(3) K-3 Illustrated by Feridun Oral. On Christmas Eve day, a rabbit hears a "whisper" in the snow; it turns out to be a teddy bear. The rabbit and his animal friends spend this compassion-cultivating book strategizing about how to find the child who has lost his or her beloved toy bear. Oral's meticulous art calls to mind Beatrix Potter with a snow-dusting of Jan Brett.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Feridun Oral. An owl describes how Baby Jesus bestowed upon the birds a "special song of blessing, of joy and good will." "'Why don't we sing it anymore?' asked the robin. 'People don't listen,' said the partridge." The birds decide to restore their song's hope and promise by singing to children. In this small-trim edition, delicate naturalistic illustrations capture the hush of winter and the transformative power of love.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2017

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Robert Ingpen. Bored Willow is visited by Tally, a white-bearded character, who convinces her that, thanks to the imagination, a book has more than one story. The accomplished painterly art, featuring a flying horse, reflects this promising if message-y premise. Alas, Willow sounds as though she's reading lines that the plot requires ("Please, tell me more about the book inside the book").

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Eve Tharlet. Fawn Clara hears distant bells and tromps through the forest to investigate. Other woodland animals join her, and they eventually pool their scant food to have a Christmas party, complete with tree decorated by donkey Osgood (source of the bells). This long-winded story about sharing offers some gentle suspense but has problems with logic. Soft illustrations suit the snowy forest scene.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian