Tomie DePaola

The inhabitants of a New England village never make much fuss about Christmas until a new family moves in and celebrates the holiday in a special way.

On the morning of the first Christmas, the colorful birds of Bethlehem gather to talk about the exciting events they have witnessed, from the long line of people approaching the town to the stable where a newborn baby lies.

Mister Frog is usually asleep at Christmas time, but this year his good friends make sure that he has a wonderful holiday.

Excluded from helping to prepare the Christmas celebration in Heaven, three small angels find a way to light up the night sky on Christmas Eve.

Because Befana's household chores kept her from finding the Baby King, she searches to this day, leaving gifts for children on the Feast of the Three Kings.

A childhood visit to Sardinia haunts a composer, who returns there one Christmas to repay with his music the kindness of the island's inhabitants.