The Little Snowgirl

It is almost Christmas in the Russian village where Pavel and his wife, Caterina, live. But as they watch the children of the village playing in the snow, they are sad, for the one thing they want more than anything in the world is a child of their own.

That night, as Pavel tries to sleep, he has an idea. He will go outside and make them a child from the snow. At dawn he finishes and goes inside for Caterina. But when they return, something wondrous has happened. The little snowgirl seems to be alive. But is she real?

Pavel and Caterina soon find out that their new daughter is not quite like other children. She is loving and happy but she cannot sleep inside near the fire nor can she eat the warm porridge Caterina gives her. Still, they are happy with their little snowgirl – until Christmas Eve, when Caterina insists on taking her inside to sleep.

Carolyn Croll shares a moving story of the power of love and the magic of Babouschka – who brings children presents at Christmas – in this tale, richly illustrated with the wonderful color and detail of its Russian setting.