Description While having a snowball fight in the forest, the field mice Guri and Gura discover a strange dent in the snow. It turns out to be a footprint! Following the trail of the giant footprint to find out who it belongs to, they end up right back at their own house. There are boots by the front door, and a red coat hanging on the wall. Who could it be? Just then, the delicious smell of castella cake wafts from the kitchen. "Merry Christmas!" Guri and Gura receive a wonderful Christmas gift from Santa Claus himself. They enjoy a joyful party with tasty castella cake and their wonderful friends. This book was selected by the former Japan School Library Association. Through the adorable field mice Guri and Gura, it playfully captures the exciting anticipation of meeting someone new. The fun idea that Santa Claus might be baking a cake in their very own house, along with its warm and cozy feeling, sparks children's curiosity and delight. The Guri and Gura series was first published in Japan in 1963 with "Guri and Gura's Bread Making," and has been beloved ever since. Much of its charm lies in the simple, adorable characters of Guri and Gura, whom children can easily draw themselves. The stories always end with a table full of delicious food and all the animals gathering together for a party, evoking warm, affectionate feelings and a childlike sense of wonder that fills readers with contentment. Author Rieko Nakagawa was born in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. After graduating from a Tokyo metropolitan high school, she worked as a nursery teacher while steadily creating works with a children's literature group. In 1962, she won numerous Japanese literary awards for "I Don't Want to Go to Kindergarten." Her works include "Guri and Gura's Bread Making," "Guri and Gura's Guest," and "Let's Play, Guri and Gura," published by Hanlim, among many others. Illustrator Yuriko Yamawaki was born in Tokyo, Japan, and graduated from Sophia University in Tokyo. Even as a senior in high school, she was already contributing illustrations to the magazine "Mother's Friend" (published by Fukuinkan). Working in partnership with her older sister, Rieko Nakagawa, she created many beautifully illustrated works. Her works include "Guri and Gura's Bread Making," "Guri and Gura's Guest," and "Let's Play, Guri and Gura," published by Hanlim, among many others, as well as "Guri and Gura's Swimming." Translator Ko Hyang-ok graduated from Duksung Women's University with a degree in Japanese Language and Literature, and studied Japanese language and culture at Nagoya University in Japan. She currently focuses on picture book research and translation. Her translated works include "The Little Goat Who Could Count to Ten."