The anticipatory atmosphere of the Christmas season is deftly explored in this unusual view of the holiday by a talented author-and-illustrator team. Evocative paintings with bold strokes and an Impressionistic flavor provide an atmospheric window into the life of a farm family as it prepares for the holiday. The farm animals also feel a sense of growing anticipation that a special event is about to occur, and the concluding Christmas surprise is a newborn colt. The muted colors and quality of Hallensleben’s illustrations create a dreamlike feeling, matched by the quiet, lyrical text, with its simple, repeated refrains that create a mounting sense of mysterious expectation. Few Christmas stories meld both the Santa and Nativity aspects of the holiday, but this effort succeeds admirably with both memorable art and a satisfying story. (Picture book. 3-6)
