Christmas Eve Magic - Softcover

Stéphane Poulin is a children's book illustrator and artist. He has won both the Governor General's Award and the Mr. Christie's Book Award for his work. He lives in Montreal, Quebec.

Grade 1-5–Another Christmas, another A Christmas Carol, this version stars animals in Victorian garb. Barton the pig, the rich orphan living in the mansion on the hill, hates Christmas because it reminds him of the parents he lost. He has plenty of toys and servants who obviously care for him, but he's turned into a miserly brat. Then one night he's visited by a magical mouse that shrinks him down to mouse size and takes him on a whirlwind tour of Christmas Eve past, present, and future. Needless to say, when Barton is faced with the possible consequences of his own miserliness, he wakes up and decides it's time to make a change. He invites the orphans to celebrate with him and his servants, and later joins them in their caroling. Poulin's oil-on-canvas illustrations are richly colored and lovingly detailed, his animal characters almost too charming. There's nothing new here, but it is an attractive package, and certainly simplifies a classic tale for young readers.–Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library
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