It's the Eve of Christmas, but there's little cheer for Fritzl, Franzl, and Hansl, the sons of the poor cobbler. For it is also wartime, and the villagers have nothing to pay a cobbler for mending shoes—nothing with which he can buy a holiday feast for his sons. How will he find the noodles and meat for the special stew he jokingly calls "Schnitzle, Schnotzle, and Schnootzle"?

As the boys shiver in their tiny hut, waiting for their father's return, a strange little man appears at the door, demanding to be let in. The boys have no food, fire, or comfort to offer, but they are too kindhearted to refuse. And the little man is too bossy and blustery to notice their full hearts and empty shelves. Or is he? For legend tells of King Laurin, the goblin king, who has a habit of making unexpected Yuletide calls. And the promise of miracles and magic is what makes the season sweeter.

Newbery Medalist Ruth Sawyer retells a folktale of the Tirol which captures the true spirit of Christmas. With glowing illustrations by two-time Caldecott Medalist Barbara Cooney, this book will be a holiday treasure for the whole family to cherish.

From the dust jacket