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Yoon and the Christmas Mitten

by Helen Recorvits
Illustrated by Gabi Swiakowska



      Yoon and her family are Korean-Americans who still observe Korean holidays.  When Yoon's teacher reads the class a story about Santa Claus who lives at the North Pole, Yoon is enchanted. When she tells her parents that Mr. Santa will visit and leave her presents, her father tells her, "We are Korean, Santa Claus is not our custom." Her mother points out that they are not a Christmas family, that their holiday is New Year's Day.

Yoon doesn't understand why they can't celebrate Christmas, since they are Americans too. Yoon just can't accept that Santa will not visit her; she dreams about Santa and tries to figure out a way to make sure that Santa can find her house.  She pins a mitten to the corner of her bed, since her parents will not allow her to hang a Christmas stocking.  Will Santa truly come?

Religious differences are not dealt with in this charming story about the difficult adjustment to life in a new country. Only the American Santa Claus and gift giving tradition, and the Korean New Year tradition are touched upon.  Swiatkowska's magical illustrations show Yoon with an adorable round oriental face in surrealistic dream-like paintings.  Enjoy Christmas magic with Yoon and your family in this delightful story for early readers or to read aloud at family time or bedtime.

The Book

Farrar, Straus and Giroux
October 31, 2006
Hardcover
0-374938688-9
Children/Fiction - Ages 4-8
More at Amazon.com
Excerpt
NOTE: Holiday:  Christmas

The Reviewer

Beverly J. Rowe
Reviewed 2006
NOTE:
© 2006 MyShelf.com