Country Angel Christmas by Tomie dePaola (1995) is exactly what the title says it is. The story takes place in a heavenly countryside. All of the characters, except Saint Nicholas, are Angels. Saint Nicholas visits the country Angels to say this is the year they’ve been chosen to make the Christmas celebration for all of heaven. As the Angels work on preparations for Christmas Eve, three young angels search for a way to help. They are turned away from the kitchen, away from the forest, away from the music room, and even shooed away from helping with the barn animals. When Nicolas arrives on the morning of Christmas Eve, he gives the three little angels and important responsibility. They are delighted and everyone is surprised by how important their contribution is at the end of the story. This is classic Tommy dePaola. The story has relevance and his illustrations safely predictable.
