THE BAKERY DRAGON AND THE GIANT COOKIE

While delivering cookies, Ember finds himself in the home of a grumpy giant with no holiday spirit.

It’s Christmas Eve, and the workers at Bea’s Bakery are busy. Ember, a small and rather tenderhearted dragon, sets out to make his deliveries, but when a gust of wind blows him past his destination and lands him in a giant’s house, he decides to wait out the snowstorm by trying to convince the curmudgeon that Christmas and cookies are worthwhile. Quietly, and using lots of complex rigging (our hero is working in a giant-size kitchen, after all), Ember bakes the perfect cookie. Touched, the giant helps Ember complete his deliveries and spends the holiday surrounded by new friends. Fans of The Bakery Dragon (2024) will welcome Ember’s return; this time the adorable red dragon dons a green winter coat trimmed in white fur. Kurtz’s rich illustrations carry the story, with every sweep of snow full of movement and life. The ice blues are a perfect contrast with the rich golds of the giant’s warm house. The bespectacled, blue-skinned giant has bushy white hair and matching eyebrows and mustache. His rather imposing features soften as Ember shows him love and care. Focusing on a Scrooge-like grump learning to let others in, this tale treads familiar ground, but with its lush visuals and likable characters, it’s one that readers will no doubt enjoy returning to each holiday season.

Sweetly heartwarming.