At Helen's home there are no telephones or electric lights. Cars have not yet been invented, so she and her sister and brothers must walk a mile to school, even in freezing weather. Without refrigeration, they must harvest ice from the pond.

But at night she and her family gather around the woodstove to hear stories of castles and princes in hiding. They take horse-drawn sleigh rides, snug under buffalo robes and wool blankets; and on Christmas morning have real maple syrup for breakfast.

With absorbing details of country life and elegant hand-colored woodcuts, this book captures the strength of family, the magic of Christmas, and the love of place, all year long.

From the dust jacket