Reader’s Corner: The Littlest Angel

In 1946, author Charles Tazewell published the story of a young boy who arrives in heaven only to find that his boyish tendencies—inability to keep his robe clean, preferring playtime to singing, etc.—don’t quite fit in with the other angels. Some are frustrated with him, while some try to help. Finally, the boy becomes more angelic when he asks for his box of special treasures, kept under his bed on earth, and his wish is granted. 

On the night of Jesus’ birth, as the angels are preparing their finest gifts for the Christ Child, the young angel decides to give Baby Jesus the special box. The sacrificial gift pleases God so much that the box becomes the Star of Bethlehem, guiding the Magi. 

Possible theological concerns aside, the story’s theme of giving our best to Jesus resonated with children and parents. As of the author’s death in 1972, it was in its 38th printing, and there have been several adaptations, including some in which the little angel is a girl, plus a movie version. 

“Somehow—Grandma?”—a 1992 version by Cathy East Dubowski ended up in our bookshelf when our kids were young, and it has now become a favorite of my granddaughter’s. In this particular version, a young girl angel feels left out as other angels announce their gifts for the world’s children on Christmas Eve: Music, brilliant lights, evergreen wreaths and so on. 

With no definite idea, the little angel decides to make a Christmas Eve trip to earth, where she encounters a young boy feeling sad because his closest friend is sick and he hasn’t money to give her a gift. After a futile search for something suitable but inexpensive, the Littlest Angel suggests the idea of making snow angels outside the sick child’s room. Sure enough, the yard full of snow angels cheers up the sick child; her whole family enjoys looking out at them; and the little boy feels better. Back in heaven, the Littlest Angel is congratulated for her gift, reinforcing the theme of hope and joy regardless of material wealth. 

This got personal last week when my son texted me a video of his kids playing in the snow, with my granddaughter making a snow angel “to send to Nana.” Even though we’re a few hours apart, she knew it would make me smile, and of course, I promptly tucked the book in my bag to read together when we visit next week! 

Takeaways here include looking for ways to brighten someone’s Christmas; but beyond that, I encourage you to put screens and to-do lists aside and spend some time reading a Christmas storybook, either with children or grandchildren or just for personal inspiration. Some of my childhood favorites include the opening chapters of Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women” or any of the several Christmas recollections in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “Little House” books; I have some more recent favorites as well. What are some of yours?