The Candy Maker's Christmas

"Only the finest will be accepted," thinks August, a candy maker in Cologne, Germany, who is charged in this iconographic animated tale with creating the perfect candy concoction for the king's family for Christmas. A Scrooge-like presence who drives poor children away from his goodie-laden shop windows, the perfectionist August labors over his mixing bowls, stirring and mixing sweet ingredients until--at last--he completes his masterpiece: a whole bushel of red and white glistening candy canes. Enroute to see the king, August stumbles over an urchin in the snow in front of the Cathedral--an accident that leads to August's discovery of the real gift of Christmas, as symbolized in the letter ("J") formed by holding one of his candy canes upside down. A solid effort, marred only by the somewhat lackluster narration. Recommended. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)