Product Description

Lucy Wells likes planning ahead. In her quaint New England town the leaves have just begun to change, but Lucy is already thinking of Christmas. She begins to make presents for her family: a pincushion for Mother, a doll for her sister, and a pen-wiper for her best friend. For the whole family, her parents have ordered a new modern range stove. The days grow colder and shorter, the snow grows deeper, and everyone grows more excited. Finally, the day arrives! Lucy and her family travel to the South Danbury Church to exchange gifts, sing carols with the whole town, and perform in the Christmas pageant.

Set at the turn of the twentieth century, richly illustrated with colored engravings by Michael McCurdy, the masterful Hall has painted a scene of a classic New England Christmas, based on the childhood stories of his own mother.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1233249 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 72
• Binding: Paperback
• 32 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Hall (Ox-Cart Man) and McCurdy (An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving) serve up a New England Christmas at the turn of the century-complete with hand-crafted presents, horse-drawn sleighs and a rousing community church service. Young Lucy takes great care preparing thoughtful gifts for her family, but even more anticipation surrounds the new Glenwood Kitchen Range that Lucy's parent's have ordered from the Sears Roebuck catalogue. Hall's generously descriptive text is infused with nostalgia and warmth (an author's note explains his personal connection to the characters). McCurdy's colored scratchboard drawings brim with rustic detail and are particularly fluid and expressive for artwork in this medium. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Ages 5-8. Set in 1909, this story follows a New England family through one late summer, autumn, and Christmas. While the events aren't dramatic, children may find the series of incidents and the details of daily life intriguing: the arrival of a new stove, the making of handmade gifts, and the community celebration of Christmas. Inspired by stories about the author's family home and relatives, the text reads like a smoothly written reminiscence--warmly felt, but lacking narrative tension. The tinted scratchboard illustrations have a distinctive, old-fashioned air that reflects the tone of the narrative. Recommended for larger collections, particularly those in New England. Carolyn Phelan

Review

Customer Reviews

My kids love this book year-round
Starting with the beginning of school in the fall, this wonderful book based on the life of the author's grandmother, take us through a rural family preparing for the celebration of Christmas in simple ways - making presents from scraps of fabric and sheep's wool saved through the year; rehearsal for the Christmas play with homemade costumes, and a surprise gift for the daughter who is so enthralled with the new cast iron stove in the kitchen. My girls (3 and 5) ask to have this read year-round. In an age of such materialism, this is a welcome story of a simpler life. The woodcut prints are just the right accompaniment to this story.