Candle for Christmas

Tomas wakes up at Nurse Roberta's, puts on his moccasins and makes his way to the kitchen for breakfast. It's the last day of school before Christmas. His parents left the reservation two weeks earlier for the cattle range but promised to be back in time to celebrate the holiday. Tomas wraps presents with Nurse, then the two go out to his parents' cabin, carrying a box of ornaments and a tree. Nurse is called out to tend a sick child. Tomas stays behind, chops wood by the light of a candle in a jar. He spends some time by the shining tree then goes to sleep and dreams that the candle grows tall enough to light his parents' way home. A thoughtful Christmas story, though some of the magic fades with over-explanation at the end. Blades's snowy hills, lighted windows and snowflake specks set moods of frostiness and warmth. Ages 5-9. (August)