This is a cute little story about a mouse who is abandoned by his mouse family, including his mother. Noteven is an odd little mouse...different from his brothers and sisters. After being left alone by his family, Noteven decides that it is his fate to become caretaker of the house. Being that the house is not occupied by anyone, it's easy to maintain, although Noteven is a very particular mouse. Sometime around Christmas, a family arrives at the house and the quiet neat little house becomes loud and messy. Noteven continues to clean the house but it is a bit harder for him with the humans around. While Noteven wishes that the family would notice that he was there, he realizes that they are humans after all and probably not ready to admit that a mouse is taking care of their house. One night after his chores are done, Noteven returns to his hole and discovers that the sock he had been using for his bed was missing. Disappointed, he tries to get some sleep anyway. He can't sleep, however, because the family is making too much noise. Noteven decides to find out what all the noise is about and sneaks from his hole to the living room where the family is singing and laughing. As Noteven is counting the people and the stockings hung by the chimney, he discovers there is an extra stocking. Could it be his? If you can find this book I reccomend it highly. I bought this story when it was published in 1982 and my oldest child was 4. He is now 22 and my youngest is 14. We all still enjoy reading and hearing the story of Noteven. It's a Christmas Eve tradition in our home. Make this heart-warming story part of your holiday tradition.

This is an eye-opening, basic primer on the various views of resurrection among the early Christians: was there a spiritual or fleshly resurrection and why? The views of Jesus, Paul, and the Gospel of Thomas (spiritual resurrection) are contrasted with the position of the Gospels of John and Luke and Ignatius of Antioch (fleshly resurrection). Chapter One is a must!