A Christmas Wish for Little Dala Horse: A Saint Lucia Celebration

PreS-Gr 2–A heartwarming story that beautifully weaves two Swedish holiday traditions: the Saint Lucia pageant and the Dala horse. With Swedish words seamlessly written into the narrative, a heartfelt author’s note at the beginning and the story of the Saint Lucia pageant at the end, this book provides immersion into a holiday tradition in a way that other books lack. The story follows Little Dala, a toy horse being made by the Woodcarver for her granddaughter. Little Dala wants nothing more than to know the joy of being loved by a child, and that dream comes true when he meets a young girl who needs a bit of encouragement to participate in the Saint Lucia pageant. With a broken ear and no swishes, swirls, dots, or dabs, the toy horse finds himself being loved by her regardless. With storytelling reminiscent of The Velveteen Rabbit, Anderson and Potocka work to show the Dala’s journey. Vivid illustrations are full of expression, bringing to life the Dala and the Jultide traditions. What is even more beautiful is the way that the memory of the Woodcarver’s husband is kept alive in the smallest of ways, through flashback scenes, a framed photograph, his grandson.