The Broken Ornament

There's no missing the timeless message of this tale by DiTerlizzi (The Spider and the Fly). On Christmas Eve, Jack's requests for additional decorations and a bigger tree ("Santa needs more room underneath to leave us more presents!") are scuttled by his parents, who look on in horror as Jack plucks a striped ball from an old box--an antique ornament that drops from its hook and shatters. After his parents sorrowfully retreat upstairs, an elfin fairy named Tinsel appears and grants, with over-the-top embellishment, Jack's wish for "the best Christmas ever!" Though nutcrackers, reindeer, and snowmen parade through the door, and snow-covered trees burst through the floor, Jack demands "More! More!" But he realizes that something's missing, and Tinsel shares a vision from the past: his mother's grandmother giving her the ornament he broke. The author delivers a sound, easily relatable lesson about the perils of greed--and the essence of Christmas--as Jack devises a way to make amends in the story's heartwarming finale. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)