Reviewed by Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite

The Cookie That Saved Christmas is a children’s picture book written by Billy Baldwin and illustrated by Liesl Bell. On arrival at Crowsfoot Hill Orphanage, Dirk is surprised to see that there are no decorations and no Christmas spirit. Investigations reveal that the parents of the caretaker, Miss Crouch, had been lost at sea when she’d been a child, and that she no longer celebrated for that reason. Afraid to upset Miss Crouch, the children of the orphanage eventually stopped believing in Santa. Dirk bakes some Christmas cookies and the smell draws Santa’s attention as he flies overhead. He calls in and leaves a surprise that changes the lives of all at the orphanage... the gift of Christmas spirit.

So beautifully illustrated, even inside the covers, The Cookie That Saved Christmas delivers a large bounty of good cheer, as this sorrowful Christmas tale becomes one of hope and happiness. Billy Baldwin and Liesl Bell have delivered the most beautiful gift in this tale which teaches that even after tragedy and misfortune, there is always enough room in a person’s life for Christmas cheer. The memories from Dirk’s childhood reminded me of the laughter which I had experienced in my own childhood, where baking was a sheer delight. I found the story to be well crafted and set out, with each twist in the tale making perfect sense as I turned page after page, unable to stop smiling. I thoroughly enjoyed The Cookie That Saved Christmas and wholeheartedly recommend it to be read to and by children aged 5-12, so that they can also build wonderful memories of the Christmases in their days to come.