It is the holiday season and at my house that means it’s time to pull out the Christmas books. Yeah! Throughout the year, I tend to forget which holiday books we have. I love getting them out and gathering on the couch with the kids to read them for the first time each holiday season.

Winter’s Gift by Jane Monroe Donovan is one of my children’s favorites. Originally, I think they were drawn to the story because it involves a horse, but they continue to love it because the story is powerful to them.

It has a unique story line for a picture book, the main character is an older man preparing for his first Christmas as a widower. On Christmas Eve he finds a horse wandering near his home. He leads the horse into his barn and cares for it throughout the night. Waking on Christmas morning, he is greeted with a beautiful surprise. You may not think it sounds like a story that would appeal to kids, but Donovan relates the message of hope, love, and kindness in a way that children understand and enjoy reading or listening to (again and again and again...).

The illustrations are beautiful and add to the depth of emotion throughout the book.  Donovan’s final page is an illustration, no text, that brings the story to a heartwarming conclusion. I am always amazed to hear kids talk about the illustrations in books. Sometimes, I get so busy reading that I don’t study the illustrations, but kids glean so much information from the illustrations (and always tell me what I may have missed!). Donovan’s conclusion is no exception and provides a natural segue to discussing the story.

Winter’s Gift would make a wonderful addition to your holiday book collection. I encourage you to check it out!