THE LOST GIFT

Four animal friends find a lost package that fell from Santa’s sleigh, and by working together, they deliver the package for Santa.

Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer, and Bird wait on a hilltop to see Santa fly by on Christmas Eve. The errant package falls into the snow, and the animals find a tag on the gift indicating the present is for the new baby at the farm nearby. They decide to build a sleigh to transport the present to the farm, and with much effort, they manage to deliver the package to its proper destination. The blonde, white baby is brought out on the porch by her young father, also white, to retrieve the gift. The animals peek in the window to see the baby playing with her new rattle, and she smiles at them while they watch. The animals trek back to their forest, where they find another wrapped package in the snow—a Christmas cake from Santa for his helpers. In a lovely conclusion, the four friends enjoy their cake together as the sun rises on Christmas morning. The little animals are a charming group, each displaying a specific personality trait that contributes to the group’s dynamics. Captivating illustrations use pencil-and-ink washes to create a delicate atmosphere of snow-covered trees, midnight-blue skies, and shadows in snowy fields.

A delightful, quiet story with a subtle theme of giving to others as a gift in itself.