The Mouse and His Child by Russell Hoban

A classic story for readers from Grade 4 right through to adult, The Mouse and His Child offers adventure, comedy, and deep psychological insights into the human condition. It is the story of two wind-up toys, a father and son with a tender relationship and a strong desire to have a home of their own. Literary references, as to poetry by Keats, (the glass eyes of the fish lures, "staring in wild surmise") are an example of the way this tale can be enjoyed on many levels. Charming pencil and ink illustrations by David Small in the Arthur Levine 2001 edition update the original, which was first published in 1967. Since the book begins and ends at Christmas time, this is a perfect choice for family holiday reading.