A powerful Christmas tale by beloved New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Patricia Polacco. The Stowell family is abuzz with holiday excitement, and Frankie, the youngest boy, is the most excited of all. But there's a cloud over the joyous season: Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and Pa hasn't returned yet from his trip to Lansing. He promised to bring back the oranges for the mantelpiece. Every year there are nine of them nestled among the evergreens, one for each of the children. But this year, heavy snows might mean no oranges . and, worse, no Pa This is a holiday story close to Patricia Polacco's heart. Frankie was her grandmother's youngest brother, and every year she and her family remember this tale of a little boy who learned--and taught--an important lesson about giving, one Christmas long ago.

"Holiday treats abound in a colorful and touching story of generosity and the ties that bind, based on a story of the author's great-uncle. "-- Publishers Weekly "Autobiography melds with history in this poignant tale of a family tradition, set around Christmastime during the Great Depression."-- Booklist ".