Elmo Saves Christmas

This Pictureback adaptation of the 1996 PBS special gives young Sesame Street fans the core of a genuinely smart holiday lesson: when you wish for Christmas every day, the magic drains right out of it. The story — tracing back to an 1892 William Dean Howells tale — understands that anticipation and scarcity are part of what makes celebrations meaningful, and Elmo's journey to a chaotic future where no one enjoys the holiday anymore is a lesson worth reading every December. Ellen Appleby's warm, colorful illustrations keep everything cheerful. As a Pictureback tie-in, the plot is thin and moves quickly; this is not a deep literary experience. But as a seasonal read-aloud with a real point, it earns its place on the holiday shelf. Faith-friendly in a broadly secular Christmas spirit.