I liked Santa Claus and the Dormouse so much that when I saw the library had another similar title by the same author, I assumed it was a sequel and reserved it. I finally got it, only to figure out that it is the same book published under another title.

It is still charming and I would recommend it wholeheartedly!

And I would love to see a sequel following what happens to the dormouse after it exits the wood in Santa's pocket at the end of this story.

I loved this cute little story about a Dormouse who wanted to meet Santa. The dormouse usually sleeps right through the winter and misses the visit of Santa Claus to the forest. This Christmas, the little dormouse had his forest friends help wake him so that he could meet Santa. I like the depiction of Santa Claus in these illustrations....he was a gentle, adorable Santa.

Eu am citit versiunea în limba română - "Trezirea, Somnorilă! A venit Moș Nicolae" - publicată de Editura Frontiera în 2024, tradusă din germană de Iulia Dromereschi.

Utterly boring with rather ugly illustrations. The dormouse wants to see Santa... Santa comes... and the dormouse is woken up by the animals in the forest so he gets to receive some food as present from Santa. Santa sounds like the forest ranger. There's nothing bad with the story except the fact that it is told in a very boring manner and the illustrations don't make it any more attractive.

The story was a little long and wordy, but leaves you with sweet feeling as we find a kind Santa making sure that each forest animal gets a special Christmas treat from Him, and that no one is forgotten.

Gus the dormouse lived by himself in an oak, and spent every winter in a deep hibernation. This year, however, he's determined to stay up and meet that legendary Christmas gift giver, Santa Claus. Awakened a number of times whilst it is still too early in the year, he sleeps on when Santa Claus finally does come to the wood. Fortunately, an owl who overheard him express his wish to stay up thinks to wake him up, and Gus does indeed get to meet Santa...

Originally published in Switzerland as Wach auf, Siebenschläfer, Sankt Nikolaus ist da, and first translated into English as Wake Up, Dormouse, Santa Claus Is Here, this lovely woodland holiday tale has been reprinted this year (2017) as Santa Claus and the Dormouse. I'm glad that it has, because Swiss author/artist Eleonore Schmid's gentle narrative and lovely artwork make for a beautiful picture-book. I liked the fact that Santa Claus is so gentle and loving to all the woodland creatures, and that they are at peace with one another, while he is there. The illustrations are beautiful, capturing the wonder of a wintry world, and the bright color that Santa brings to that world. Recommended to anyone looking for lovely Christmas stories featuring our wild animal friends.

"Every winter sleep overcomes Gus, the dormouse, and he misses Santa Claus's visit, but this year he is determined to stay awake."