The All-I'll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll

I bought this book for my two daughters, age 5 and 7. The book tells the story of a young, poor family and a meager Christmas. The book offers plenty of starting points for discussions of important life morals: money doesn't buy happiness, the value of sharing, the importance of family, the spirit of generosity, and more. And at the same time, the story is engaging for young readers. My seven year old read it as soon as it came, and was eager to re-read it with me and her 5 year old sister. This book has fast become a holiday favorite and I'm sure it will hold that place as we bring it back out every year with other holiday favorites we have enjoyed for years.

This book resonates with me because of the lessons it teaches, but the great thing is that Patricia C. McKissack gets these lessons across so well that kids who read it won't feel like they're being "preached" at. Three of the most important lessons I got from the book are: 1. People are more important than things First, McKissack does a beautiful job of demonstrating through a bit of humor that people are indeed more important than things. When Nella first claims Baby Betty as her own, she has a great time playing all alone with her...for a while. Then Nella gets increasingly frustrated when Baby Betty doesn't respond to her stories or songs until she finally sees her sisters in the other room having a great time playing together and feels sad and lonely. It's not until she invites her sisters to join her and Baby Betty for tea that she truly has a good time. In fact EVERYONE has a good time, and Nella is finally able to say it was the best Christmas ever. 2. Be thankful for what you have The second lesson the book teaches us it to be thankful for what you have. The Pearson's have to fill the cracks and line the walls with newspaper to keep the cold out. They are in the Great Depression, and money (and work and food and toys) is hard to come by. Yet, when the girls receive their bags of raisins and nuts for Christmas, they are very pleased because it's the most they've ever received. And when they get the Baby Betty doll, they are excited beyond belief. Children who are used to receiving tons and tons of gifts may be horrified at the meager gifts the girls receive, and it's a perfect opportunity to let them know that are many kids out there who are less fortunate than them. It could also be a good time to introduce them to charitable giving and get them involved in helping out kids who are less fortunate. Perhaps volunteer at a local food bank, participate in a toy drive, or "adopt a family" for the holidays. Your children may have great pleasure going out and finding the "perfect" gift. 3. Share what you are fortunate enough to have Finally, McKissack shows us that by sharing what you do have, everyone wins. Nella is miserable until she asks her sisters to join in the fun and have tea with "their" Baby Betty doll. A great lesson, especially if you have kids who squabble over toys and other things a lot.

The three Pearson sisters receive small Christmas treats, but Santy Claus only comes once in a while.After all, this is the rural south during the Depression. Nella, however, has seen an advertisement for a store -bought "Baby Betty" doll, the color of chocolate. Despite the scorn of her sisters, Nella writes a letter to Santy Claus assuring him that Baby Betty is all she'll ever want. Santy Claus comes through, setting the three sisters to fighting over the beautiful doll. Nella wins - or does she? With pencil and watercolor illustrations, the artist depicts the three sisters exquisitely. His faces seem real, and he paints them large in expressive moments, shouting, singing, laughing. Despite poverty, this is a touching story of rich familial love.