The True Gift: A Christmas Story

by Patricia MacLachlan

New York: Atheneum, 2009. 81 pgs. Juvenile Fiction.

The incomparable Patricia MacLachlan (Sarah, Plain and Tall) and the incomparable Brian Floca (Moonshot, et. al.) have combined their talents in this quiet little story about a child's gift to a lonely animal. Lily and Liam spend the week before Christmas each year with their grandparents reading books, eating Grandma's pie, shopping for gifts, walking to the "lilac library," but this year something is different. White Cow stands alone and lonesome in the pasture and Liam can't rest until she has company for Christmas. At first Lily resists because she wants Christmas to just be happy like it always is and not worrisome, but in the end she helps Liam in his plan to find someone for White Cow, and the two children bless not only this friendly beast, but everyone else as well. Just lovely.

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