Wonderful Gift

The MOST

WONDERFUL GIFT IN the world

Mireia Olivé Obradors Anastasia Wessex Translation by Angus Yuen-Killick

For Arnau and Guillem, my little mice –Mireia Olivé Obradors

The Most Wonderful Gift in the World First English language edition published in 2026 by Red Comet Press, LLC, Brooklyn, NY Originally published as El regal més bonic del món Catalan text copyright © 2024 Mireia Olivé Obradors Illustrations copyright © 2024 Anastasia Wessex Copyright © 2024 Inuk Books, an imprint of Abacus Futur, SL Barcelona, Spain Arranged through MARINA Books Literary Agency, Barcelona, Spain Translation by Angus Yuen-Killick English text © 2025 Red Comet Press All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2024948869 ISBN (HB): 978-1-63655-168-5 ISBN (Ebook): 978-1-63655-169-2 25 26 27 28 29 30 TLF 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Printed in China Red Comet Press is distributed by ABRAMS, New York

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The MOST

WONDERFUL GIFT IN the world

Mireia Olivé Obradors Anastasia Wessex Translated by Angus Yuen-Killick

RED COMET PRESS • BROOKLYN

It was getting late and all I could think about was that it would soon be Mommy’s special day . . .

AND I STILL DIDN’T HAVE A GIFT!

“Good night, little one. Sweet dreams,” she said as she tucked me into my corner.

Maybe I will dream up some ideas of a wonderful gift to give, I thought.

The next day, I set out from the burrow, and after wandering here and there, I found a very big tree.

I’ll give her one of these WONDERFUL pine cones, full of delicious pine nuts.

I picked one up. It was so huge and so heavy.

I wasn’t going to be able to carry it, but I had a WONDERFUL idea— and I rolled it all the way back home!

But when I reached the burrow, the pine cone had shrunk and the pine nuts had fallen out along the way.

I can’t give my mom a squished and battered pine cone like this, I thought sadly.

The next day, I was in the meadow and thought, I’ll give her a really beautiful f lower.

There were so many, but standing tall was a

WONDERFUL,

pretty bright red poppy.

Its petals are so shiny.

Mommy will love it!

I carefully cut the base of the stem and slid it over my shoulder.

I was so excited that I ran all the way back to the burrow.

But when I turned around, I saw that the poppy had lost all its petals along the way.

NOW WHAT ?

I couldn’t get discouraged.

“What are you looking for?” asked Mr. Jay. “I need to find a WONDERFUL gift for my mom,” I replied.

“Do you want one of mine, little mouse?” he offered.

I happily accepted and grabbed it as if I were holding a prize.

I had finally found a most WONDERFUL gift!

As I was heading home, a breeze swept up the leaves, and it started to rain.

A sudden gust of wind caught me by surprise and took the feather and carried it away!

Drenched and disheartened, I thought, I have no gift, and tomorrow is Mommy’s special day!

That night, I snuck out when Mommy had fallen asleep.

And there I saw, in one of the puddles just outside the burrow,

THE MOON!

It would be the perfect present.

The most WONDERFUL gift in the world!

I grabbed a piece of moss.

I dipped it in the water.

Mommy will be delighted!

Happy and satisfied, I walked carefully back to the burrow so I would not lose even a tiny bit of the moon.

I gently placed the moss in my corner and fell asleep.

The next morning, I woke up with the sun and prepared a special breakfast.

I put all her favorites on a leaf, as this was a very special day!

“Wake up!” I shouted excitedly. I gave her the moss and said, “I got you the most WONDERFUL gift in the world! It’s the moon!”

But Mommy was confused.

“Sweetheart, the moon? I don’t see it.”

The water was gone from the moss, and the moon had disappeared too!

After trying so hard, my gift was ruined.

The whole day was ruined. And I started to cry.

Mommy drew me close and whispered in my ear. “Little one, do you want to know a secret?

You don’t need to find the most wonderful gift in the world, because I already have it . . .”

“YOU are the most

WONDERFUL gift in the

WORLD!”

MIREIA OLIVÉ OBRADORS is a biologist and high school teacher. An avid reader, passionate about good stories, and a nature lover, she is enthusiastic about telling stories to people of all ages.

ANASTASIA WESSEX is a freelance illustrator based in a small village in North Wales, UK. She is inspired by nature, folklore, and the joys of childhood. She draws in watercolor, but also uses Indian ink with a pen and colored pencils. Visit her on Instagram: @anastasiawessex.

A little mouse is on a quest to find the most WONDERFUL gift ever!

$18.99 US • $24.99 CN • £13.99 UK ISBN 978-1-63655-168-5

9 781636 551685

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RedCometPress.com Cover Illustrations © Anastasia Wessex • Printed in China