This Is Christmas

Nature and kinship anchor this story, a dialogue between a curious young chipmunk and his mother. Asked by her child what Christmas is, the mother responds, “Christmas is many things, little one,” and throws the question back to him: “What do you think it means?” Observing a badger decorating his burrow with berries, a family of beetles carrying grass-wrapped gifts on their backs, and geese singing carols overhead, the chipmunk asks, “Is that Christmas?” Each time, her reply is the same: “That’s part of it.” He finally finds his answer on Christmas morning, when he awakens to newly fallen snow and animals cavorting and singing as one. Arriving cardinals bring splashes of cheering scarlet to stylized art by Booth (Don’t Tell!), offering an agreeable complement to this open-ended story of a joyful community celebrating the holiday. Ages 4–8. [em](Sept.) [/em]