Katherine Paterson, the author of several distinguished novels for young readers, here presents a collection of nine short stories [Angels and Other Strangers]….

Besides being entertaining, these tender stories remind us of what Christmas is all about—tolerance, forgiveness, love, patience, generosity, kindness, faith. Most seem intended for adults, although two come quite close to being genuine children's stories—"Many Happy Reruns," in which a young girl runs to the statue of Jesus in a church, thinking she has killed her baby brother because she hit him in jealousy and anger; and "Maggie's Gift," in which two orphans are Christmas guests of a lonely widower. This story, incidentally, is the funniest of the lot and will awaken rueful recognition in both children and adults.

This modest anthology may not win new accolades for the author, but it takes its legitimate place in her oeuvre….

Ellen Rudin, in a...