In ancient Italian folklore, legend has it that an old woman called La Befana flies from house to house leaving toys for good children on the twelfth day of Christmas.

Inspired to share this beloved tradition that she celebrated as a child, Kate West wrote a children’s book titled La Befana and The Star, adding a modern culinary twist to the legend: when La Befana sees a beautiful star in the sky — the Christmas Star — she is moved to bake and deliver star-shaped cookies. She bakes so much love into the cookies that whoever takes a bite also feels a glow of love and joy from within.