PreS-Gr 2On the day before Christmas in 1929, Georgie and his papa go out to the woods to chop down a tree to decorate, but Georgie isn't looking forward to the holiday the way he usually does. Papa has told him that times are tough and Santa might not be able to get him new ice skates to replace his old, too-small pair. Back at home, his mom gently reminds him that Christmas is about doing special things for other peopleand he spends the whole night sewing a Santa suit and making a small gift for each of his parents. To top off the good feelings, he even receives a new pair of skates after all. The appealing illustrations glow with lamplight and provide many small details that ground this story in a Pennsylvania farmhouse in the 1920s, and Georgie's dark eyebrows and freckles give him personality. VERDICT A pleasant, if slight, slice-of-life tale.Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library

A boy named Georgie secretly makes presents for his parents and surprises them on Christmas morning, when he receives a surprise gift himself. The setting is rural Pennsylvania in 1929. Georgie, who looks about 10, has sent a letter to Santa asking for new ice skates, as his are too small, but Georgie's dad tells him Santa might not be coming to their house that year. On Christmas Eve, Georgie takes his mother's sewing kit and some of his father's clothes to his room, where he stays up all night making presents and a Santa suit for himself. On Christmas morning he dresses as Santa and gives his mother a handmade pincushion and his father a key chain. They surprise Georgie with the skates he wanted, as a gift from them rather than Santa. This conclusion neatly sidesteps the issue of Georgie's belief in Santa and whether Santa is real. Dark, rather depressing illustrations establish a moody atmosphere in the house, with effective characterization of Georgie as a child with both worries and determination. All the characters are white. The title is a misnomer, as Georgie doesn't really steal anything but simply borrows his mother's sewing kit and his father's clothing. The cover illustration shows a sad Georgie holding Christmas tree decorations and wearing a Santa hat, implying he has stolen those decorations. An entertaining story with a plucky main character, a problem-solver rather than a thief. (Picture book. 4-7)