The Lost Gift

A Christmas Story

Illustrated by Stephanie Graegin
Ebook (EPUB FXL CPB)
On sale Oct 18, 2016 | 40 Pages | 978-0-553-52483-3
Age 4-8 years | Preschool - 3
Reading Level: Lexile AD310L | Fountas & Pinnell L
This Christmas-themed picture book about four animals delivering a lost package for Santa already feels like a classic, and makes the perfect gift this holiday season!
 
It’s Christmas Eve, and Bird, Rabbit, Deer, and Squirrel are eagerly waiting for Santa to fly overhead. When he does, a gift tumbles out of his sleigh, landing in the woods. The friends find the gift and read the tag: “For the new baby at the farm. Love, Santa.” And so, in spite of Squirrel’s grumbling—“It’s not our baby”—they set off on a long journey to deliver it. Sweet, poignant, and starring a cast of truly adorable characters, this is a story sure to be shared year after year at Christmastime.
PRAISE FOR The Lost Gift:

"Graegin (How to Share with a Bear) creates sweeping expanses of moonlit snow for the animals to traverse under midnight blue Christmas Eve skies, creating an atmosphere of quiet magic as the animals discover the rewards of doing a kind deed."  --Publishers Weekly

"The little animals are a charming group, each displaying a specific personality trait that contributes to the group's dynamics. Captivating illustrations use pencil-and-ink washes to create a delicate atmosphere of snow-covered trees, midnight-blue skies, and shadows in snowy fields. A delightful, quiet story with a subtle theme of giving to others as a gift in itself."  --Kirkus Reviews
 
"Listeners and readers will empathize with the characters’ emotions, captured in friendly, digitally colored pencil-and-ink-wash illustrations. The writing is simple yet expressive. And for those readers hoping to land on the 'nice' list, the story’s last line may resonate the most: 'Santa always knows.'" --Horn Book Magazine
KALLIE GEORGE is an author, editor and creative writing teacher. She has written numerous books for early readers, including the first five books in the Anne chapter book series (Anne Arrives, Anne's Kindred Spirits, Anne's School Days, Anne's Tragical Tea Party and Anne Dares), The Magical Animal Adoption Agency series, The Heartwood Hotel series and The Wings of Olympus series, as well as numerous picture books, such as Goodnight, Anne, If I Couldn't Be Anne, Merry Christmas, Anne, The Secret Fawn, I am a Meadow Mermaid and The Lost Gift. Kallie currently lives in Vancouver, BC. View titles by Kallie George
Stephanie Graegin spent her childhood drawing and collecting fauna in Fort Wayne, Indiana and Houston, Texas. She received her BFA in Fine Arts from the Maryland Institute College of Art and her MFA in Printmaking from the Pratt Institute. Stephanie now lives in Brooklyn, is still drawing, and has managed to keep her collection down to one orange cat. View titles by Stephanie Graegin

About

This Christmas-themed picture book about four animals delivering a lost package for Santa already feels like a classic, and makes the perfect gift this holiday season!
 
It’s Christmas Eve, and Bird, Rabbit, Deer, and Squirrel are eagerly waiting for Santa to fly overhead. When he does, a gift tumbles out of his sleigh, landing in the woods. The friends find the gift and read the tag: “For the new baby at the farm. Love, Santa.” And so, in spite of Squirrel’s grumbling—“It’s not our baby”—they set off on a long journey to deliver it. Sweet, poignant, and starring a cast of truly adorable characters, this is a story sure to be shared year after year at Christmastime.

Reviews

PRAISE FOR The Lost Gift:

"Graegin (How to Share with a Bear) creates sweeping expanses of moonlit snow for the animals to traverse under midnight blue Christmas Eve skies, creating an atmosphere of quiet magic as the animals discover the rewards of doing a kind deed."  --Publishers Weekly

"The little animals are a charming group, each displaying a specific personality trait that contributes to the group's dynamics. Captivating illustrations use pencil-and-ink washes to create a delicate atmosphere of snow-covered trees, midnight-blue skies, and shadows in snowy fields. A delightful, quiet story with a subtle theme of giving to others as a gift in itself."  --Kirkus Reviews
 
"Listeners and readers will empathize with the characters’ emotions, captured in friendly, digitally colored pencil-and-ink-wash illustrations. The writing is simple yet expressive. And for those readers hoping to land on the 'nice' list, the story’s last line may resonate the most: 'Santa always knows.'" --Horn Book Magazine

Author

KALLIE GEORGE is an author, editor and creative writing teacher. She has written numerous books for early readers, including the first five books in the Anne chapter book series (Anne Arrives, Anne's Kindred Spirits, Anne's School Days, Anne's Tragical Tea Party and Anne Dares), The Magical Animal Adoption Agency series, The Heartwood Hotel series and The Wings of Olympus series, as well as numerous picture books, such as Goodnight, Anne, If I Couldn't Be Anne, Merry Christmas, Anne, The Secret Fawn, I am a Meadow Mermaid and The Lost Gift. Kallie currently lives in Vancouver, BC. View titles by Kallie George
Stephanie Graegin spent her childhood drawing and collecting fauna in Fort Wayne, Indiana and Houston, Texas. She received her BFA in Fine Arts from the Maryland Institute College of Art and her MFA in Printmaking from the Pratt Institute. Stephanie now lives in Brooklyn, is still drawing, and has managed to keep her collection down to one orange cat. View titles by Stephanie Graegin