Synopsis
Emily knows there's Christmas magic in the air when she slips out of bed and is greeted by a wild and enchanting scene: her pets are singing "Jingle Bells;" presents are flying around a spinning Christmas tree; mice are baking Christmas pies! And out the window, the snow-people Emily and her new neighbor built have come to life and are dancing together over the moonlit snow. Infused with warmth and mysterious action, Michael Garland's stunning illustrations and fanciful text are a joyful reminder of the true magic of Christmas.
Publishers Weekly
Magical merriment breaks out at Emily's house on Christmas Eve, when she sneaks out of bed to discover singing pets, a chorus line of stockings and a snowman and snowwoman dancing on the front lawn. The story line is a bit of fluff, but the real point here is Garland's (The Mouse Before Christmas) artwork. Exterior scenes fare best (notably a lilac sunrise seen through a stand of skeletal trees) while the interiors, with their surreal juxtaposition of objects and oddly flattened perspectives, are not as compelling. Ages 3-8. (Sept.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.