Much like the story of the widow’s mite, this touching tale is based upon a French legend about a clown who has lost everything and gives the only gift he can to the Christ Child. A wonderful classic.

“The full-color pictures with subtle tonal modulations are an integral part of the design of the lumious pages full of movement and vitality. The Italianate aspects of the setting are beautifully realized.”The Horn Book

About the Author: By the age of four, Tomie dePaola knew what he wanted to be when he grew up: an artist and writer. (He also wanted to be a singer and tap dancer!) His parents bought his art supplies and let him work in a special space in the attic. Now Tomie dePaola works in a very old barn at his home in New Hampshire. At different times, Tomie dePaola has designed posters, greeting cards, and stage sets. He painted church murals and taught art, too. Now, though, he writes and illustrates children's books and paints pictures for galleries. His dream, he says, is that at least one of his books or pictures "will touch the heart of some individual child and change that child's life for the better." Tomie dePaola is very popular with his readers. More than 5,000,000 copies of his books have been sold. Each year, he gets over 100,000 fan letters and more than 1,000 invitations to speak.