Otto and the Secret Light of Christmas

Gr 2–5—A bit elfin in appearance, Otto is a well-seasoned old traveler clad in a leather hat with two tiny, antlerlike horns that indicate his mood. He is also intrigued by a postcard that he finds washed up on the beach, picturing a sky full of stars and the message, "Wishing you light in the midst of winter, and a joy-filled Christmas season." But what is Christmas? Spurred by the promise of brightening the dismal winter season of his home on the coast of Finland, Otto sets off to find the answer to that question. His long journey takes him through forests and snowy terrains where he meets several fantastic creatures: Kekri, a woodland king who looks like a walking tree; brown and furry bottle-shaped creatures called "mupples"; camouflaging "lonttis" who adopt forms that allow them to blend into their surroundings; and other talking animals. It is through the hospitality of these new friends that Otto, and readers following this illustrated chapter book, will learn that the light of Christmas comes from those moments of goodwill and kindness.