A Very Quacky Christmas

PreS-Gr 2–Perhaps everyone owes a debt of gratitude to that one persistent and energetic friend who creates happiness for others through the force of good will. Samantha the farm duck wants to celebrate Christmas despite Sebastian the turtle’s admonition that “Christmas is not for animals.” Sebastian is a good friend, so together they make the case to each farm animal. From the freely given bounty of wool, eggs, and flowers they all manage to knit, bake, and weave gifts for animals all over the world. Come Christmas Eve, a borrowed donkey cart is packed and readied for the delivery trip. Sebastian pulls and Samantha flaps, but it looks as if the cart is going nowhere. Even more than giving and sharing, it takes faith to make Christmas happen, and Sebastian finally has some. Duck, turtle, and cart rise into the sky to give animals their first Christmas with their own version of Santa’s sleigh. Delightful watercolors in a loosely sketched style evoke the sweet animal friendships and emotions, while the text, mostly in dialogue, has a simple eloquence.