It’s the Only Thing I Really Want

The All-I'll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll
Written by Patricia C. McKissack & Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
Age Level: 6-9 Years
Published September 11, 2007

Dear Santa…

Nella desperately wants a Baby Betty doll, but it’s the Great Depression and her family is poor. Her sisters discourage her from getting her hopes up, but she writes a letter to the North Pole anyway. On Christmas morning, the girls receive a humble bounty of some fruit and nuts, plus a peppermint stick. But their parents have scrimped and saved for one special extra gift - the Baby Betty doll.

“Christmas always came to our house, but Santy Claus only showed up once in a while.”

This time of year, I know that many of us remind our children how incredibly fortunate they are. With joblessness and homelessness on the rise because of the economic hardship caused by COVID, this conversation felt especially important this year. This book is such a beautiful way to provide insight into the difficult reality that many families face. And it shows that while Nella and her family don’t have much, they still have an abundance of love, joy, and hope, which is ultimately all that matters..