From Booklist
Ages 5-8. This sweet holiday tale, originally published in Switzerland, crosses cultural boundaries. Oliver, a poor boy, hears about Santa Claus for the first time and wonders why Santa has never brought him a present. Isn't he good enough? Eventually, he decides it's because he has never actually wished for anything. To remedy that, he writes Santa a note asking for a lamp for his mother and some mittens for himself, and attaches it to a red balloon. The balloon finds its way to a cranky old man whose heart melts when he reads the boy's touching note. The man adopts the boy and his mother, and all live together happily. Thickly brushed paint gives the joyful illustrations an intriguing texture that works equally well to depict the cold of winter or a balmy spring. Marta Segal
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Product Description
Oliver and his mother are very poor. Oliver has never had a visit from Santa Claus. Wasn't I good? wonders Oliver. Or maybe Santa never brought him a present because Oliver never wished for anything. When his friend brings him a red balloon from the fair, Oliver decides to let the wonderful balloon fly away, hoping it will carry his letter to Santa. Poor Oliver! The balloon never reaches the North Pole. It lands in grumpy old Nicholas's garden, which leads to a surprising, deeply satisfying outcome.
