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    The True Gift: A Christmas Story
    The True Gift: A Christmas Story
    The True Gift: A Christmas Story
    Ebook54 pages30 minutes

    The True Gift: A Christmas Story

    By Patricia MacLachlan and Brian Floca

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    Experience the magic of authentic giving in this holiday classic from the Newbery Award–winning author of Sarah, Plain and Tall.

    All year long Lily and Liam look forward to the holidays at their grandparents’ farm. It’s always the perfect trip: walking to the lilac library, trimming the tree, giving gifts. But this year, thanks to a white cow alone in the meadow, things will be different. This holiday, Lily and Liam will find out the meaning of a special gift.

    This holiday classic from a beloved author rings in the season by celebrating the joys of family, community, and true giving.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAtheneum Books for Young Readers
    Release dateOct 6, 2009
    ISBN9781439156179
    Author

    Patricia MacLachlan

    Patricia MacLachlan (1938-2022) was the celebrated author of many timeless books for young readers, including Sarah, Plain and Tall, winner of the Newbery Medal. She was also the author of many beloved picture books, a number of which she cowrote with her daughter, Emily.

    Read more from Patricia Mac Lachlan

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    Reviews for The True Gift

    4.5/5

    45 ratings6 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I have fallen in love with this story about Liam and Lily, who make one Christmas a happier time for a lonely individual. It's written for "young readers" age 7 and up, but was a delightful tale for all ages. As an added bonus, the illustrations are superb!
    • 5/5
      A beautiful story, poignant and heartwarming. I liked the character journeys, and I thought the siblings and grandmother were surprisingly well-developed for so short a story. I also liked the realism; this story lacks so many cliches that abound in Christmas literature. Here, there are no outlandishly tragic circumstances, no misers-turned-saint, no dead parents, and no miracles. And yet, despite this, all the beauty and heartache of the holidays is captured in this straightforward and unexpectedly moving tale. A joy to read.
    • 3/5
      When Lily and her younger brother Liam go to stay with their grandparents during the week leading up to Christmas - a yearly tradition in their family - they expect another delightful visit, full of the joy of spending time with loved ones, visiting the local "lilac" library (so named because it always smells of lilacs), decorating the house and tree, and selecting gifts at the local shops. Things don't go quite as planned however, when Liam - sensitive and very stubborn - decides that something must be done about White Cow, now the sole resident of their grandparents' adjacent field, after the departure of her only companion, Rosie the donkey. Convinced that White Cow is lonely, and bolstered by his research, which indicates that cows are social animals, Liam sets out to find a companion for the solitary cow, eventually winning over the reluctant Lily to his cause...This brief chapter-book by the author of the Newbery Medal winner Sarah, Plain and Tall is an engaging holiday story, one which highlights the emotional lives of animals, and emphasizes our responsibility to care for the creatures in our charge. I can't think of another story for children which imparts this message using livestock animals, rather than pets, and think it would be especially appealing - for this reason - for vegetarian children, and for readers particularly interested in the welfare of farm animals. For those young readers who are not, parents should probably expect questions about where meat comes from, and how the animals in question were treated. I know I was thinking about it, while reading The True Gift.
    • 4/5
      When I describe this story as a bibliophile that wants to help a cow at Christmas is might sound like an odd premise. Actually this chapter book tells a very poignant story about a perfect holiday trip becoming even more meaningful. This story will quietly engage young readers.
    • 5/5
      Liam and his sister Lily spend time with their grandparents at Christmastime every year. They've earned money for presents and brought many books with them to while away the time until Christmas. But something threatens to spoil the holiday. White Cow is alone in the field since her companion donkey has been returned to his own owner. Liam is concerned that she is lonely. Thus begins the heartwarming tale of a Christmas gift that seems impossible. This short book for children is a delightful reminder that true happiness is found in making others happy, even if "the other" is a cow.
    • 5/5
      This is a quick and sweet read. I highly recommend it.

    Book preview

    The True Gift - Patricia MacLachlan

    THE

    True Gift

    Also by Patricia MacLachlan

    …

    Edward’s Eyes

    THE

    True Gift

    A CHRISTMAS STORY

    Patricia MacLachlan

    Illustrated by Brian Floca

    ATHENEUM BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS

    New York London Toronto Sydney

    Contents

    Dedication

    Chapter One

    Chapter Two

    Chapter Three

    Chapter Four

    Chapter Five

    Chapter Six

    Chapter Seven

    Chapter Eight

    Chapter Nine

    Christmas Eve

    About Patricia MacLachlan

    Copyright

    This is for John; Pony and Ella; Jamie and

    Lauren; and Emily, Dean, and Sofia.

    Love to you all.

    With special thanks to Donna Cowan

    —P. M.

    THE

    True Gift

    White Cow stood alone in the big meadow.

    Her eyes were sad, though she might not have known what sad was. She looked down the road searching for something.

    There was a time when she had company, a donkey the color of biscuits, but the farmer who owned the donkey had taken her away.

    Sometimes a red fox came to drink from the stream. Sometimes deer came through the meadow to nibble crab apples left on the tree by the barn.

    Crows clattered overhead.

    But most days White Cow stood alone in the big meadow.

    Chapter One

    Liam and I sit on the backseat of Papa’s old car. The car heater isn’t working, so Liam and I share a blanket. We can see our breath in the air.

    How many books did you bring? whispers Liam.

    Liam and I share a worry. Our school closes for ten days, and we’re going to Grandpa and Gran’s house. We always go there in December, waiting for Christmas and Mama and Papa to come Christmas Day. We worry about not taking as many books as we’ll need.

    I brought fifteen books, I say.

    I brought thirty-seven, says Liam.

    I burst out laughing.

    Don’t worry, Lily. There is the stone library if you run out.

    Liam runs out of books all the time. Sometimes he reads three chapter books in one day.

    I smile.

    We love that

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