Customer Reviews

Four Friends at Christmas

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Tomie dePaola has won the hearts of countless youngsters with his endearing illustrations and pictures. Now, adults who enjoyed him as a child are enthusiastically sharing his books with their own children. That might well be the case with FOUR FRIENDS AT CHRISTMAS, which was first published some 30 years ago as the chapter entitled "Winter" in Four Stories for Four Seasons." Rereading and enjoying this edition reminds one of the timelessness of dePaola's work. FOUR FRIENDS AT CHRISTMAS is as fresh today as it was when first published because it is a story of friendship and love.

Our story opens as the Christmas holidays near and most animals are preparing for it, but not Mister Frog. "Mister Frog always slept right through the winter. Most frogs do." However, Mister Frog's three friends had always told him how wonderful it was to celebrate the Christmas holidays so this year Mister Frog decided he would stay awake and join the festivities.

He did manage to stay awake all through November, which was quite a chore for him. He had kept busy making plans because after all this was to be his first Christmas and he wanted everything to be absolutely perfect. Planning turned out to be quite tiring so he decided he'd take a small nap before going shopping. Then, before he knew it he heard church bells ringing. Oh-oh, could he have overslept and will he miss another Christmas?

Suggested for youngsters ages 3-6, FOUR FRIENDS AT CHRISTMAS will warm hearts both young and old.

- Gail Cooke

Typical of Tomie dePaola, a sweet, short story about friends and Christmas. Typical also, are the beautiful illustrations.

Such a sweet Christmas story! It's a wonderful book for the season. And funny!