ISBN 1550660047 – Since I just reviewed ISBN:1550660012 A Christmas Carol (The Madison Mini Book), another book in the Christmas series from Amoco (yes, oil), I wasn't too enthusiastic about this one. I'm happily surprised to find it surpassed my expectations. Kenneth Grahame's Mole and Rat are 100 years old and they are, as always, timeless.

Mole and Rat are hurrying home when Mole smells his old home. Calling eagerly to Rat to stop, Mole is saddened when Rat ignores him and hurries on. His friend Rat and their friendship is very important to Mole, so he follows along after Rat until they pause to rest. No longer able to hold it in, Mole begins to sob. Rat finds out what the problem is and insists that they turn around and go back to find Mole's old home. Once there, Mole is embarrassed by the shabbiness of the home he once lived in but Rat restores order and insists that they will spend the night. A cheerful note is introduced when carolers stop to sing and update Mole on the news of his former neighbors.

Not especially a Christmas story, the holiday isn't even mentioned until page 17, when the carolers arrive. Mole's happiness to spend a little time in his former home and Rat's excitement to visit the place and set it right so that they can be there in comfort adds up to a great friendship message. The last page, with a small amount of information about Grahame, is a nice touch but hardly likely to be interesting to children. Worth a spot in my Christmas collection!

- AnnaLovesBooks ( )