About This Book
A parent might reach for this book when the idyllic image of a perfect family Christmas is clashing with the noisy, messy reality of sibling squabbles and holiday stress. This story follows Angel, who is dreading the holidays because her family does nothing but argue. Between her sister's new boyfriend, her chaotic younger siblings, and a disastrous nativity play, Christmas seems doomed. But when a sweet stray dog appears, the family finds a common focus, learning to find joy and love amidst their perfectly imperfect holiday. It's a humorous and reassuring read for kids 8-12 that normalizes the friction of family life and shows that love underlies the bickering. It's a great choice to lighten the mood and foster empathy during a potentially stressful time of year.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The core topic is family conflict and sibling rivalry. The arguments are portrayed as frequent and frustrating but are handled with a light, humorous tone; they are not emotionally abusive. The resolution is realistic and hopeful, showing that families can disagree and still love each other deeply. The Christmas setting is primarily cultural and secular, not religious.
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