A young mouse refuses to go to sleep. "Go to bed," whispers the cat. "It's the night before Christmas." But, despite the unseen narrator's assertion that "not a creature was stirring," wide-eyed, big-eared Mouse is far too exuberant to snooze. He proceeds to ride a tricycle around the tree, crack nuts, and nibble cookies. Tiny vignettes depicting his Yuletide antics are followed by a full-page spread in which Mouse rushes out onto a snow-filled street with a full marching band. As he makes merry, everyone--from the house to the city to the whole world--exhorts him to "GO TO BED." So he does...but not for long. He just can't sleep! Hopping aboard the Christmas train, he crashes into Santa himself! Can Santa convince our hero to finally head to bed.