A little preschool-age girl prepares for Christmas as her adoring lamb toy watches in this sweet story first published in Australia.
The text follows a pattern of two activities that lead to a reassuring, repeated refrain: “When you wrap your gifts / When you tie the bows / That’s when I love you.” The lamb toy watches in smiling silence as the little girl makes cookies, decorates the tree, sings and dances to Christmas music and makes cards. She tosses and turns trying to get to sleep on Christmas Eve (with the lamb next to her in bed). On Christmas morning, readers see that the cookies, the card and the wrapped presents are all for the lamb. On one of the last pages (“when you lift me high”), the girl holds up the lamb, who is wearing a new scarf and hat. Adult readers will see that the loving relationship between the child and her lamb is symbolic of that between parent and child. Charming, simple illustrations with minimal backgrounds suit the nature of the story.
A pleasing story for preschoolers to enjoy with a favorite stuffed animal and a Christmas cookie. (Picture book. 2-5)
