HOLLY'S CHRISTMAS EVE

Three tree ornaments—Cloth Bear, Tin Horse and a tiny doll named Holly—have a Christmas Eve adventure when a rambunctious house pet (Bad Cat) swats off Holly's arm. The arm is eventually rescued by the brave trio, who then hurry back to their places just in time for Santa to arrive and reattach it. The sturdy simplicity of Watson's folksy yet radiant art, rendered in the ink-and-acrylics style of her work for Rabbit Moon, relies on the expert use of color to evoke a sense of holiday magic. Ages 3-8. (Oct.)