"Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas" by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Lillian Hoban (1971)

LILLIAN HOBAN (1925-1998) was an American illustrator and children's writer best known for the many picture books created with her husband Russell Hoban in the 1960s and early 1970s. The centerpiece during this period of time was the Frances series written by Russell. In all,the Hobans collaborated on at least twenty-seven children’s books between 1964 and 1972. Standouts in of this collaboration include the Brute Family books: The Little Brute Family (1966) and The Stone Doll of Sister Brute (1968). 
The couple's final collaboration was the 1971 holiday classic Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, based on the short story The Gift of the Magi by O'Henry. The book told the story of Emmet Otter and his widowed mother who enter a talent contest to earn money to buy each other Christmas gifts. The book won the Christopher Award in 1972. In 1977 the Jim Henson Company produced the much beloved television film adaptation, as well as a musical stage adaption in 2008.
Hoban went on to find great success as an author and illustrator of the ''I Can Read Books'' series about the chimpanzee Arthur and his little sister, Violet. During her long career Hoban illustrated or wrote more than 100 children's books.
Learn more about the illustrator.