Little Mole's Christmas Gift

by Glenys Nellist, Sally Anne Garland (Illustrator)

Overview

Full of heart and festive cheer, this companion to Glenys Nellist's bestselling Little Mole Finds Hope reminds readers that the best Christmas gifts aren't always the ones lying under the tree.

It was going to be the best Christmas ever because Little Mole had found the perfect gift for Mama: the biggest, most beautiful mushroom he had ever seen. But on his way home, Little Mole encounters other woodland friends in need. Though it pains him to do so, Little Mole shares pieces of his mushroom with each friend he meets until there's not much left. Disappointed and anxious about what this means for Christmas, Little Mole wraps what's left of the mushroom. He fears Christmas is ruined, but ultimately, Little Mole discovers that his gift was bigger than he ever imagined.

Little Mole's Christmas Gift is a companion to Nellist's spring-themed picture book, Little Mole Finds Hope.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781506448756
Publisher:	1517 Media
Publication date:	10/06/2020
Series:	Little Mole , #2
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	412,915
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD520L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Glenys Nellist is the author of multiple children's books, including the Little Mole series. She is also the author of the bestselling 'Twas the Evening of Christmas and the popular series Love Letters from God and Snuggle Time. Her writing reflects a deep passion for helping children discover joy in the world. Glenys lives in Michigan with her husband, David.

Sally Garland was brought up in the small town of Alness in the Highlands of Scotland and studied illustration at Edinburgh College of Art. She currently works in Glasgow, where she lives with her partner and young son. Sally has loved drawing and has had a passion for children's literature and illustration since she was young. She now has many years of experience working as a children's illustrator.

Editorial Reviews

09/21/2020

In this latest installment of the Little Mole series, the title character—a gray, dot-eyed critter in a striped hat, green sweater, charcoal pants, and galoshes—discovers “the biggest, the best, the most beautiful mushroom he had ever seen,” the optimal Christmas present for Mama. But as he trudges through the snow on his way back to the burrow with the white-spotted, red-capped mushroom, he encounters Little Squirrel, Little Mouse, and Little Chipmunk, who each have a need that Little Mole can fulfill—at the expense of his gift. Textured digital illustrations suggest crayon and colored pencil drawings; Little Mole and Mama are the only animals fully dressed and housed, but the other woodland creatures are expressive and anthropomorphic, too. While the conclusion may feel a tad abrupt, this compassionate Christmas fable emphasizes classic morals: that the heart behind a gift matters more than the gift itself. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

"This compassionate Christmas fable emphasizes classic morals: that the heart behind a gift matters more than the gift itself." —Publishers Weekly

"A warm wintertime read with a message for any time of year." —Kirkus Review

"In Little Mole's Christmas Gift, we watch the beautiful way perceptions shift when we acknowledge and address the needs of others. What a lovely story for Christmastime!" —Jennifer Grant, author of Maybe I Can Love My Neighbor Too

"Enchanting and endearing! Little Mole and Mama Mole are delightful guides who remind us what Christmas is all about." —Traci Smith, author of Prayers for Faithful Families

"Glenys Nellist gives kids and adults alike a perfect picture of kindness and generosity through this second adventure with Little Mole." —Caryn Rivadeneira, author of Grit and Grace and the Helper Hounds series

From the Publisher

2020-08-18
Little Mole has a great big heart.

Little Mole has found an enormous mushroom in the woods and decided to give it to his beloved Mama for Christmas. After he works hard to pick it, he encounters several woodland creatures in need as he carries the large, red-and-white mushroom home to his mother. Bit by bit, he gives away parts of the stem to hungry Little Squirrel and to tired Little Mouse, who needs somewhere soft to rest his head. Then he gives the cap to Little Chipmunk to use as an umbrella. By the time he reaches his mother, Little Mole has only a tiny piece of the mushroom left for her. She is nonetheless pleased and says she will make them soup for their Christmas dinner. Her gratitude only increases when Little Mole sadly tells her what happened to the rest of the big mushroom. A proud Mama says, “your kindness is the biggest, most perfect Christmas gift I have ever received,” which provides Little Mole with affirmation, reassurance, and a holiday lesson about the importance of generosity. The softly textured illustrations reinforce the gentle coziness of the story. The animals are anthropomorphic, though only Little Mole and Mama are fully dressed; most of the animals Little Mole encounters wear nothing, underscoring their relative neediness next to the moles’ evident prosperity. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9.3-by-18.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 39.1% of actual size.)

A warm wintertime read with a message for any time of year. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews