Young Marvin wants to think of a gift to make for his mother all by himself. He's determined to do this without any help from his older sister, May, maker of ideal family gifts. Everyone loves the wreath Marvin makes to hang on the trailer. Marvin loves it so much himself that he refuses to let the wreath be taken down on New Year's Day. Time passes, and so does winter. A gentle resolution to a small family drama maintains Marvin's self-respect while sustaining the interest of new readers. Brown's full-color illustrations complement Paterson's skillfully crafted few words. Beginning readers met Marvin and his family during their move to this trailer on a dairy farm in the marvelous book The Smallest Cow in the World (HarperCollins, 1988). (Ages 4-7)