The holidays typically have been a time for theater and dance companies to put forward their most family-friendly fare. Salt Lake Acting Company held out for years—until last season’s production of Go, Dog, Go! offered a uniquely SLAC spin on this December tradition.

A much-loved children’s book again provides the inspiration with 2010’s production of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Laura Numeroff’s illustrated yarn follows what happens when a boy (Michael Gardner) and his rodent friend (Dustin Bolt) find their holiday playing and decorating taking off in stream-of-consciousness directions. Director Penelope Caywood oversees Jody Davidson’s stage adaptation, which spins those adventures into real life—and, potentially, real effects on audiences: SLAC will be offering seven free performances for Title-1 schoolchildren, plus additional discounted performances and educational outreach. That’s a holiday tradition we can all get behind.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie @ Salt Lake Acting Company, 168 W. 500 North, 801-363-7522, Dec. 3–26, $10-$25. SaltLakeActingCompany.org