Caldecott Medal Winner

Nine Days to Christmas

by Marie Hall Ets

Summary

Ceci, a young girl in Mexico City, is finally old enough to have her own posada and chooses a star shaped piñata to break at the holiday party. Ets, working with coauthor Aurora Labastida, shows everyday life in mid century Mexico in soft pencil and color drawings. The book follows Ceci's mix of excitement and sadness as she waits the nine days and then lets her beloved piñata go.

Historical Context & Significance

Written jointly with Aurora Labastida, this was one of the first Caldecott winners set in contemporary Mexico rather than a folktale past.