Long ago a painter and her son, Paolo, visited the poor but beautiful island of Sardinia, and a shepherd shared with them his thin, hard bread called fogli di musica, pages of music. When the mother offered to pay, the shepherd smiled, took up his pipes, and filled the air with notes so sweet that Paolo danced and sang with joy.

Many years later, Paolo, a gifted composer and conductor, still hears in his heart the shepherd's pipes and has a wonderful idea. He brings his entire orchestra to the island, and on Christmas morning shares with the shepherds his own "pages of music"—a song of a night long ago, a blazing star, and a child born in a manger.

Together Tony Johnston's gentle story of giving and sharing and Tomie dePaola's glowing illustrations with their authentic Italian setting form a truly unusual Christmas book for families to treasure for years to come.

From the dust jacket