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ONE ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS by Colleen Charleston

ONE ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS

A Little Souls Tale

by Colleen Charleston & illustrated by Sally Onopa

Pub Date: Sept. 1st, 2001
ISBN: 0-525-46786-6
Publisher: Dutton

Two creative sisters and their niece are the stars of this tale of red velvet curtains, pocket treasures, and giving. Francesca and Tori are talented women—a dressmaker and a hatmaker whose creations are known throughout the city. Isa loves to visit her aunts—their workshop is a fantastic place to play. Isa especially enjoys wrapping herself in the huge red velvet drapes and giving way to her imagination. On Christmas Eve, the aunts decide to replace the curtains and make a very special hat and coat for Isa out of the old red velvet ones—special, because they are made with “the fabric of your dreams.” Over the years, Isa imagines the coat to be many different things, and adds her treasures to its pockets, causing the coat to grow. Finally, on another Christmas Eve, a flustered old man comes to the sisters in need of a new velvet coat and hat. It is too late for the sisters to sew something, but perhaps Isa has the solution. Readers can enjoy the feel of Isa’s curtains—red velvet is used on the binding and the ribbons that tie the book closed. The back endpaper also features a moon-shaped pocket that holds the note Isa tucked into the jolly old man’s coat. The illustrations perfectly render the creative jumble of wonderful stuff that is the home of Isa’s busy aunts. The combination of photos and rich-colored drawings seems right at home in this workshop setting. A delightful new twist on Christmas giving. (Picture book. 5-8)