Advent Books

Paige Covington, a spoiled 17-year-old young woman (a modern day scrooge), thought only of one thing in this life-herself. She made selfish choices with little consideration or thought for others around her. Selling her loyal bay gelding simply because he did not bring home the first place ribbon after a jumping competition or walking out of store with unpaid merchandise when she felt the sales clerks were wasting her valuable time, were just two examples of the way Paige lived her life.

To her surprise, she was arrested for the shoplifting, and fortunate for her, the judge did not care that her intentions were to send the money via mail with a nasty complaint letter regarding the slow service of the store. He sentenced her to 60 hours community service working with the handicap at a hippotherapy clinic.

Between this experience and a developed friendship with levelheaded kindhearted 14-year-old Lindsey, Paige found herself challenged. By the time her community service was completed, Paige discovered there was more to life than simply thinking of herself resulting in one special memorable Christmas.

A Tuff-To-Beat Christmas is a warm heart-felt story that will surely reach anyone who reads this book. Once I started, I could not put it down until the last page read. Betty Briggs is an inspiring visual writer worthy of consideration and I highly recommend this young adult book.

I really liked the author's light, engaging style and her use of humor and dialogue. I don't know much about horses myself, but Briggs skillfully weaves in everything you need to know to appreciate the story.

A very cute book. Paige is a teen ager who parents has given her everything she want, because of being an only child. Paige learns a very valueble lesson by sharing with others who haven't much. It is a good book, I throughly enjoyed it. I'll put it on my list of Christmas books to read.

I really enjoyed this book. Very cute! A great story on service, which showed how the one serving is often the one more blessed than those they serve.

What a great Christmas book for any age! I truly enjoyed reading this and now my three girls will take turns, as well. :) The photographs were a fun bonus and I dipped my toe into an area that I wasn't too familiar with--horses!! I was also reminded exactly what the true meaning of Christmas is all about and that warmed my heart! :)

ISBN 0439104815 - Normally, I've got to read a book to know how I'm going to rank it, but this one was so very clearly original, just based on the cover, that I had high hopes for a 5 star book. Working my way through a shelf full of holiday books is turning out to be a pleasant experience and The Christmas Crocodile was a great start to the Christmas titles!

Alice Jayne found the Christmas Crocodile under the tree on the night before Christmas and, from there, the story gets a little wilder with almost every page-turn. The croc's appetite is bound to get him in trouble, as he eats everything in sight and the family debates what to do with him. Is it possible for the Christmas Crocodile to go too far? And is it possible that the family would miss him if he left?

Author Bonny Becker does a fantastic job creating an incredibly eccentric family and making a crocodile under the Christmas tree seem perfectly normal, but she couldn't have done it without illustrator David Small. Small's page-by-page visual demolition of the family's home is great, in part because he makes the croc look so innocent and as curiously happy as a kitten. Hilarious in both writing and images, The Christmas Crocodile still manages to have a nice Christmas-y message in there, too. Even if your child is old enough to read on his/her own, this is one for you to read aloud to them. Kids will roll on the floor and parents just might join them. Well worth picking up!

One negative note: the cover is standard paperback, but the binding of my copy is stapled, which makes it a bit flimsy and more likely to be damaged by little hands.

- AnnaLovesBooks

This book is hilarious. I bought it when a fairly generous employer gave me purchasing power at the wonderful Sam Weller's Book Store in SLC; I said I wanted to do book reviews as the books and readings editor for an online pub, but really I just needed books for my daughter and couldn't afford any.

I was surprised and pleased to see I liked it as much as my daughter, though I found I had much to explain as she watch me laugh till I cried. I could see this book being used in an adult western civ class...a person could read all kinds of things into it...about cultural appropriation, about egocentrism, about colonialism... I have two daughters now, and both absolutely love it, but sometimes I read it for myself and to other adults after the girls have gone to bed. The illustrations, by the way, are fantastic. If I were to suggest one Christmas book for kids, this would definitely be it. This is the one Christmas book I don't put away in January, but keep around all year.

This is a funny, quirky story about a girl who finds a crocodile under the Christmas tree. The illustrations are watercolors of a Victorian mansion, the characters are fun (most of them are sterotypes but funny to read in different voices) and the story is just very original. Children will enjoy the idea of a crocodile and it's antics, while adults will get the jokes that are probably over most kids' heads...including the last illustration without any words that ends the book with a last laugh. I would definetly reccomend this one!

My kids and I all love this book! The text and the illustrations perfectly complement each other, giving the story an old-fashioned feel and lots of humor. The quirky family members are a treasure. I highly recommend this fun story!

Start a new holiday tradition by reading the Christmas Crocodile with your family. You'll laugh at the crazy antics of the eccentric family members and the crocodile who "didn't mean to be bad." This book is a winner from beginning to end and the illustrations capture the hilarity perfectly!

This is my favorite Christmas story. It speaks to the hopeful child in all of us, who wants to believe in the unseen magic of a jolly old elf. It touches me every year since I first discovered this gem. Its power comes from the fact that it's a true story. Do something nice for yourself and read it.

I read the story of how you played Santa to the poor children. I had tears in my eyes and cried like a baby. This inspired me to do something for the children that have nothing. I went to our own post office and found some children of my own to play Santa to.

Whatever your religious persuasion, you can't help but crack a smile and shed a tear reading this book. It's not just for the holidays, but should be read year 'round. I've given it as a gift for many years now. And will continue the tradition with my own baby.

I read the story "A Christmas Story" and as a 33 year old I have been through some tough times myself but reading the story just made me cry like a baby... This is what Christmas really means. GOD has definetly left some Angels here on earth.

As an elementary school teacher I love sharing this wonderful story of a jewish man who shares the wonder of giving hopeless children a chance at hope. By reading letters to Santa written by children with no hope of receiving anything for Christmas, Jay Frankston played Santa to the joy and wonder of children of all ages in the Cleveland area for twelve years. A great story of selfless giving.

Heart breaking story of homelessness during the Christmas season with a miracle to boot. Diaz' usual fabulous artwork works well with Bunting's deft story tellings of social issues, especially here.

Very moving, very powerful discussion point with kids grades 1-4. Highly reccommend for story or book discussion groups.

December is a remarkable book -- it manages to connect homelessness to the realm of miracles and the mystery of Christmas. As a reading teacher, I've had the pleasure of meeting Eve Bunting and sharing her stories with hundreds of children. The younger set don't always understand the implications of the old lady who visits on Christmas Eve, but they are deeply touched by the generosity of a mother and child who are willing to share a cookie, a precious coat and the box over their head. The story has something of the aura of O'Henry's Gift of the Magi. December is a pleasure to read and a treasure to share.

I had to read it twice to have the story really sink in. This book is very moving and quiet. A really great job from Eve Bunting and a book to be remembered.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping, cooking, visiting, family gatherings, one seeks a few moments of quiet, of stillness. Eve Bunting and illustrator David Diaz can provide those moments with "December."

Although designated for ages 4-8, this magnificent book is truly for all ages. Sit down with your little one or your spouse or you and a cup of tea for a few moments with "December," truly a story of the spirit of Christmas.

This is one of those books in which there has been a true collaboration of writer and artist. Each page is framed by symbolic representations of the theme of each page. On the cover is a picture of an angel. The frame contains feathers in the calming colors of blue and green, while the bright colors of the angel reflect her glory.

A mother and son, homeless, are spending Christmas Eve in a cardboard box with a board for a door. They have the top of a Christmas tree that a tree salesman was kind enough to give them. It is decorated with bits and pieces of the past. Taped to the wall is the picture of the angel, taken from a calendar, the December page. The have the overcoat of the husband/father whose absence is not explained.

A knock comes at their board/door. The mother cautiously answers. An ancient, bent, homeless woman asks for shelter. They share their space, the boy gives her one of their two Christmas cookies. The next morning the woman is gone. What the boy finds is a heart-stopping miracle.

That's just half of this quiet, but powerful story about giving and sharing. Learning the rest of the story is up to you.

squirt,jessi,becca,and aunt Ceclia are all involved in a car crash. Squirt gets hurt and jessi predicts it will be the worst Kwanzaa and Christmas ever. Buy the book if your into drama and love towards your family.

It's the Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa time, (AGAIN,) for the BSC and Jessi decides to educate the BSC's sitting charges about Kwanzaa by putting on a play based on the old African legend Malindy Meets the Devil, (or something like that.) But then tragedy strikes. While Jessi is riding in the car with her Aunt, younger sister Becca and her baby brother Sqwirt, they get involved in a car crash, resulting in young Sqwirts head injury. Jessi starts to think that her Holidays are ruined, but are they?

Jessi is filled with holiday excitement. She loves Christmas, and she can't wait for Kwanzaa, when her whole family- including out-of-town relatives-will celebrate together.
But then a terrible accident occurs. Squirt hurst his head in a car crash and is rushed to the hospital.
Everyone is relieved to find out that Squirt will be okay. But meanwhile, the stress of the accident has taken it's toll on the family.
If holidays are supposed to be being together, then why is Jessi's family being pulled far apart?

In Happy Holidays Jessi, Jessi wants to have the kids in the neighborhood celebrate Kwanzaa. But then when Jessi, her sister, Aunt Cecelia, and Squirt get in a car accident, Squirt gets hurt. Will the Kwanzaa celebration happen? Or is it history?

I really liked this installment. Jessi, the narrator describes Kwanzaa, the African holiday and the history and traditions about Kwanzaa.

Jessi's redoubtable Aunt Cecilia is just as overly punitive as ever, until her father intervenes and reminds her that as long as she is living in HIS house, she will have to abide by HIS rules and not try to enforce her own. He defends his children and reminds his sister yet again that Jessi and her 8-year-old sister are still children and to cut them some slack. Chastened, the girls' aunt vows to do an about face and once again takes them Christmas shopping. Instead of chewing them out for being hungry or clowing around, the aunt bites her tongue. The only thing I had trouble with was her allowing the girls' baby brother to ride outside of his car seat when he becomes restless and fussy.

Unfortunately, they are involved in an accident and Squirt (John, Jr.) has to be hospitalized. Distraught over the baby's injuries, the parents chew the aunt out for her sheer irresponsibility (why would any ADULT allow a baby to ride in a car without being properly harnessed)? The Kwanzaa gatherings with other members of Jessi's family are strained and everybody is up in arms over the harm done to poor Squirt.

The subplot is excellent. Ann Martin has a real gift for creating dialog and scenes. The other members of the BSC plan a Kwanzaa skit and the BSCers and charges alike all get into the spirit of Kwanzaa and actually learn a few things. I laughed at the hilarious story of Malindy's Soul, the story the group put on. It was a delightful farce and really quite well woven into the story.

Fortunately, Squirt recovers and everybody has a wonderful holiday. Instead of Santa, everybody follows the Kwanzaa celebration. This book is really good.

The author and illustrator manage to do something that is rarely achievable -- an interetsting story incorporating inter-cultural elements. I bought this book for my son last Christmas and will buy these books as presents for my friends' kids this Christmas. Illustrations in this book are beautiful!

I read this book to my daughter's kindergarten class and gave the book to the teacher for Christmas. They loved it. I also took my daughter's matryoshka (nesting doll) to show the children, since the book talks about those. It was a great way to introduce them to some Russian holiday traditions with enough connection to Santa Claus that they didn't just think of it as foreign. But it really ought to be offered as a boxed set with a matryoshka just like the one described in the book! That would be really a wonderful gift.

Here's a Christmas children's book that is #32 in books of its kind, and ranked 49,000 overall...and amazon has it available in 2 to 4 weeks, just a week before Christmas. Happily, it's available in many other sites on the web.

Great book to introduce you to Russian Christmas traditions and a some common words. The illustrations in this book are great and done in the Russian style (The illustrator was is a Russian Artist).

This story blends the Western and Russian traditions of Christmas in a way that children and parents will enjoy year after year.

This is a beautifully illustrated book about how a young Russian girl helps Santa Claus. It is a wonderful introduction to the variety of ways that Christmas is celebrated in other countries, but retains enough focus on the US to make it interesting to young Americans. My daughters love the book and I enjoy reading it to them as the story is interesting for both children and adults.

I really like this book. I got if for my 2 year old to get her familiar with Christmas. Last year she had just turned 1 and had no idea what was going on other than she got to rip a lot paper. It is basically a parody of Jingle Bells and we sing it almost every night as it is one of her top 3 books right now.

This book is absolutely adorable, any child that loves the Backyardigans will absolutely love this book. If you are anything like me you find that you will have a hard time just reading the book. It's written to the rhythm of the song Jingle Bells, so I find it almost impossible to just read it. I have to sing the words to the rhythm of the song. My son gets such a kick out of it. We've spent many nights laughing and enjoying this book. I highly recommend it.

My three-year-old loves to be read to, especially from books that have flaps. This book fits right into her wheelhouse and our reading sessions are more interactive as she lifts the flaps, points out what's underneath, and giggles. This is a must for parents who (like myself) are trying to limit that daily tug-of-war with television.

Just like the "Monster Halloween Party" book, this book is wonderful for any Backyardigan fan and budding book lover. The flaps are so cute, and pretty durable. I would recommend this for any Backyardigan fan.

I bought this for my 2-year-old son who loves the Backyardigans. I love that this book has beautiful illustrations and the foils add something extra too. There are a few flips on each page and keeps my son interested in the book when he gets tired of listening to me reading. (he has ripped a few off, though) The text rhymes and I sing the book's words to my son in the tune of "Jingle Bells" sometimes and he laughs. This is one book he wants to look at and have me read to him. In fact, he got two for Christmas (one from me and grandma) and he loves them both!

I needed this for Christmas around the world at my school. The book is excellent and the children really enjoyed the story.

Another great addition to my collection. Tomie's illustrations complete this wonderful book.

Such an endearing story! This book contains beautiful illustrations. It is a Christmastime favorite.

If you are looking for the true story of the legend of the poinsettia, this is not it!!! The only thing that is the same about the legend from Mexico and this story is the fact that the poinsettias were made red on christmas eve because a little girl brought baby jesus a weed for his birthday because she was so poor. the names, plot, and special saying that the little girl's brother said in the legend is not in this book, which takes away the impact of the story. the drawings although are beautiful and the story is nice if you don't know the real legend.

I love legends. I always have. I am particularly fond of legends that attempt to explain things such as why the robin has a red breast, or why it snows on Christmas, or why the donkey says "hee haw," and other things like that. That is one of the reasons I was drawn to this little book by Tomie dePaola, The Legend of the Poinsettia.

Lucinda is a young girl who lives with her parents and younger siblings in Mexico. The colorful illustrations have that southeastern feel to it. Lucinda's community is preparing for Christmas by preparing gifts for the Christ child on Christmas Eve. I loved that the focus of gift giving was for Christ as opposed to the hustle and bustle and commercialism that is so common in American households. The gifts were labors of love too and involved special crafts, skills or homegrown gifts. Lucind and her mama have been asked to weave the special blanket for Baby Jesus as the one they have used for years is very old and worn.

When Lucinda's mama becomes ill, Lucinda is unable to finish the blanket by herself and the more she tries, the more tangled the yarn in the loom becomes. Lucinda is disheartened and worried about her mother, as well as saddened that her family has no gift to give the Christ child. Suddenly an old woman appears and suggests Lucinda pick some simple native weeds and bring them to Christ. In humility, Lucinda does that, and as you can guess, these become the beautiful poinsettia plants, the flor de la Nochelbuena, that we associate with Christmas today!

The reference and picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe was a nice touch for Catholic children who are familiar with story, and it was nice to see the shrine to our lady as part of Lucinda's everyday life. My children identified with Lucinda's fears for her mother, and also her fear of being different from the rest of the community. They also felt it was very brave of her to come forward with such a simple gift in the face of much splendor. After reading the story, my kids also became more aware of the poinsettias at church and other places and we even bought our own!

Overall I think this is a very nice book to read during the Advent season in preparation for Christmas, and a nice way for the family to focus on what is most important during this beautiful holiday.

My husband and I read this to our children and the kids loved it! They've been asking us to read it over and over again. Our six year old actually asked us if daddies could really cancel Christmas? A great holiday read!

Okay, so we don't have kids of our own so sue us. It is a delightful book and and as I was reading I thought to myself that if we had kids the husband here would probably be just like the dad in the book, because that is how he is with our 3 dogs. We could most definately see this being a big time holiday film, either for the big screen or even television since we really need to have more quality television for children. The wife is a teacher and we are thinking of ordering a whole bunch of copies for the kids as we get towards the holiday season. Many thanks to Mr. and Miss Casey.

Sean Casey had a vision somewhat different than the father from Christmas favorite "T'was the Night Before Chistmas." Nonetheless, "My Dad Cancelled Christmas" offers a great plot line that relates to parents and kids alike. The book, which tells the story of a father who loses it on Christmas Eve and subsequently cancels his family's celebration of Christmas, is illustrated by Sean's daughter Quinn, age 10. She has a great deal of talent and captures her fathers imagination well.
This book definitely should be up there on everyone's shopping list. "My Dad Cancelled Christmas" is definitely a refreshing alternative to the traditional and mundane "T'was the Night Before Christmas." It would not be a bad read to the kids before settling them down for "their long winter's nap" on Christmas Eve next holiday season. This would also be an excellent read for teachers of all elementary grades looking to expand their bookshelves and their students' imaginations. Definitely a "must" on next year's Christmas list, but why wait? It can be read year round to keep everyone in the holiday mood and get a laugh in here or there.

A fun Christmas story for children and adults. The students in my class really enjoyed this book. It is funny and it teaches a wonderful lesson. The illustrations were fun too!
Good holiday books are hard to find, but this one is GREAT!

What is it about Christmas that inspires the best bedtime stories for kids? Maybe it's simply snuggle factor. The crackle of the fire in the fireplace, the warmth of the blanket that dad tucked us in only the way dad can do it. Written by dad and illustrated by his young daughter, the book itself is a homage to the wonderful blessings of family. Reading this book to your children at bedtime will not only entertain but like most celebrated rhyming Christmas stories will teach them a wonderful lesson about appreciating what you have.

I highly recommend this children's book about the Christmas story for all ages! The story is told well for even young children to follow, but is profound enough for adults to enjoy. The illustrations are my favorite part of this book!! They are so colorful and inviting and bring the story to life. I specifically like the broad ethnicity Bettoli uses for the characters, as many cultures can see themselves in the pictures, and I believe this would allow many different people to personally relate to the story, no matter their background. The Holy Family actually looks like the region where they lived. I plan to use this book for many years with children and adults of all ages! Thank you for such a wonderful redering of the Christmas story!

This is the sweetest Christmas book you'll find anywhere. Its easy rhymes and poignant pictures will enchant you and your child. My three-year-old son has already memorized parts of it and will read it along with me. It warms my heart to hear him recite the story of Jesus' birth. I have given this book as baby gifts several times, and the parents have all loved the book as much as I have.

"This is the Stable," is one of the most refreshing books I have seen on the birth of Christ. As an adult reader looking at these enchanting pictures and reading these simple words, I couldn't wait to turn the page to the next illustration. As I read and delighted in the images, I felt a lightness of being, a hopefulness and a joy. I can only imagine the impression of what a young child would feel being introduced to the birth of this wondrous being of light through this book.

The simplicity of the words of Jesus's birth are so sweet and dear and the illustrations speak volumes.They embrace a magic and universality that is so needed in our world of separation of religions. The large voluminous angel wings wrapped around this story lets one know there is a divine order in all things. My hat is off to you Delana Bertoli and Cynthia Cotton for creating this little masterpiece that shines the light and wonderment we so need in this world for our children. A must for all young readers!

This is the PERFECT Christmas book - I bought two dozen copies to give away as Christmas gifts. The traditional Christmas Story is told in a simple yet engaging manner. The artwork however makes the story come alive - it's amazing. When one of my grandchildren (who happens to be half African American) saw the picture of Baby Jesus she said "Look Grammy, Baby Jesus is the same color as me - light brown!" and indeed he was. I especially loved the angels who appeared to the shepherds: Miss Bettoli had each dressed in a glorious bright colored flowered robe. When I saw that picture my first reaction was, "I knew my mother (since deceased) wasn't wearing a boring white robe in heaven - she wouldn't have worn bland colors when she was alive so I'm sure she wouldn't do it in heaven"! Can't rave enough about this book.

This is a captivating telling of the Christmas story for youngsters. But for me, the illustrations are what make this book stand out from others. Kids will be drawn to the gorgeous colors and the rendering of all the characters - human and animal - so that they're immediately likable and comforting. There's so much rich detail that every page encourages the creation of its own little story beyond the brief text. And there's something there for adults, too. We big people can appreciate these illustrations as artwork, admiring and enjoying the rendering and composition. I'd like to think that kids with a creative eye could learn something about art as well as experience this lyrical rendition of the Nativity, which makes it a twofer in my book.