THE CHRISTMAS SNOW GLOBE

Dreaming of a white Christmas pays off big time for siblings.

Lucy and her brother, Noah, have spent Christmas Eve by the window waiting for snow, to no avail. “Christmas won’t be the same without snow,” Lucy says sadly. To help alleviate their disappointment, Papa lets Lucy open one present: It’s a snow globe. The house inside resembles their own, Mama points out—except for the snow. But Christmas is a time for miracles—and one occurs when the children take the glassy orb to their room at bedtime and Lucy shakes it. Suddenly, snow’s falling in the room—and all over the house! Not wanting to waste a flake, the kids jump into high gear, building a snowman, donning snow gear, sliding down a snowy banister, eating “snow sundaes,” lapping up snowflakes on their tongues, and, naturally, having a snowball fight—all indoors. Then suddenly, Lucy hears Mama calling for her to wake up. It’s Christmas morning, and guess what? Mama and Papa are standing outside, inviting the children to come enjoy all the snow that really fell during the night. Translated from French, this lovely story sparkles with the magic of Christmas and children’s imaginations and celebrates family togetherness. The charming illustrations, created in a limited palette with graphite pencil and colored pencil, are as soft, gentle, and lush as newly fallen snow. The family is light-skinned.

It’s as clear as crystal: Keep this one prominently displayed every Christmas season.