Adding Holy Back Into the Holidays
💖 Why a Mouse?
When our kids were little, Christmas was all about what Santa was going to bring. We wanted to shift the focus toward doing things for others and Jesus— to remind them that Christmas is truly about kindness, helping others, and the little things that matter most.
We used inspiration from a 1970s childhood Christmas ornament that Bethany had growing up — a tiny mouse swinging in a hammock. That little ornament sparked the idea that became The Mouse in the Hammock.
It started out as a simple bedtime story.
“’Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house,
not a creature was stirring — EXCEPT one little mouse.”
Each night, we would ask our children, Riley and Cole, what the mouse could do to be helpful for others. And the story grew from their answers — all the small, thoughtful things they imagined the mouse doing: tucking Baby Jesus into the manger, setting out cocoa for Santa, and helping in quiet ways that often go unnoticed.
🌍 Mouse's Mission
The book is more than just a story — it’s a parable about how little things, done with great love, can have a huge impact.
In real life, that message continues:
- Every book sold helps support an orphanage in Haiti, where your purchases have helped donate over $20,000 in the last few years.
- Each handmade Mouse ornament is crafted in a fair-trade factory in Nepal, where women who were once living in poverty are taught a trade and given dignified work.
So when you share The Mouse in the Hammock with your family, you’re not just telling a story — you’re joining a community of people spreading kindness around the world, one small act at a time. 🐭✨
🙏 What is a "Pop of Jesus"
The Mouse in the Hammock began with a simple question — how can we get more Jesus into our children's lives, even just a little "pop" of Jesus...?. Our stories remind children (and grown-ups too!) that every season, every celebration, and every act of kindness can point back to Jesus.
We’re making a gentle but powerful pivot — turning away from the purely secular side of the holidays and putting a Pop of Jesus back into the celebration. It’s a refocus on why we celebrate, and who we’re truly celebrating.
Each book and ornament carries a simple truth — small acts of kindness shine God’s love in a big way.
A Pop of Jesus looks different in every season:
- 🎄 Christmas: Showing God’s love through small acts of kindness.
- 💖 Valentine’s Day: Simply being friendly and sharing love with others.
- 🌷 Easter: Choosing forgiveness and celebrating new life in Christ.
- 🎃 Halloween: Being the light in the darkness.
- 🦃 Thanksgiving: Practicing gratitude for even the littlest things.
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” — Matthew 19:14
Shop Mouse's Books
-
Halloween Tale Hardback 8x8 - FREE SHIPPING
Regular price $17.00 USDRegular price -
Valentine's Tale Hardback 8x8 - FREE SHIPPING
Regular price $17.00 USDRegular price -
Thanksgiving Tale Hardback 8x8 - FREE SHIPPING
Regular price $17.00 USDRegular price -
Easter Tale Hardback 8x8 - FREE SHIPPING
Regular price $17.00 USDRegular price
Let customers speak for us
“Of course, I forgive you,” says Easter Bunny sweetly. “Remember that Jesus forgives us completely.” Learn about forgiveness and the importance of asking for help in The Mouse in the Hammock: An Easter Tale by Bethany Brevard with art by Marcin Piwowarski.Easter is near and Mouse has decided that “instead of waiting around for the Easter Bunny,” he will take care of Easter all by himself. He decorates the eggs and hides them, then he carries out the palm branches and bakes the hot cross buns. He writes Easter cards, ties ribbons, and attempts to gather all the baby chicks. All the while, the Easter Bunny is offering his help, and Mouse keeps refusing! When Mouse realizes he is in over his head, will he be able to ask for help? And will Easter Bunny be willing to forgive Mouse for trying to do his job without him?The answer is… of course! When Mouse realizes he has broken eggs and Easter cards that say, “Merry Christmas,” he goes to the Easter Bunny and says: “I think I do need your help after all… I’m sorry for wanting to do your job and not letting you; I should have accepted your help.” The Easter Bunny is gracious and kind and tells him, “That’s okay. We all get things wrong sometimes… Even I have made mistakes and been forgiven.” The two work together to put things right, and Mouse learns that we should forgive others because Jesus forgave us.My 5-year-old daughter and I just adore The Mouse in the Hammock series. They are all about a little Mouse that likes to do big things for others. He is generous, kind, loving, and always puts others before himself. In this story though, he also discovers that it’s okay to ask for help. Once he does, he is unsure whether the Easter Bunny will forgive him. The Easter Bunny remembers Jesus and forgives Mouse immediately and completely. Both are wonderful lessons for kids of all ages. The illustrations are so fun and cute, and the additions of the poem and Bible verses complete this sweet little story.“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).
This is a sweet book that teaches values. My goal is to have the whole set.
“Little acts of friendship make a BIG difference.” In The Mouse in the Hammock: A Valentine’s Tale by Bethany Brevard with art by Marcin Piwowarski, mouse is on a mission to find creative ways to show his friends how much he loves them.“I can feel it. Love is in the air. And this can only mean one thing… Valentine’s Day is near!” Valentine’s Day is a busy time for mouse. “How can someone little like me show how BIG my heart is?” mouse wonders. He gets right to work, scurrying around the house, trying to find ways to show he cares. He finds scrap paper, a bear cookie, a toy car, a stuffed monkey, and many other items to hide around the house. Each item has a note, like a toy frog says: “You’re toad-ally awesome!” His friends love their little gifts. “For every smile, every laugh, every shriek of delight makes my heart feel BIGGER and BIGGER.” Will his friends help him discover what the greatest gift of all is?Mouse learns that while presents are a wonderful way to show others you care, being there for them is the greatest gift you could ever give them. “No notes, no candies, just me,” he realizes. This story serves as a wonderful reminder to all ages that being a good friend/neighbor is important because it’s important to God. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11).My daughter and I absolutely love The Mouse in the Hammock series! They are easy and enjoyable read alouds with adorable illustrations and important lessons from a biblical worldview. I highly recommend this holiday themed series that’s goal is to add Christ back into every holiday! Your kids will love this LITTLE selfless mouse who does BIG things for those he loves. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Very cute book for Valentine’s Day my kids love it and so did i. So sweet and a great explanation of Valentine’s Day.
Very cute book and my kids loved it. We read it multiple times and will read it more in the future.
Great fun story. Great illustration.
Time for another adventure with The Mouse in the Hammock! This time we follow him on Thanksgiving as he explores all there is to be thankful for through sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste. The Mouse in the Hammock: A Thanksgiving Tale by Bethany Brevard with art by Marcin Piwowarski gives thanks to God for all that is good! “It’s not about things, but family and friends, opening our hearts, and joining hands.”It's Thanksgiving Day! Mouse runs to the window, but his friends are already there. They are looking out the window at the other children, wishing they had shiny bikes and scooters too. This gives Mouse an idea! He will use his senses to find things that his friends already possess to show them that they already have a lot to be thankful for. He will use his sight to find a friend, his nose to smell grandma’s pumpkin pie, and his taste for that yummy turkey leg that has fallen under the table. Don’t forget Mouse’s soft and furry friend, Bear, and the laughter he hears from the family room where everyone is playing together.Once the family is gathered around the table, it’s Mouse’s big moment! When he displays his parade of items, will his friends recognize all the things they already have to be thankful for? “Because, in the end, it’s the little things that make us HUGELY thankful.”My 4-year-old daughter and I both love this clever little Mouse, for “he never had a doubt, he knows what Thanksgiving is really about.” I like that this book looks beyond the thanksgiving meal, and even beyond all the “things” we have to be grateful for. As the family gathers round the table, they say prayers of thanksgiving and rejoice in the love of God, family, and friends. This is what they have to give thanks for, and “it’s this simple truth, that Mouse understood.”The simple text and adorable illustrations make this series a fun read aloud, perfect for ages 4-8. The poem and Bible verses at the end are wonderful additions to this sweet tale. This story has a great message, but as a bonus, they will also learn about their five senses. “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” -Psalm 34:8
A cute little book about being thankful for what you have. Great for Thanksgiving. PSA: It does contain some bible verses at the end of the book.
I love that she is a Christian author with a very creative imagination; perfect for kids!
This is a wonderful book with excellent illustrations and message!
Reading to Kindergarten classes
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” -John 1:5 In The Mouse in the Hammock: A Halloween Tale by Bethany Brevard with illustrations by Marcin Piwowarski, Mouse discovers how a little bit of light can make all the difference, even on spooky Halloween.It’s October 31! Halloween is here and Mouse has no time to waste; he must find the perfect costume! A pirate? Dinosaur? Or maybe a firefighter? No, none of these is perfect. “I look left, I look right, I look up, I look down, then suddenly… AAAAAAAAAH!!!” Does Mouse see a ghost? CLICK! goes the light. No, silly mouse, it’s an old sock. Mouse is “grateful for the LIGHT that shines in the darkness.” As Mouse continues his search, he thinks he sees snakes, bats, monsters, and dragons, but once a little bit of light shines, he realizes there is nothing scary at all! Hmm… could Mouse use all these things he’s finding in the light to piece together the perfect costume?My daughter and I had a BLAST reading this book. With the repetition, adorable illustrations, and sweet message; it’s a great story for ages 4-8. My daughter has been extra sensitive to spooky things this Halloween season, and this book did a wonderful job of showing her that there is nothing to fear. “Because one thing I’ve learned is that a little bit of light overcomes the darkness. And maybe, just maybe, that light was inside me all along, to shine wherever I go.” I love how this book tied it all back to being a light for Christ; that includes on Halloween.This book includes Bible verses at the end, a poem version of the story, and details on the rest of the series! The author’s goal is to put Christ back into every holiday and family tradition. She definitely accomplished that with this fun tale, and I look forward to reading the rest.Wherever Mouse goes, he can offer light! Just like you and me.
Bought for our grandsons as a gift. They enjoy the books.