
A parent might reach for this book when their child is grappling with feelings of loneliness or a deep desire for belonging, especially during the holidays. This classic story beautifully parallels the journeys of Ivy, an orphan who runs away to find a family, and Holly, a Christmas doll who wishes for a child of her own. Their heartfelt wishes magically converge on Christmas Eve, creating a new family born of hope and love. For ages 5 to 9, its gentle, timeless prose validates a child’s powerful need for a place to belong, offering comfort and demonstrating that families can be found in the most unexpected ways.
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Sign in to write a reviewThe story's central theme is orphanhood and the longing for family. The approach is gentle and filled with magical thinking rather than realism. Ivy's situation at the children's home is depicted as lonely and institutional, but not abusive. The resolution is an idealized, hopeful Christmas miracle where all wishes are granted. The story is secular but uses Christmas as its magical backdrop.
A sensitive child, aged 6 to 8, who may be feeling like an outsider, experiencing loneliness, or is part of a non-traditional family. It is particularly resonant for children in foster care or who have been adopted, as it speaks directly to the deep desire for a permanent, loving home. It also appeals to children who love classic, magical stories with a fairytale quality.
This book can be read cold. Parents should be ready to discuss what an orphan is and why some children don't live with their birth parents. The concept of wishing and its power in the story is a key element to talk about. The resolution is very happy, so it doesn't require prepping for a sad ending. A parent might observe their child expressing feelings of not fitting in, or hear them say things like, "I wish I had a different family," or, "Why don't I have a grandma?" It’s also a good choice for a child facing a holiday in a new family situation.
A younger child (5-6) will connect with the magical elements: the doll's wishes and the perfect Christmas Eve discovery of a new home. An older child (7-9) will better understand the emotional depth of Ivy's loneliness, her bravery, and the poignant longing of the policeman's wife, Mrs. Jones. They will grasp the theme of a "found family" on a more complex level.
What makes this book unique is its dual narrative structure. By giving the doll, Holly, a parallel consciousness and longing, the story externalizes and validates Ivy's internal feelings. This makes the potentially heavy topic of being an orphan feel gentle and accessible. It frames the creation of a family not as a legal process, but as a magical fulfillment of wishes, giving it a timeless, fairytale quality.
Ivy, a six-year-old orphan, runs away from her dreary children's home on Christmas Eve, determined to find the grandmother she's sure she has. At the same time, in a bustling toy shop, a beautifully dressed doll named Holly wishes desperately for a child to belong to. The narrative follows their parallel journeys of longing. Ivy finds her way to the town of Appleton, where she sees Holly in the toy shop window. A series of gentle, magical coincidences brings Ivy to the home of a kind police officer and his wife, a childless couple who have been wishing for a child of their own. They buy Holly for Ivy, and together the three of them, plus the doll, form a new family.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.