Tree Time! Dream Snow by Eric Carle

A rotund farmer does his evening chores, feeding his five farm animals--Horse, Cow, Sheep, Pig, and Rooster--and heading gratefully back to his cottage. There he spreads some honey on bread, and with a cup of peppermint tea, plops heavily into his favorite chair.

Soon he's resting in front of the fire!

"HEAVENS!" HE SAID. "IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS AND IT HASN'T SNOWED YET!"

Soon he's dozing and dreaming of snow.

In his dream he imagines his farm animals, called One, Two, Three, Four, and Five, sleeping in the snow-blanketed shed.

Suddenly, the farmer wakes and sees the snow outside.

"OH, ME! OH, MY! I ALMOST FORGOT!"

He suits up for an expedition outside--boots, fur lined cap, red coat and green gloves, and tossing a sack over his shoulders, he soldiers through the snow to the barn, where he unpacks his sack and assembles--a small Christmas tree with sparkling lights, colored balls and tinsel, under which he places gifts for One, Two, Three, Four, and Five.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

In what may be his only Christmas story, Eric Carle's Dream Snow (Philomel Books, 2015) is out in a revised new edition as a board book. The acetate overlays of nightfall and falling snow in the original full-sized picture book are replaced here with sturdy flaps for younger fingers which open to reveal the animals sleeping in their stalls and what is hidden inside the farmer's pack. Although the white-whiskered farmer bears a striking resemblance to St. Nick, there's no hint of a sleigh trip ahead, just the simple gifts of the holiday. This one is perfect for preschoolers to share during Yuletide.