First published 2010
Mike Huckabee spots a perfectly sized box under the Christmas tree in mid-December. He knows it must contain the football he desperately wants. The temptation becomes unbearable. Mike talks his sister Pat into opening their presents right away instead of waiting for Christmas morning. They tear into their gifts and play with them immediately. But when Christmas arrives, their muddy football betrays their secret. Their parents discover what happened. Through conversations about Christmas traditions and the value of waiting, Mike and Pat discover that patience makes rewards sweeter. The lesson transforms their next Christmas into something more meaningful than either sibling expected.
Genres: fiction, christmas, family-life
Vibes: emotional, heartwarming, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family
Period: Christmas, Mid-December
32 pages · Hardcover · G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers