Angel Pig and the Hidden Christmas

Sulking at the realization that they have no money to buy "jeans and sneakers with fancy brand names, / And TVs and CDs and video games," a family of pigs thinks Christmas is doomed. But when an angel pig appears, hovering above the blue chair, shoelace untied, she has some wisdom to offer that may just turn the holiday around for the materialistic swine.

"Angel Pig's message was simple and clear: The magic of Christmas was merrily near."

Soon the piggies are acting on the angelic oinker's words, making paper chains and pencil holders, shiny stars and butterscotch reindeer, and discovering that "the best giving is done with your heart."

The message may not be new, but Jan L. Waldron's refreshing rhyming story with beloved illustrator David McPhail's (Pigs Aplenty, Pigs Galore!, etc.) expressive pigs and chaotic decorating scenes, brings a whole new buoyancy to the sentiment. Next Christmas forget about gifts of gewgaws and morphing mega-superheroes; how about a good old-fashioned picture book and a butterscotch reindeer instead! (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter