Christmas Eve Magic

The ghosts of classics past float through Papineau's (No Spots for Gilda the Giraffe! ) paper-over-board homage to Dickens, starring a greedy, bitter pig who visits holidays past, present and future courtesy of a magical mouse specter in a nightshirt. When wealthy, reclusive young Barton, a pill of a porker who hates Christmas, is shown the error of his Scrooge-ish ways, the ragamuffin orphans of the town soon bask in Barton's newfound benevolence. Poulin's (Earth to Audrey ) dark, textured oils evoke Dickensian-era flavor, while the all-animal cast offers new delights. Ages 4-8. (Aug.)