The Story of Holly and Ivy (1958)

Stood the test of time, this will be a Christmas present for my niece this year. ( )

The Story of Holly and Ivy, illustrated by Adrienne Adams.

I have always loved Rumer Godden's The Story of Holly and Ivy, a delightful little Christmas tale in which a lonely doll named Holly, and a lonelier orphan named Ivy, find one another and a home, all thanks to the magic of the season. But as I was rereading it this Christmas Eve past, it suddenly occurred to me that this wasn't the story of two lonely souls, but of three. Which, if you've read the book, might seem obvious. How odd that, as a younger reader, I breezed on past Mrs. Jones, and her quiet longing for a child, concentrating more on Holly and Ivy, whereas this time around, Mrs. Jones' narrative seemed particularly poignant to me.

It's a testament to Godden's skill as an author, I think, that this brief early reader/chapter-book - only sixty-four pages - can feel so fresh, after being read so many times, and still have something new to offer, upon each successive reading. The illustrations in my vintage edition were done by Adrienne Adams (as opposed to the more recent version with artwork by Barbara Cooney), and have a soft, dreamy quality that greatly enhances the charm of the story. I think my favorite is the end-paper illustration, with the bare tree standing in the village square!

All in all, The Story of Holly and Ivy is a sweet little holiday tale, one I would recommend to little girls who love doll stories, to young readers who enjoy magical Christmas adventures, or to Adrienne Adams fans. ( )

An extremely touching and meaningful Christmas story that will appeal to children of all ages. ( )

Ivy is an orphan who wishes she could find her imaginary grandmother. Meanwhile, another lady wishes she had a little girl to call her own. A toyshop has a lonely doll called Holly who is wishing for a little girl to love her. One day in the Christmas season Ivy is sent to stay with a foster carer. However, she decides to go and look for her grandmother. What follows is a charming tale that captures the spirit of Christmas in a timeless manner. If ever there was a season for wishes to come true then Christmas is it. Read this delightful tale to discover if these characters get their heart’s desires. ( )

This is a wonderful, although sad and scary in parts, Christmas story. ( )