THE ATTIC CHRISTMAS

Hennessy's (The Dinosaur Who Lived in My Backyard ) nostalgic tale imagines that Christmas ornaments possess holiday memories, too. Each year Silver Bell, Special Delivery, Angel and the other tree trimmers can't wait to smell the gingerbread and evergreen scents that mean they'll soon be taken from Grandma Lily's attic and hung lovingly on her tree. But when the woman doesn't appear one year (readers glean subtle references to her passing), the stunned ornaments must plan their own "Christmas without a family." Happily, Grandma Lily's kin haven't forgotten the tradition, and they interrupt the ornaments' sad attic Christmas for a more joyous one. Andreasen's (With a Little Help from Daddy ) elegantly rendered oil paintings feature an evergreen and its special accoutrements in all their holiday beauty. Ages 4-up. (Sept.)