gorging on goodies…and who doesn’t love a looming cat?! Thank you for all you do, Susanna!💕
One of my favorite parts is the gingerbread man, Kim! His expressions are so funny, and he kind of gets dragged into service. It’s very clever!
I think any child with a sweet tooth will love this book! 🙂
You’re right! I can’t resist this book. Thank you for sharing it early enough to order for gift giving this holiday season. Those illustrations are scrumptious enough to eat right off the page, and the rhymes are clever and fun.
Della writes rhyme so well, Leslie! The book is really fun to read aloud! I hope you have someone on your gift list it will be perfect for!
Leslie, Thank you for the kind words. The illustrations are indeed scrumptious… and I hope the little ones on your list enjoy it as a fun read-aloud!
I’m with Brenda! I saw this one at the bookstore yesterday and fell in love with how the title is illustrated! Glad to hear how Miss C is enjoying it!
I know! Isn’t that great? The illustrations are amazing, but so is the text! If you’re still doing your story times, I think this one will be a winner with the littles!
So sad to say I’m not! My daycare ladies retired.
Oh, no! That was such a fun thing you did! (And such a great opportunity to share picture books and see how kids reacted to them! 🙂 )
Hi Julie, The title is so clever! I did a school visit last week and some of the older kids wrote/decorated their names using cookie and candy pieces like the illustrator did for ‘THE MOUSE BUFFET.’ 🙂
I LOVE the images of title on the cover, and the whole book sounds like so much fun!
It is SO much fun, Jodie! Just a delightful read from start to finish, just the right amount long so that when whoever you’re reading it to asks you to read it again… and again… and again! you won’t mind at all!
The book is great fun! Thank you ‘HappilyHiggledy!’
What a fun and cute book! Thank you for sharing.
My pleasure! Thank you for stopping by to take a look at the book!
I shouldn’t have looked at this post in the morning. I’ve decided to have dessert for breakfast! (And I’m not letting the cats interfere.) Thanks for sharing- and congrats.
Hahaha! I think dessert for breakfast is a GREAT idea! 🙂
This is a sweet story to share with my nieces and nephews. I love the pugy mice and all the holiday treats. Those treats make me want to bake and eat of course, yum. Thank you, Della for a sweet holiday story.
It’s such a fun book, Janet! I think your nieces and nephews would love it!
Della here. Thanks so much for your kind words. I hope your nieces and nephews love it!
The cover looks good enough to eat! Oh my! Also a reminder that cookie-baking season begins (looking at clock) …. now!
I know, Sue! Right? Some for Thanksgiving and then down to serious business!
This book looks deliciously adorable!
It is exactly that, Cathy, and tons of fun besides!
this is just the light-hearted, sweet read the world needs right now!
So true, Robin! Along with yours next week! 🙂
This looks like such a charming story! To lift my spirits and treat my grandson and school children, I try to buy a picture book a month to give everyone a pep. This one definitely looks like my next pick! I can’t wait to get it before Christmas:)
It’s a great choice, Sharon! I think you and they will love it!
Della here! 🙂 I hope your little ones love it!
Oh wow, this is the perfect pb for the holidays and beyond! Rhyming books are always a favorite! 🐭
This one is great, Susan! Fun read-aloud rhyme, cute story, great art – an engaging read!
It is going on my Christmas wish list! 🎄
Della here! I love rhyming books, too! And I hope you get the chance to read THE MOUSE BUFFET to the little ones in your life! 🙂
Susanna, this is a gorgeous book! I adore the illustrations and those of us with a sweet tooth, this so enticing! I agree with your expert – the mice in the gingerbread house is my favorite, so far, too. Thank you for featuring it!
My pleasure, Maria! I hope you get to read and enjoy it!!! 🙂
The Mouse Buffet a Christmas Treat sounds delectable! I’m looking forward to reading it.
It is delightful, Jan! I think you will like it!!
Hi Jan. Della here! 🙂 I hope you enjoy The Mouse Buffet! It truly is a Christmas treat for kids!
Mice, Christmas, and yummy food — what a lovely combination for a picture book!
Hi Kathleen! Della here! I hope you get the chance to read it with the little ones in your life!