Katie Carew sees Christmas from several points of view when she suddenly changes places with her neighbor, a department store gift-wrapper, and one of Santa's elves.

Combining the two things she loves, painting and animals, Quinn Cooper makes ornaments to raise money for he local pet shelter.

Violet is still grieving her mother's death when her father marries the meanest teacher at school, making her move to a new home, and when she finds a Christmas Wish List that her mother had written for her to complete, she works to honor her mother's wishes.

Left in charge of her home and infant sibling when her parents are called away at Christmastime, Bettina disregards a family custom about leaving out rice pudding for the nisse, who make their magic known when the baby disappears. "Christmas has come, and with it a sparkling white winterfrost over the countryside. But twelve-year-old Bettina's parents have been called away unexpectedly, leaving her in charge of the house, the farm, and baby Pia. In...