107. Emmet Otter's Jug-band Christmas. Russell Hoban. Illustrated by Lillian Hoban. 1971. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, Christmas, picture book, animal fantasy]
First sentence: Christmas was coming and it was coming fast. It was coming to the town where the houses huddled with their cozy windows shining in the winter dusk. It was coming to the country where snow lay drifted up against the barns and the firewood was all stacked beside the houses. And it was coming to the river and the little run-down place where Emmet Otter and his mother lived, near Frogtown Hollow. Christmas was coming, and money was more scarce than ever.
Premise/plot: Emmet Otter desperately wants to buy a store bought present for his Ma. Ma Otter desperately wants to buy a store bought present for her son. Both realize that it's an almost impossible dream. Money is not to be had. Ma depends on doing the washing--in her washtub--to bring in a bit of money. Emmet depends on his odd jobs--thanks to the toolbox his father left him. Not a spare penny to be found. But when the town has a talent show with a prize of fifty dollars, both must decide if it's time to risk it all for a dream.
My thoughts: I love, love, love, love crazy-love the Muppet adaptation of Emmet Otter's Jug-band Christmas. I do think the ADAPTATION is better. Or perhaps it is just more familiar. The adaptation gives us music, songs, lyrics. The book gives us song titles and a small fraction of the lyrics. And the two don't really have much of a connection except for one or two song titles that are *almost* the same. Still, this one is an enjoyable, cozy read. It's just not quite as magical as the adaptation.
© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers
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