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In Saving Christmas, Drew and Ellie return for their fourth adventure in The Adventures of Drew and Ellie series. In this story, not only do they learn the true meaning of sharing the Christmas spirit, but they also discover that giving of yourself can be the best gift you can give.
When neighbors adopt a little girl from Indonesia, Drew and Ellie make a new friend in five-year-old Maya. They help her celebrate her first real Christmas by playing in the snow, building a snowman and baking Christmas cookies. But what makes the holiday truly special for Maya is receiving a gift she has always wanted—a Marvelous Maria doll, just like the one Ellie has. Maya’s excitement is short-lived, however, as an accidental fire ends up destroying her doll on Christmas night.
When Drew and Ellie hear of their new friend’s misfortune, they try to find a way to cheer her up. Ellie decides to give Maya her own Marvelous Maria doll, remembering what her mother said about Christmas…It’s more than just getting presents, it’s about giving them, too. And sometimes the best gifts are given in secret. After wrapping up the doll, Drew and Ellie decide to use the Magical Dress to take the present to their friend’s temporary home, the Johnson’s mansion.
Unfortunately, their plan falls apart when Ellie comes face-to-face with the Johnson’s big black dog, Max. Ellie is afraid of dogs and gets separated from Drew when she wishes herself back home. Realizing Drew didn’t come with her, she must find the courage to go back and get him…even if it means facing the dog again. A little phrase she learned from her mother helps her to be brave, and when she returns to find her brother, she discovers a few other surprises, too.
In this entertaining holiday story, Noland highlights the concept of generosity. He knows that most young children who celebrate Christmas are mainly interested in receiving presents. But he wanted to teach them that the holiday is about giving, too, and selfless giving can be the best gift yet.
“I’ve witnessed the innocent gesture of a child giving a favorite toy to another child who doesn’t have one, and I wanted to re-create that heart-warming moment,” says Noland. He also wanted to teach his readers that to be brave you need to push through your fear, and in the process you’ll find courage. “Too much fear exists in this world today,” adds Noland. “I just wanted to give children one more tool for overcoming it.”
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