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It is the season of Christmas, and that means it is time to trim the tree, decorate the halls, and, most importantly of all, write to Santa with a heartfelt wish for the perfect present.

While other children may be dreaming of new toys under the tree or stockings filled with treats, one little girl simply asks Santa for a friend to share her holiday. But this is a pretty tall order for the jolly old man. Can Santa make her Christmas wish come true?

Readers of all ages will be cheered to see that Santa manages to find not just the perfect present, but three special gifts.

Charming artwork brings to life the joy felt in making snow angels, the satisfaction of a rousing snowball fight, the pleasure of baking holiday cookies, and finally, the inner peace one feels sitting quietly in front of a warm fire -- all the more special when done with a new friend.

Publishers Weekly

Donovan's near-wordless story is an animal lover's Christmas wish come true. On Christmas morning, three increasingly large packages from Santa await the pigtailed heroine. Inside them: a cat, a dog, and--hey, we're talking wish fulfillment--a beautiful tan pony. It only gets better as they pile onto her sled, have a snowball fight, and curl up in her bed. Donovan's naturalistic paintings bring out the innate humor of this too-good-to-be-true situation, but also the girl's underlying love of animals. All ages. (Sept.)