Changes: Molly's Christmas Surprise

Revision as of 10:39, 24 October 2021

Molly's Christmas Surprise is a Random House Books American Girl publication focused on Molly McIntire. The book is a Step Into Reading - Step Three early reader retelling of Molly's Surprise.

Series Characters

Summary

Molly is a nine year old girl living in a small town in 1944 during World War II. She is described as fun, friendly, and patriotic. Her father is a US Army doctor and is in England caring for wounded soldiers, and her mother helps with the war effort at home and volunteers with the Red Cross. Molly has three siblings: Jill who is fourteen and loves fashion, Ricky who is twelve and likes to tease, and five year old Brad.

Even with the war, Molly's life is mostly unchanged; she still attends school, plays with her friends, and loves to tap dance. However, there are some changes; like every family, the McIntires ration food and grow vegetables in the backyard.

Molly, excited for Christmas, wonders if Dad will send gifts from England and writes a letter to ask. Jill tells Moll they may not hear from Dad, given that he's busy. Molly knows Jill is right but still hopes Dad will send something; she asked for a doll. That night, Mom talks to Molly and tells her it's never wrong to hope for good things, especially at Christmas; however, Christmas will be different and they'll have to make their own surprises.

The next morning Molly, Ricky, and Jill get out the holiday decorations in anticipation of decorating the tree. Since Dad is gone and Mom is shopping with brad, they combine their money to get the tree. The tree they pick is small and skinny, but cheaper than other trees; the piney smell pleases Molly. They decorate the tree to surprise Mom and Brad when they return, and the tree looks fine once decorated.

The next morning Molly gets up to see it's snowed and runs out in her pajamas to play in the snow. Ricky throws a snowball at her from the window, and Jill comes out to play as well; the sisters make snow angels and snowmen all morning. At llunctime the girls start to head in for lunch and see a package that's from Dad that says Keep Hidden Until Christmas. They agree to hide the box in the garage and cover it with a blanket. Molly makes sure over the next several days to make sure no one else comes near it--but this is difficult. She's relieved to go to the Christmas Eve Service; the secret is safe with everyone at church. After everyone else goes to bed, Jill and Molly sneak the box out and put it under the tree.

In the morning, the rest of the family is delighted to see the box as a Christmas morning treat; Molly and Jill tell them about the secret. Inside are gifts for everyone, exactly what they wanted: Jill has a new hat, Ricky has a pilot's scarf, Brad has a soldier's helmet, and Mom has leather gloves. Molly also has a doll dressed as a nurse. There's also a note to turn on the radio. There's messages from servicemen in England and Dad is on the radio, saying merry Christmas. His voice is the best gift of all. After the broadcast, the family goes to make breakfast, and Molly hugs her doll--she's thankful that even with Dad far away, he was still there on Christmas after all.

Stickers

Thirty-one stickers with images from the illustrations and the abbreviated American Girl Logo are included.

Differences between Molly's Christmas Surprise and the mentioned Central Series books

The plot of Molly's grandparents, Grammy Culver and Frank Culver, not being able to come for the holiday is dropped; thus, the children get the tree without any prompts from the news of their not coming.
Helen never knows or suspects the arrival of the box, or lectures the girls for playing.
The gifts in the box are slightly modified; Jill's hat is not a skating hat but a nice hat, and Brad does not receive the canteen along with the helmet. Other gifts given are not mentioned.

Collection Items Illustrated in Molly's Christmas Surprise

References

@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 ==Differences between ''Molly's Christmas Surprise'' and the mentioned [[Central Series]] books==
-* The plot of Molly's grandparents, [[Minor Characters in Molly's Series#Grammy Culver|Grammy Culver]] and [[Minor Characters in Molly's Series#Frank Culver|Frank Culver]], not being able to make it is dropped.
+* The plot of Molly's grandparents, [[Minor Characters in Molly's Series#Grammy Culver|Grammy Culver]] and [[Minor Characters in Molly's Series#Frank Culver|Frank Culver]], not being able to come for the holiday is dropped; thus, the children get the tree without any prompts from the news of their not coming.
 * Helen never knows or suspects the arrival of the box, or lectures the girls for playing.
 * The gifts in the box are slightly modified; Jill's hat is not a skating hat but a nice hat, and Brad does not receive the canteen along with the helmet. Other gifts given are not mentioned.