Jane Monroe Donovan

An old man faces his first Christmas without his wife of many years in this poignant, ultimately hopeful picture-book from author/illustrator Jane Monroe Donovan. Going about his chores on Christmas Eve, the man recalls Christmases past, when he and his wife would seek out the perfect tree, bring it home, and decorate it together. The star they put on top always symbolized hope, but this year the man was sunk into loneliness, and had no hope. Then a pregnant mare, separated from her herd and show more lost in the snowy woods, found her way to him, and in helping this lost soul, the man found what he needed again...

A title I stumbled across by accident, Winter's Gift drew me in with its gorgeous cover, and I picked it up, unaware that it was a Christmas story, rather than just a wintry tale. I'm not sorry to have discovered it however, as I found the story moving and the artwork absolutely beautiful. It is not so common to see the experiences of the elderly in books for young children, so I am always happy to encounter a story which presents their lives in a humane and relatable way, one that builds empathy and fellow-feeling in the young. This was my first book from Donovan, but I certainly hope it will not be my last! Recommended to picture-book readers looking for touching stories featuring grief and healing, Christmas, the elderly, and/or lost animals in need of hope. show less

Picture-book author/artist Jane Monroe Donovan, whose Winter's Gift was such a poignant, magical tale, returns with this second Christmas story, this time told almost exclusively through the illustrations. A young girl writes a letter to Santa - the only text in the book - asking for a friend, and wakes up Christmas morning to find a cat, dog and miniature pony waiting for her under the tree. Together, girl and animals have fun in the snow: sledding, making snow angels, building snowmen (and show more snow animals) and having snowball fights. When they return home, they enjoy the cozy comforts of a warm house...

According to the author's note at the end of the book, complete with photographs, Small, Medium & Large was inspired by a real-life cat, dog and miniature horse that Donovan had as animal companions over the years. That knowledge certainly made the story more meaningful, and although there were moments where I had to struggle a bit to suspend my disbelief - would a dog, cat and horse all fit on the girl's bed? Does one really sleep with a horse, even a miniature one?! - I still enjoyed the book. The illustrations are just lovely, and really make the story come alive. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for somewhat unusual Christmas stories and/or wordless narratives. show less

Right in the feels.

Anyway I invented the Patricia Polacco Award/Warning for when you were not planning on crying today but ta da.
Widower gets the gift of hope for Christmas.

In this wordless picture book, a Christmas wish unfolds through beautiful illustrations when a little girl writes a letter to Santa. As we follow along, we discover whether her Christmas wish is granted. When three special presents are left under the tree, the snowy adventure begins.

The Bottom Line: This picture book tells a story by using only illustrations, which encourages the viewer to follow along and discuss the actions in the pictures. The book is full of beautiful artwork. Also, show more there is an interesting note "From the Author" about the animals featured in the story. Recommended for kids ages 5 - 7 who enjoy animal stories.

This review appeared first at Mini Book Bytes Book Reviews: http://minibookbytes.blogspot.com/ show less