Friends and family chart at the front of the book. Information about 1864, African American Holiday celebrations i(ncluding Kwanzaa) at the back.

Addy's Christmas surprise for Momma is different from what she had planned. And a surprise awaiting Addy is better than she even dared to hope for.

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Addy's Surprise: A Christmas story is about a young African American girl living in the post-Civil War era. Addy and her mother escape to freedom and explore all of the changes that come along with it. The book paints a colorful and to what I believe is an accurate picture of slavery and post-slavery years.

Being a young African- American girl I naturally gravitated toward this book in the fourth grade. This book is a great book for any child, though. It explains the pain of seperation of family and the cruelties of slavery. It explores new beginnings and changes in life. This book will warm the heart of anyone that reads it's pages.

A good idea for getting in depth with this book is to talk about the importance of family and friends. Teachers and parents can also explain the harshness that comes with the changes in life. It is also good to compare the past with the present with this book.