While flying around the state of Washington to interview finalists in a fruitcake recipe contest, Emma Collins, newspaper reporter and obituary writer, discovers that her pilot, ornery Oliver Hamilton, could be the love of her life.

When Stella gets the sudden idea to go caroling, she has a little trouble getting someone to join her. Her brother, Frank, is not good at spontaneity. The Watsons are very involved in a precarious fruitcake attempt (but happy to send their pig, Mercy, out for the occasion). Eugenia Lincoln declines, a bit rudely, to accompany on her accordion, and Horace Broom is too busy studying planetary movement. Will Stella need to sing by herself--with enthusiastic...

This year, Becca Timm knows the number one item on her Christmas wish list - getting over Denny Cutler. Three years ago, Denny broke her heart before heading off to war. It's time she got over her silly high-school relationship and moved on. So she takes matters into her own hands and heads up to Virgin River, the rugged little mountain town that Denny calls home, as an uninvited guest on her brother's men-only hunting weekend. But when an accident...

Shows animal families in various climates and regions preparing for Christmas.

Colorful Christmas still lifes accompany seven holiday stories by Frank Sullivan, Willa Cather, Budd Schulberg, Damon Runyon, O. Henry, James Thurber, and Christopher Morley.

Explores Latin American traditions for celebrating Christmas Eve in a text that combines English and Spanish words and follows the rhythm of Clement Moore's "The Night Before Christmas".

As Amelia Bedelia helps Mrs. Rogers prepare for Christmas, she bakes a date cake with a calendar in it and stuffs the children's stockings with turkey stuffing.

"At first Goldie is nothing more than a fish out of water, with few clients and few friends. But after a less than pleasant encounter with a man whose dog is suffering from a possibly fatal case of bloat, she's finally earning the trust and goodwill from her fellow Blue Dog Valley citizens. Her clientele grows to include the many farm animals in the town, including a horse named Large Marge, a cape-wearing therapy alpaca, and a yard full of sweater-wearing...

"Every Christmas Eve, the family put out porridge for the tomtes to thank them for their help around the farm. But this year they forget, and Papa tomte will be angry if he finds out. So Mama tomte and the children hatch a cunning plan." -- Back cover.