Senning and Post (both of the Emily Post Institute) continue their series on appropriate children’s manners with this holiday offering starring their signature character, a girl appropriately named Emily. She is an amazingly well-mannered child who loves the Christmas season and all the preparations for the holiday. The text focuses on the many ways that Emily helps others, firmly stating that such gifts of time and labor are as valuable as material presents. Emily is shown doing household chores, helping friends and family and assisting others that she has just met. On Christmas Eve, Emily leaves a polite and proper letter for Santa, and she receives her own thank-you note from Santa in return. While helping others and sending courteous notes are worthwhile objectives, the lessons in manners are delivered here in a heavy-handed way that will appeal more to grown-ups than children. Björkman’s amusing watercolor-and-ink illustrations in his characteristic, loose style have a light, frothy appeal, conveying the excitement and emotion of the season, but they aren’t enough to leaven the didactic text. (Picture book. 4-7)
