Amazon Sets Holiday Specials for U.S. & U.K.

SEATTLE: Amazon Studios has slated original kids’ holiday programming to premiere on November 25 on Prime Video in the U.S. and U.K., including the specials If You Give a Mouse a Christmas Cookie and Ezra Jack Keats’ The Snowy Day, narrated by Laurence Fishburne.

The animated special If You Give a Mouse a Christmas Cookie is based on the classic book series written by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond. Amazon Prime Video has also lined up Ezra Jack Keats’ The Snowy Day and An American Girl Story—Maryellen 1955: Extraordinary Christmas, as well as existing holiday episodes of Creative Galaxy and Tumble Leaf.

If You Give a Mouse a Christmas Cookie sees Mouse and his animal friends celebrating the holidays with caroling, cookies and a nearly destroyed holiday pageant. The special features an original song, “Christmas Cookie Song,” by Lisa Loeb, available exclusively on Amazon Music for download and streaming on November 25.

Ezra Jack Keats’ The Snowy Day is based on the award-winning book. The animated holiday special follows Peter, a young boy in a red snowsuit, whose mother sends him on an adventure to Nana’s house to retrieve their traditional Christmas mac and cheese dinner. It is narrated by Fishburne and showcases the voices of Regina King, Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Angela Bassett. The program also features “Snowy Day,” an original song by Boyz II Men, available exclusively on Amazon Music for download and streaming on November 25.

An American Girl Story—Maryellen 1955: Extraordinary Christmas, meanwhile, is the second collaboration between American Girl and Amazon. It is based on American Girl’s previously launched BeForever character Maryellen Larkin. The special is set during Christmas 1955 in Daytona Beach, Florida, where middle child Maryellen dreams of standing out in her big, busy family. It features an original song titled “Christmas and Everyday” by Best Coast, which will be available exclusively on Amazon Music for download and streaming on November 25.

“We are so excited to bring our customers our first-ever holiday lineup of specials this season, with If You Give a Mouse a Christmas Cookie and The Snowy Day based on beloved children’s books that highlight strong bonds between friends and families,” said Tara Sorensen, the head of kids’ programming at Amazon Studios. “It’s what the holidays are all about. The American Girl Maryellen special is an inspiring feel-good story that will surely become a holiday family favorite for our customers.”