THE STAR OF MELVIN

Sentimental Christmas stories always have a broad appeal, even if they have only limited literary merit. This slight, cute book is no exception. Melvin is the angel equivalent of a street sweeper, dreaming of being a star polisher. When is dream comes true, he does so well that his star is chosen as the star of Bethlehem. The predominantly cloud-white and night-sky blue illustrations set off the little redheaded angel, and the design emphasizes how tiny he is and how willing to work hard at his lowly task. A pleasant variation on The Little Angel, although it is neither original nm particularly well written.