cover image A Child's Christmas at St. Nicholas Circle

A Child's Christmas at St. Nicholas Circle

Douglas Kaine McKelvey, Thomas Kinkade. Tommy Nelson, $17.99 (48pp) ISBN 978-0-8499-5883-0

Inspired by popular artist Kinkade's painting Christmas at St. Nicholas Circle, this sentimental story devolves in a small town in 1918. When a mysterious telegram announces the arrival of an ""Important Guest,"" young Henry hopes it will be Santa bringing the presents he knows his parents can ill afford. But while everyone in town is attending to a traveling salesman, Henry discovers his own ""Important Guest,"" a lost child--and learns the meaning of Christmas. McKelvey's (The Angel Knew Papa and the Dog) graceful language vivifies Kinkade's winter landscapes. Old-fashioned sepia-tone photographs of the ""characters,"" printed over some of the paintings, extend the nostalgic reverie. All ages. (Oct.)