The youngest and smallest of King Wenceslas' pages, Stephen is used to teasing from his peers and criticism from the Chamberlain. When the king calls for him at the Feast of St. Stephen, he's sure it can't be anything good, and is puzzled and even resentful when he is told he will accompany Wenceslas on an errand through the wintry night, to deliver food and fuel to a poor peasant. The journey is a difficult one, and Stephen loses heart until encouragement from the king, and treading in his footsteps helps to lead him on. It is only at the peasant's hut, witnessing the joy that they have brought, that he begins to see what their errand is all about. As they depart, Stephen leaves a gift of his own for the peasant's son, demonstrating he has learnt the lesson his master intended...

Using John Mason Neale's classic nineteenth-century Christmas carol, Good King Wenceslas, as a starting point, English children's author and critic Jean Richardson spins the story of the famous king and saint's page who, in the song, accompanies his master on a night-time visit to a peasant's hut. Stephen's story is considerably fleshed out here, as Richardson imaginatively expands upon the few details we are given about him in the original source. What would the page in the carol have thought of the errand on which he was embarked? How would he have felt, being asked to forego his own celebration, to head out into a blizzard? These and other questions are addressed in the engaging story, which is paired with lovely artwork from illustrator Alice Englander, who has worked with Richardson on other titles as well. Unsurprisingly, given my love for wintry scenes, my favorite spreads here were the ones devoted to the wintry landscape through which Wenceslas and Stephen move. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books that expand upon the original carol (which is reprinted in its entirety on the decorative endpapers), and for children's stories about the true meaning of Christmas. ( )