Crispin has all kinds of fancy toys and lives in a fancy home. But he tires easily of his toys and breaks them. One Christmas he receives a big gift from Santa labeled as containing the only thing Crispin doesn’t have, the very best thing in the whole wide world. But the big box is empty and Crispin, disappointed, shoves it outside. When a racoon and a rabbit try to take the box away, Crispin refuses to let them have it. They return the next day to play with the box, and in trying to chase them off, Crispin gets caught up in a game of Space Base. Soon Nick and Penny come over to play everyday and Crispin looks forward to playing with them.

When Crispin Tamworth - a wealthy young pig who had always been given everything he wanted - receives a great, big, empty box from Santa for Christmas, he is initially quite distraught, chucking it out into the snow. But when Nick (a raccoon) and Penny (a rabbit) show some interest in the box, suddenly Crispin does too. The perfect setting for a game of Space Base, or of Store, Pirates or Castle, the box turns out to be a great gift after all! More than that, it gradually leads Crispin to the realization that it isn't things which provide the most fun, but friends...

Chosen as one of our December selections, over in The Picture-Book Club to which I belong, where our theme this month is toys, Crispin: The Pig Who Had It All is a delightful holiday title, one with an engaging story and appealing illustrations. The imaginary play that Crispin and his new friends engage in brought back memories for me, of similar make-believe scenarios that I enacted as a young girl. The artwork is colorful, and really quite expressive - I loved the look on Crispin's face, in many of the scenes! All in all: a sweet, enjoyable little tale! ( )