A Christmas Gift for Mama
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Happy together
REVIEW BY ALICE CARY In contrast, A Christmas Gift for Mama is a longer story, a holiday treat that's perfect for a relaxed period of reading. Inspired by the timeless O. Henry story "The Gift of the Magi," Lauren Thompson's delightful tale also has the spirit of Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden. Young Grace lives with her mother in a dilapidated city apartment during the 1930s. Just a year before, they had lived an opulent life, with Grace attending boarding school. Her father, however, died suddenly, leaving Grace and her mother with a mountain of debt and no means of support. Now they have nothing but each other and a beloved souvenir or two from the past. Grace treasures her doll Penny, but decides to trade her in when she spots a china figurine that she knows her mother will love. Meanwhile, Grace's mother secretly arranges to have a beautiful dress made for Penny. Although their gifts go awry, mother and daughter still have a merry Christmas. Thompson's language is stately, as is her story. She's written a beautiful tale of love, generosity and hope. With sophisticated themes and a mature story line, the book is appropriate for advanced readers. Keep in mind that the plot hinges on a father's death, so make sure young readers are prepared for this detail. Superb illustrations with an old-fashioned patina, Jim Burke's oil paintings complete this holiday package beautifully. Each page is elegantly outlined by a lush border, and every illustration has a caption. We see Grace's luxurious life before her father's death, when her parents threw a Christmas ball and her tuxedoed father danced with her mother. "I'm happiest when we are together," said Papa. "That's all we need to be happy, isn't it?" Of course it is, and Grace and her mother learn to go on together without him in this melancholy yet heartwarming tale. The story ends on Christmas Eve as mother and daughter rejoice in each other's love and generosity, and they dance the "Blue Danube Waltz" together, just as Grace's parents had done the year before. It's obvious that Grace and her mother will persevere and find happiness despite their unspeakable loss, and these are wonderful lessons to learn during the Christmas season. Share the fine story and artwork of this love-filled tale with your little one, then cap it off with the whimsy of Hilary Knight's Christmas Stocking Story. You'll have the holidays all wrapped up. Alice Cary writes from Groton, Massachusetts.
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