Yoon and the Christmas Mitten    by Helen Recorvits & Gabi Swiatkowska Order:  USA  Can Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2006 (2006) Hardcover      Reviewed by Hilary Daninhirsch For a non-Christian child, Christmas can be an isolating, even confusing time of year. Yoon, a Korean-American, learns all about Mr. Santa Claus in school. Her parents explain that Santa Claus is not a Korean custom, and that they are 'not a Christmas family.' Yoon finds this very hard to accept and understand, particularly since she realizes that Mr. Santa Claus will leave presents at the homes of most of her classmates. Yoon is full of ideas as to how she can lure this elusive fellow to her home. On Christmas Eve, Yoon pins a colorful mitten on her blanket, and reminds her father that she is both Korean and American. During the night, the mitten is replaced with a present just for her: a brand new beautiful red dress. Yoon wears this dress to celebrate her own New Year's celebration, then shares her holiday stories with her friends at school. The book celebrates Christmas and honors differences among children who may have holiday traditions that do not include Christmas and Santa Claus. The story is as beautiful and warm as the pictures, which are soft yet laden with vibrant colors, giving it an Impressionistic feel. This is an outstanding book for any child, regardless of religion or ethnicity. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews