ONE CHRISTMAS IN OUR BUILDING

All’s well that ends well on Christmas.

On Christmas Eve, young Emma excitedly anticipates presents and turkey. Tensions mount as Dad and stepmom Susan disagree over when Emma should see the gifts under the tree. It doesn’t help that the turkey Dad bought doesn’t fit in Susan’s roasting pan or the fridge. Deciding to wait until Christmas morning to borrow a bigger pan from neighbors, Susan stores the turkey overnight in the cool hallway outside their apartment. Next morning, it’s gone! Emma suggests eating spaghetti, but Dad and Susan decide to call on the neighbors to investigate—except for the man who lives on the top floor and never speaks to anyone. No one’s seen the turkey, but everyone’s concerned. The quest is hopeless, and stores are shuttered; it seems spaghetti will be their Christmas fare after all. But then, all the neighbors show up with food offerings and join Emma and the family at their table; afterward, everyone laughs, sings, and plays games in a spirit of rejoicing, symbolizing the true meaning of Christmas. With touches of humor, this charming story, translated from German, underplays holiday trappings and emphasizes kindness and cooperation. The delightful illustrations were created with pencils and colored digitally. Emma and her parents are pale-skinned; the neighbors are racially, ethnically, and age diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A sweet, winning Yuletide offering.