Merry Christmas, Gus

Gus is grumpy when it comes to Christmas. He doesn’t like anything about it––not the fancy, colorful decorations or the sound of carols ringing out in the cold, wintery night. The bright, cheerful holiday spirit that fills others with love and the itchy holiday sweaters appearing in red, white, and green––they’re disgraceful. One day, however, Gus notices the sadness in his pup’s eyes and begins to question if maybe it’s about more than just him. Perhaps if he learns to give a little more, or at least play along, he’ll find it’s not that awful after all.

This is a precious story for beginning readers. The reading level is approximately first to second grade, and the words are sparse enough to keep them intrigued. They’ll enjoy the bright, colorful illustrations that light up the pages with emotional expression. Gus’s persnickety attitude and his pup’s despair seep through them, as does the pup’s delight when Gus revolutionizes his point of view.

Some older children will enjoy this seasonal tale. It’s really best suited for a younger crowd, though. Educators of preschool and early elementary school youth will appreciate the plethora of lessons about generosity, sharing, and thoughtfulness that can be derived from its content.