Trina Schart Hyman (1939 - 2004) received one Caldecott Medal and three Caldecott Honors during her distinguished career. From the age of four she knew that she would become an illustrator. She insisted that drawing was her reason for being. "I drew because I needed to," she said, "as well as for the sheer joy of it." She created iconic, exquisite illustrations for more than 150 books. Born in Philadelphia, she lived most of her life in New Hampshire.

Hyman's lively prose reflects each animal's preoccupations beautifully; her mostly monochromatic illustrations, with pops of color such as red for the girl's stocking cap, are arresting and imbued with personality.
--The Horn Book

The extreme innocence of the characters that Hyman (1939-2004) conjures may give readers ages 4 to 8 a gentle sense of superiority--they know about Christmas--even as they are beguiled.
--The Wall Street Journal

Publisher: Holiday House

Pub date: 2025-10-14

Length: 32 pages