Petunia’s Christmas

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ROGER DUVOISIN was born in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1904 and came to the United States in 1925. He wrote and illustrated 40 books–including five books about Petunia–and illustrated more than 100 written by other authors, including The Happy Lion by his wife, Louise Fatio. He received the Caldecott Medal in 1948 for White Snow, Bright Snow and a Caldecott Honor in 1966 for Hide and Seek Fog, both written by Alvin Tresselt. He was also a distinguished magazine illustrator and an important New Yorker cover artist starting in 1935. Roger Duvoisin died in 1980.

While taking a walk in the snow, the pet goose Petunia meets Charles, a most charming and handsome gander. Handsome, yes–and hefty, because poor Charles is being fattened for Christmas dinner by the farmer next door. Will the gander of Petunia’s dreams be served up roasted, with applesauce on the side?
Petunia’s determination to save Charles, even if it means posing as Santa Claus, results in “one of the simplest, funniest, and most original of Christmas stories,” wrote the Chicago Tribune when this book was originally published in 1952. A yuletide classic by a Caldecott Medal winner, Petunia’s Christmas is still making children laugh as it shows the true spirit of Christmas.

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