Snow blankets the cranberry bogs, the scent of pine is in the wind and, in the tiny village of Cranberryport, Mr. Whiskers sits, steeped in gloom. Christmas is fast approaching, and his pond—frozen smooth—should be aswirl with skating children. Mr. Whiskers himself ought to be darting delightedly among them. But not this year.

Crabby Cyrus Grape has spoiled all that by claiming the pond as his own. Alas, Mr. Whiskers cannot locate the deed that might prove otherwise. To compound his troubles, he gets a letter from his busybody sister announcing a Christmas visit. "You can't take care of yourself," she writes, and adds ominously that she plans to take him to the city to live with her.

While Mr. Whiskers broods, Maggie and Grandmother, his old friends from the other side of the dunes, get to work putting Mr. Whiskers' harum-scarum cottage in order. Their help manages to turn a potentially dreary holiday into a joyful and triumphant occasion.

Everyone who loved Cranberry Thanksgiving is sure to welcome this sprightly sequel. As in the previous tale, the Devlins provide a special holiday bonus, a recipe for scrumptious cranberry cookies.

From the dust jacket