The Christmas Tail of Sampson the Silly-Looking Sock Monkey - Burroughs, Scott and Chrysti. Illustrated by Scott Burroughs. Kregel, 2005. 32p. $12.99, Hardcover. ISBN-10: 0-8254-2300-7. [E] Self Worth—Fiction. Sharing—Fiction.

Sampson is a cute monkey made out of stuffed socks—but with no tail! He is one of several toys under the Christmas tree, but he thinks he is the most important. The other toys start to assert that they will be the most important gift on Christmas morning, making Sampson feel dejected. Not having a tail doesn’t help, and he feels unworthy. After much boasting by various toys, the tree-top angel flies down to assure them they all are important—not just as toys, but as gifts on Jesus’ birthday, to celebrate God’s love—which, she explains, is the reason for Christmas. Hearing this, the toys get together and make a Christmas gift for Sampson from their own stuffing and toy parts to help celebrate Jesus’ birthday. When Sampson opens this gift, he finds that the toys have made a tail for him. Now, Sampson and all the toys are happy as equals.

This nicely presented story is one that young children aged 5 and up will understand and learn from any time of year. There are colorful illustrations of the toys, Christmas trimmings, and the angel. Scott is a former Disney animator. Merrily recommended.

Thomas F. Howard
Howard Chapel-Ridgeville UMC
Long Corner, Maryland