Skip to content 
- from the perspective of a child, we learn a story of how a certain Christmas tradition might have come to be
- fun, unusual vocabulary: auty-mobile, holler (hollow), laurel, rhododendron, craigs, etc.
- convo: “the old woman in the sky” is mentioned, misconstrues certain Christian elements*
- illustrations hold several simple charms
Type: picture book
Ages: 4-8
Author: Gloria Houston
Illustrator: Barbara Cooney
*First, note that the people came to church on Christmas Eve “to celebrate the Christmas tree.” During part of the service (mostly a Christmas play by children), Santa enters the scene with the wise men and gives all the deacons a lump of coal or a willow switch (indicating they had been naughty–the joke seemed entirely out of place in a church service). After the preacher said the benediction, “St. Nicholas” wishes everyone a happy Christmas.
Several parts of this story are sweet, but too many odd things overpowered the good. It wasn’t a hit for us.
