Book Review: 'The Christmas Giant' by Steve Light

✰✰✰✰ Humphrey the giant and Leetree the elf are the best of friends. Their job is to make the wrapping paper for all of Santa's gifts. However, during the rest of the year there isn't much to do. Then one year Santa gives the friends a special project to grow a Christmas tree for Christmastown. The pair is so excited; they begin by planting a tiny seed. They take their assignment very seriously and carefully water, prune, and tend to the tree. When the tree is at last large enough, the pair leaves to deliver it. Unfortunately, when they stop to rest something goes terribly wrong. The tree is gone, and there isn't enough time to grow another one. What will the Humphrey and Leetree do when Santa finds out? Together the pair comes up with a plan to deliver a surprise that everyone in Christmastown will be talking about for years to come.

The Bottom Line: Things don't always go as planned, but Steve Light's gentle story of friendship reminds us that by working together, problems can be solved. Through a combination of storytelling and illustrations, Light has created an adorable holiday story that kids in Preschool - Grade 1 will love to read over and over. Children will also enjoy Light's fantastic and detailed illustrations. The folk art style and the use of a limited palette have a calming effect on the reader.

Details: The Christmas Giant written and illustrated by Steve Light. Hardcover picture book published by Candlewick Press in 2010. 32 p. ISBN: 978-0-7636-4692-9