Frances Rosalie Murphy worries for her fun-loving musician uncle in this lovely Christmas picture book, concerned that the ever-deepening snow will prevent him from reaching home safely. As she and her sisters and mother make their Christmas Eve preparations, and the weather grows ever more terrible, Uncle Ambrose, cumbered by a crippled leg, tries to make his way home through the snow. Falling and unable to get up, he is aided by a massive brown dog—perhaps an angel?—who helps him up and guides him home, before disappearing back into the snow, never to be seen again...

Apparently based upon a family legend related by author Frances Ward Weller's grandmother, The Angel of Mill Street pairs an engaging story with beautiful artwork from illustrator Robert J. Blake, who also worked with Weller on an earlier picture book, Riptide. I appreciated the way in which Rosalie's story played out in the text, while Uncle Ambrose' experiences were told exclusively through the illustrations, until the two narratives "met up" and became one. As someone who loves wintry vistas, I thought that the artwork itself was gorgeous, perfectly capturing the beauty and ferocity of a winter storm. Recommended to picture book readers looking for heartwarming family stories (with a miracle or two thrown in) set at Christmastime. ( )