The Gift of the Magi
By O. Henry (illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger)

O. Henry’s most well-known short story, The Gift of the Magi, is the story of a poor young couple in New York City in the early 1900s. It is nearly Christmas. Having no money, they each give up what they prize to buy the other a gift. She cuts her beautiful hair to give him a watch fob. He sells his watch to buy combs for her hair. In the end, neither can use their gifts, but find their love and willingness to surrender what they held dear for each other to be the most important gift of all.

This is the version I’m giving to one of my great nieces. There is another book of the same title out with P.J. Lynch as the illustrator. Both are beautifully done.

A Christmas Carol
By Charles Dickens (illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger)

We’ve all read or heard this Christmas favorite and watched the many stage and movie versions. This beautiful rendition of A Christmas Carol is illustrated with delicate water-color pictures by Lisbeth Zwerger.

The Littlest Angel
By Charles Tazewell (illustrated by Paul Micich)

First published in 1946, The Littlest Angel is the classic story of a small boy, newly arrived in Heaven, missing his dog, and in constant trouble by singing off-key in choir and struggling to keep his halo about him. He finds it a bit easier when a small box of “treasures” left on earth is retrieved by an older angel. When it becomes known in Heaven that there is to be a special birth, he sacrifices his treasure to give a gift to the Christ child. He tries to hide it among all the other magnificent gifts, but God reaches out for it and “is well pleased.”

I read this to my child and, to this day, can’t get through it with dry eyes. I’ve given it to every little child I know.