The Christmas Box

The anticipatory airs of the holiday are visible in Small's lovely, full-color pictures of the outside and the festively decorated indoors of a house on Christmas morning. Grandparents, parents, children, their aunt and Whiskers the cat rush downstairs to the room where a fat, ornament-laden evergreen is crowned by a blazing star. The family can't wait to see who opens presents first. But everyone is stopped by the sight of only one, very skinny, amazingly long box. The baby pulls the ribbon on the box and the lid falls off to reveal a surprise gift for each member of the family. The distinguished poet Merriam creates a lyrical, amusing and different kind of Yuletide entertainment that will add to the joys of Christmas this year, and for Christmases to come. (48)