Strong stylized illustrations--the figures standing like wood carvings against the deep brown verticals of winter trees or the gay patterns of peasant decoration--give a somewhat misleading solidity to what is essentially a feeble variation of the animals' Christmas. Great Wolf, who sometimes regrets the strength that sets him apart from the other animals, assists them in bringing help to the injured Woodsman on Christmas and is welcomed to the feast he sets out. ""It is a happy day for us all,"" the Good Woodsman says. ""We all have good things in us and today, Great Wolf has had the opportunity to show us how really great he is."" Even without his reminder, the point is obvious from the start, and the whole is a sheep in wolf's clothing.