Nine Days to Christmas A Story of Mexico

Generations of readers have treasured this 1960 Caldecott Medal winner and its tale of a little Mexican girl's excitement at the approach of Christmas. Ceci eagerly awaits Las Posadas, the traditional nine-day series of yuletide celebrations. This year she'll lead the candlelight procession that reenacts Mary and Joseph's trek to Bethlehem. Meanwhile, Mother takes her to the old marketplace to choose her very first piñata. Ceci is dazzled by the colorful array of options, and after making her choice has second thoughts about the fate of her piñata once the posada takes place.
Graced by evocative illustrations, this international holiday classic is now available in a lovely hardcover edition. "The youngest child will be completely transported by this story," noted The Atlantic, and readers of all ages will be charmed by the child's-eye view of Mexican culture.

Marie Hall Ets (1895–1984) wrote and illustrated 22 children's books and nonfiction books. She won the Caldecott Medal in 1960 for Nine Days to Christmas.
Ets' coauthor, Aurora Labastida, was the children's librarian at the U.S. Embassy's Benjamin Franklin Library in Mexico City.