Six-year-old James Collingswood Brown, lovingly called Jimpsey, moves from the city to a home in the country and, when it’s Christmastime, his father makes a large wooden star to place high in the tree facing the bridge. Then, with his parents busy doing Christmas things, the hired man, Mr. Higgins, tells Jimpsey about the Christmas ghost that walks between the barn and the bridge at midnight on Christmas Eve.

Jimpsey tells his parents about the ghost, Timothy Stillwagon, but they don’t believe in ghosts. So when Jimpsey thinks he sees the ghost, he pulls on his winter clothes and slips out the front door. But is it a ghost? And if it’s not a ghost, then what does Jimpsey see?

A sweet story about friendship and memories, a perfect story for parents to share with their children, even if it doesn’t happen to be Christmas time. The blue and gold illustrations are a lovely accompaniment to the gentle narrative.

Highly recommended. ( )