The Birds' Christmas Carol

by Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin

"The Birds' Christmas Carol" by Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin is a novel published in 1888. The story follows Carol Bird, a generous and cheerful girl born on Christmas Day who touches everyone she meets. When illness confines her to bed at age ten, Carol focuses her remaining energy on planning a special Christmas celebration for the nine children of the Ruggles family, a poor working-class household living nearby. This moral tale balances heartfelt sentiment with humor and intelligence.