Rich illustrations tell the story of a young girl searching for a gift for her baby brother on a snowy Christmas Eve, in a book adorned with red foil type and embossed snowflakes.
In a dark, snowy town, a little girl struggles to find a present for "a special person." Then, on a shabby street, she discovers a toy shop that nearly explodes with fantastical playthings. The girl is dismayed when a single customer makes off with the store's entire stock, stuffed into an enormous sack (the customer's beard, twinkly eyes, and the barely-visible red suit will clue in most children to his true identity). But on the girl's walk home, the perfect present for the special person--a delighted baby brother--magically appears. Ward's simple sentences have a pleasing, read-aloud rhythm, and they nicely capture holiday suspense and anxiety from a child's view. But it's Anderson's incandescent paintings that are really stunning. Miniature, feathery strokes create scenes that beautifully contrast the silver-gray streets, where the girl despairs, and the glorious, magical toy shop.