A Dolly for Christmas

September 21, 2020
Schlapman, a founding member of the band Little Big Town, writes from the heart in her debut children’s book, in which a girl modeled on her daughter Daisy shares her parents’ longing for a new baby to join their family. Frustrated when wishing and praying fail to bring her a sibling, Daisy decides “it was time to take action.” With Christmas approaching, she mails Santa a letter pinpointing the sole item on her wish list. Her father urges her to be patient, reassuring her that “God will give us the perfect gift when the time is right.” After an email affirms that the time has come, mirroring Schlapman’s real-life story, the family welcomes a newborn, whom they name Dolly. Readers may well be confused by the infant’s sudden appearance—though a background sign at one point reads “Adoption Agency Christmas Party,” the child’s provenance is never explicitly mentioned in the text—but Huff’s candy-colored digital images underscore Daisy’s sincerity, and a portrait of the real-life sisters adds sweetness to this earnest story. Ages 4–8.