David Diaz and Eve Bunting pair up again as illustrator and author in the picture book, December. This is the story of a boy and his mother who are homeless and living in a cardboard box. It is Christmas Eve, and they once again go to sleep under the old calendar picture of a Christmas angel hanging on their "wall." Little do they know that they have much more than the old woman with a faded rose who comes knocking on their box that night to find a warm place to sleep. After inviting her in to spend the night, their luck begins to change and the family is left wondering. Was the old woman their very own Christmas angel?
Diaz's rich illustrations once again pull in the reader with color and definition. The bold acrylic colors provide a feast for the eyes. His use of black defines each feather of December's wings on the cover of the book. Inside pages reflect text on colorful collage backgrounds in geometric patterns with Diaz's signature paintings on the facing pages. His paintings are almost completely full page with close ups of the characters highlighting the angles of their faces and strengthening the overall storyline for beginning readers. Young and old will appreciate the message of hope and the beauty found on every page.
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