The Forgotten Helper: A Christmas Story

In Forgotten Helper, T. Lewis provides a Christmas story for kids with reading skills at the chapter book level: Aben is Santa's best toymaker -and the grouchiest, worst-behaved elf. When he's left behind by mistake, he must wait a whole year at a child's house for Santa's return - only to find his counterpart in an ill-behaved child. Black and white drawings in this appealing tale.

We had this book when it was first printed in the 80s and it became a family traditon to read it to us kids every Xmas. We loved the naughtiness of the main characters --The forgotten helper "Aben" and the bratty girl he has to convince to be good..Kids can identify with both characters. We even named our cat Neba (Aben spelled backwards) because of her someitmes unpleasant personlity...although she's really very lovable...just like Aben really is in the book.This not your typical Xmas book. Through many home moves over the years, I lost our copy. I'm thrilled it's back again. A bunch of people will be gettiing it from me this holiday. Thanks...JE