Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
The Attic Christmas
Illustrator: Dan Andreasen
Picture Book
For ages 3 to 6
Penguin, 2004 ISBN: 978-0399234972
For years and years, on the weekend after Thanksgiving, the people in Lily's house have begun their Christmas preparations. The ornaments in the green and white box in the attic always know when they are about to be brought out and hung on the tree and they wait anxiously for that time. They love Christmas and each one has his or her memories of Christmases past in Lily?s house.
This year though the ornaments wait and wait and wait, and yet no one comes to get them. Lily is not there and without Lily there will be no tree, no presents and no Santa. "Without Lily there will be no Christmas at all." What are the ornaments to do?
Together the ornaments; Mr. Macaroni, Santa, Skier, Special Delivery, Silver Bell, Angel and Camel, come up with an idea. They try to have a Christmas celebration in the attic by themselves but they all feel that it is not the same when there is not a family to make the celebration special. If only someone would come to Lily's house again.
Told from the point of view of some Christmas ornaments, this delightful story goes a long way to show its readers that there is something indefinable about Christmas that does not come in a box or from a store. There is something that only family can give to the special day, which makes everything feel right and complete. Dan Andreasen beautifully captures the sentiment in the text and gives the ornaments true and loveable characters.
