The Night After Christmas

Rating:
Summary: 3 1/2* Down These Mean Streets Must Walk a Dog...
Review: I'm not sure, but it almost seems like James Stevenson, the superb author of many children's books, was going for the motif that Don Freeman used so beautifully in "Corduroy:" The lost or tattered stuffed animal without a home. The problem with Stevenson's "The Night After Christmas" is that it veers too sharply towards the bleak. Teddy the stuffed bear and Annie the doll have very little expression in their faces, and so it is becomes that much more difficult for the reader to identify with them. The weather is unrelentingly cold and blustery and the disarray of the neighborhood is very apparent. The bear and the doll are unhappy. Of course, who would be, tossed out into the garbage by kids who got fancier presents. "Want to sing `Jingle Bells'?" said Teddy. "Not right now," said Annie.

They are rescued by a scruffy terrier mix who warms them in a basement full of some neat looking pipes and gizmos. Even the dog, Chauncey, is having a rough time:

"I'll play with you," said Chauncey.
Thanks, said Teddy, "but I meant children."
"Nothing personal," said Annie.
"That's O.K." said Chauncey, "I'm not much for games anyway. I run, bark, and wag my tail. That's about it."

Chauncey tries to cheer them up, but they won't have any of it, and are actually a bit rude to him. Still, Chauncey cleverly finds homes for the thrown away gifts, and he is left with sleeping with his food bowl (mysteriously festooned with a red ribbon), alone again to face the mean streets of the city. I thought the tone should have been moderated with some of Stevenson's trademark dry humor, but the book is simply sad. Our son didn't want it re-read to him, and so any "message" here didn't was lost. An unusual book, I would recommend almost anything else by Stevenson, including the "Worst" series, and the books featuring "Grandpa" and "Wainey."

Rating:
Summary: enchantress526 review
Review: It is a really nice book about a doll, a teddy bear, and a dog. The doll and the bear have been thrown out for more modern toys. The dog comes by and gives them a home in his owner's basement. He goes away for one day, while the doll and bear play. The next day he brings them to a school and finds homes for them.