Book Description:
Long ago in a faraway place there lived two mothers. One, a humble peasant
woman who struggled daily to provide for her children. And the other, a mother spider who also worked hard to care for her family. And, although they may appear as different as night and day, these two mothers had more in common than would first seem.
One bitterly cold, bleak Christmas Eve their two lives and stories intertwine like gossamer threads stitching together a quilt.
As the only holiday gift she can give her children, the peasant woman goes to the forest to get a small tree, never noticing that someone has made a home among it branches. During the night the mother spider repays the gift of shelter, resulting in a Christmas celebration that neither mother will ever forget.
Based on an old Ukrainian story, acclaimed author Trinka Hakes Noble crafts an entirely original and heartwarming tale of kindness, compassion, and the grace that can be found in the true spirit of Christmas.
“Noble’s retelling hews closely to tradition, weaving together a tale of a destitute family, Ukrainian spider mythology, and the celebrations of Christmas in the depths of a freezing winter. Constanza’s sweetly rendered snowy scenes with gently cast light from lanterns will appeal to those seeking holiday folklore.”
“The retelling contains simple prose, and the illustrations carry the weight of mood-building, making this a suitable addition to collections needing deeper Christmas collections for picture book readers.”
– School Library Journal ~ August 2026
“I can’t wait to read this one….gorgeous title, gorgeous cover.” – Gregory Maguire
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Goodreads.com and your favorite independent bookstore.
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