Advent Books

A director named Burton with the first name of Tim
Wrote this tale of a skeleton, tall and slim.

Jack Skeleton is the name of this "hero"
He comes with a ghost dog known as Zero.

As the title implies two holidays meet
Do we say "Merry Christmas" or "trick or treat?"

Jack wants to spread Christmas and help Santa out
But he's a little misguided when he takes the toy route.

The kids are a bit surprised by Jack as S. Claus
Some of his Christmas traditions would make anyone pause.

Before you read this give the movie a look
The film helps the reader make sense of the book.

Illustrated with drawings instead of claymation
This book still creates quite a sensation!

Although this book is aimed toward the younger readers, it is the original poem of the Nightmare Before Christmas, so no matter if you are a Burton fan or study literature, this is an essential item to add to that collectio

Hmm, where do I begin... I LOVE JACK SKELLINGTON first off, and this book is SOO COOL! And yes, you can probably tell I'm a teenage girl so far... but yeah, I read this book when I was really little (same with watching the movie) and at first it scared the crap outta me (hey, I was little). But when I got older, I started to realize that this thing kicked @$$. It made me laugh, made me smile, made me cry a little, everything! Best holiday book ever! It's not really a little kid book, but it's not too scary either. The scariest part about it are the drawings, just cuz they're so abnormal. Also... if you haven't seen the movie, make sure you do. But all in all, this is probably my favorite book. GOOD JOB TIM!

I bought a copy of this book a couple years back, only to find my young nephew (only 5 back then) reaching to look at it often when he visited. I've now decided to buy him his own copy of this book, while it's still in print, because I see this movie's "legend" continuing to grow as an annual Halloween classic. Such is the unique and wonderful world of Tim Burton; his style often does not catch on immediately, but it slowly finds its way beyond "cult" viewing and into the hearts and minds of mainstream audiences. This book features a generous offering of pre-production designs (including many of Burton's own drawings) and behind-the-scenes photos, which are fun to look at again and again. A beautifully illustrated book, and fun to own

I'd like to know more about Nightmare Before Christmas.

My children adore this very thoroughly illustrated Redwall tale! It gives faces to all of the creatures they have grown to love from reading the Redwall series.

This short tale is illustrated by Christopher Denise, who also illustrated The Great Redwall Feast. Denise does a wonderful job of capturing the characters and mood of the Redwall
world. In this tale, traveling players visit the abbey and perform at a feast marking the last day of autumn. The dibbuns hear a bedtime tale of the Snow Badger, the lord of winter. Later the Snow Badger visits the abbey grounds with his army of snow hares to bring the first winter's snow. This is a "winter's tale," the kind of tale that might be told around a fireplace on a cold winter's night, and it includes an example of a winter's tale, the tale of the Snow Badger. A winter's tale typically involves some supernatural elements (See Shakespeare's Winter's Tale for another variation on this genre or Isak Dinesen's 7 Gothic Tales.)

Illustrator Christopher Denise does a superb job of bringing a visual feast of animal characters to life in Brian Jacques' "A Redwall Winter's Tale." Amazingly talented artist.

This short tale is illustrated by Christopher Denise, who also illustrated The Great Redwall Feast. Denise does a wonderful job of capturing the characters and mood of the Redwall world. In this tale, traveling players visit the abbey and perform at a feast marking the last day of autumn. The dibbuns hear a bedtime tale of the Snow Badger, the lord of winter. Later the Snow Badger visits the abbey grounds with his army of snow hares to bring the first winter's snow. This book should be enjoyable to fans of the series and the TV show.

A traveling group of entertainers arrives at the Redwall Abbey on the last day of Autumn. The travellers put on a big show, and the Redwallers provide a huge feast. When it is time to put the Dibbuns (youngsters) to bed, Mighty Bulbrock Badger tells a bedtime story. Who brings the wintertime snows? Why, the Snow Badger, of course! But is the Snow Badger real, or just a fairy tale told to the Dibbuns? You'll have to read the book to find out. The pictures are wonderful, perfectly complementing the story. Like Brian Jacques' previous picture book The Great Redwall Feast, also illustrated by Christopher Denise, this is a perfect introduction to the Redwall series for younger readers and a great book for all ages.

I always get a kick out of reading the Santa Paws series. And this particular book about Santa Paws ranks among my all-time favorites. I love how the author is so descriptive, and I love how the characters, especially Santa Paws, are portrayed. This book isn't too intense for young children, and at the same time it's not a baby book. I'd say this kind of book applies to all ages. If you haven't read this book yet, then you have no idea what you're missing.

It was close to Christmas and with Santa Paws at home it was going to be the first relaxing holiday the Callahans had had in years. Nobody could have known that they were going to have much more than just a white Christmas.
When a huge ice storm takes Oceanport by surprise, an amazing number of accidents happen. Is this storm a disaster not even Santa Paws can face?
But Santa Paws sets out with his new sidekick, mischievous Abigail the cat, to save Christmas once again. He braves everything from falling trees and car crashes to loose cows and a cat stuck in a slippery tree, to make sure everybody has a happy holiday.

It was close to Christmas and with Santa Paws at home it was going to be the first relaxing holiday the Callahans had had in years. Nobody could have known that they were going to have much more than just a white Christmas.
When a huge ice storm takes Oceanport by surprise, an amazing number of accidents happen. Is this storm a disaster not even Santa Paws can face?
But Santa Paws sets out with his new sidekick, mischievous Abigail the cat, to save Christmas once again. He braves everything from falling trees and car crashes to loose cows and a cat stuck in a slippery tree, to make sure everybody has a happy holiday.

The protagonist is Santa Paws.The conflict is there is an ice storm and Santa Paws's family is at stake.Most of Santa Paws family are trapped in an ice storm, can Santa Paws save them? What I like best are the characters because they are funny and weird, because they are animals and talk.

It was almost Christmas, and with Santa Paws safe at home it was going to be the first relaxing holiday the Callahans had had in years. Who could have known they were going to have much more than just a white Christmas? When a huge ice storm takes the little town of Oceanport by surprise, countless accidents occur. Too many for even Santa Paws? But the hero dog escapes into the storm with his new sidekick, Abigail the cat, to face his biggest disaster ever. With a number of amazing (and a couple funny) rescues, Santa Paws is saving Christmas again!

Abigail is great, and Santa Paws is as good as ever! But why aren't Gregory and Patricia involved in any of these books anymore? It's really cool to read about Santa Paws and his rescues--especially about Abigail tagging along behind him. But if sometime there could be a book that was a little more like "The Return of Santa Paws" again... Still--a really great book!

Each verse of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is depicted on its own page along with a large, gloriously-hued watercolor illustration of the verse. Even cooler is the two-page spread at the end of the book, which brings all of the pictures together and shows how they flow into one another like a mural. The art in the book makes it a wonderful gift idea for the holidays. I actually ordered 3 copies of this book, one for our family and two to give as gifts to other family members.

I love the artwork in this book--it's amazing to see how well the two artists work together and compliment each other. I already have this book displayed among my other Christmas books for the season.

As a huge fan of the work of these two wonderful artists, I highly recommend this book. Their gorgeous illustrations for "The Twelve Days of Christmas" make this a treasure for all time, and a highly recommended purchase for anyone, whatever their age, as a keepsake of the magical Christmas season.

The drawings are simply wonderful to share with people, and a great read over tea on a cozy Christmas eve.

This book is wonderfully illustrated and showcases the talents of these two artists. Each page could stand alone. I'm looking forward to more tales of Christmas from them in the future. You won't regret buying this one!

This is as great a satire as Catch 22. As in Catch 22, underlining the satire is a passion for humanity and a merciless assault on those who abuse it and profit from preying on it. It is far superior to The King David Report which is not at all funny -- as Voltaire has shown in Candide, ridicule is the most potent weapon in social criticism.

"The Wandering Jew" is based on an old legend which narrates the tragic life of Ahasverus, condemned to an ever-lasting life of misery, until the second coming of Christ, for having refused his master Reb Joshua (Jesus) a resting place when on his way to the Golgotha. It is a personification of exile and Christian condemnation of the Jewish people. Stefan Heym has elaborated on this legend giving it a broad philosophical dimension, with deep moral passion. Ahasverus is a moral character, standing between evil and good, with a revolutionary mind and wishing to understand and improve human condition. Thre are three parallel, interlock plots, the main one taking place in Luther's Germany where the Minister Paul von Eitzen strives holiness through his ministry (disguising his ambition, greed, and sexual impulses), and at the same time fascinated by the power of evil. Although the moral issues brought up are not a novelty, S. Hyem shows courage and passion in his convictions and invites the reader to thoughtfully participate in a dramatic show of human nature. A most wonderful book!

there are only numerous books can be said that are as good as this one (one of them is also by stefan heym - king david report). layer upon layer of plots all conected and interconected. challanges the free mind as only a "prisoner" by choice in e. germany (Mr. Heym) can invent. walks on thin lines between christianity and judeism leaving no mythical stone unturned. if u were lucky enough to hear about this book, BUY IT, READ IT and tell your friends. p.s : for true lovers of literature

Based on the last words of Christ (John 21:22), this "resurrected" story is similar to Nobel laureate Par Lagerkvist's "The Death of Ahasuerus" (1958) in the sense that it is also poetic prose, and verging on its dream-like and imaginative qualities. Personally, I find Lagerkvist made a better description in his "The Sybil" (1951), but there is historical accuracy in honoring Heym and his fellow German literary figures for the most prolific treatment of the Wandering Jew in words. By the way, the address for the central character is also entirely fictious!

I came to this book after reading The King David Report, and found it stylistically similar but considerably more subtle in its subject matter. Through three interconnected narratives Heym poses a number of questions, chief among them being in what way and to what extent an individual is responsible for their own actions. The characterisation is beautifully observed; his Jesus is indecisive and pathetic, his Lucifer intelligent, sympathetic, generous and even moral. As with The King David Report, his ability to highlight human weaknesses is employed to great effect. Few writers place you so effectively inside the minds of their anti-heroes. It is a wonderful book, by virtue both of the story itself and of the ideas that underlie it.

Patricia Polacco is an excellent author! This book will bring back memories of Christmas past. I recommend any of her books!

Welcome Comfort is a Christmas story as warm and endearing as the title suggests. Welcome Comfort is a boy who has a hard time at school, and life in general. He has a weight problem, and he has always lived in foster homes.

Then someone special comes into his life. Who is this someone special? Even Welcome doesn't know until he is an adult.

This story is about a small boy who seems to have the deck stacked against him, but his life turns out to be an amazing adventure, regardless. It's about caring, sharing, loving and living. It's about a young boy who keeps trucking along even when things are tough. It's a great story.

This is one of the best Christmas stories I can read to my school children. It teaches them to be tolerant of others and keeps them guessing as to the outcome of the story. I highly recommend it.

This book has become a tradition in our family since it was inspired by grandparents Martha and Quinton Hamp, whom the author included as characters in the story. Our children love Ms. Polacco's beautiful artwork, warm-hearted characters and magical ending. Teachers love receiving this book as an addition to their classroom libraries, especially at the holidays. Highly recommended!

Wonderful, loving book that helps children see their actions through another's eyes! My students gasped with delight at the conclusion of the book. Many have been the victim of not being with the 'in crowd' at school. Through this book they have been given hope and love.

When Jessica selfishly wants Christmas Eve to be her night instead of Elizabeth,She doesn't buy a gift for Elizabeth[Her Secret Santa] instead she buys an Santa Dress. It looks good on janet but not her. She steals everyone elses Gifts instead of like Ellen's Gift of saying it was Elizabeth's gift from her. She also steals Winston's gift for Elizabeth.

Another Sweet Valley Twins fantasy edition.IOt is a copy of Groundhog Day.Jessica has to relive Christmas Eve over and over again until she learns to stop acting selfishly.Will Christmas Day ever come?!

This is a great book containing the story about two sisters, twins, who are throwing a Christmas party, hosted by the two great twins. But when Elizabeth leaks her ideas to their parents and they decide to do the party Elizabeths way and not Jessica's. Then she wishes that it never happened. Duh!the days happen all over again. In my openion, it is a very sexy and nice book.

I enjoyed this book, but i think the SV books are not original enough. Jessica is being selfish again and ends up ruining everyones christmas eve and really hurting her twin sister, Elizabeth. But when she wakes up she just keeps waking up into christmas eve's. I dont think its realistic because you'd realise that you had to stop being selfish. But its still a a good book.

I loved this book how it involved everybody in the storys mostly.

I kept up reading this at night.

I really liked the book

I was so happy we ordered this on our child's Scholastic choices for the month! The illustrations are gorgeous as previous reviewers have said. They are almost kind of medieval in appearance.

The book is written in verse and has a beautiful lyrical quality to it.

Of course, the best part is the message. An angel goes to a stable and calls out some animals. Each of the animals has to choose what it will carry. It starts with the horse who chooses the strongest looking person. It then goes to a "lower" animal who chooses the good Samaritan. Although the Samaritan is good, he's not the best. The next animal chooses one of the wise men. The angel acknowledges he is wise and will discover what's at the star. The lowest animal, the donkey chooses Mary because she needs to be carried. The angel says that's the best choice as Mary is carrying the best of all. What a cute way of sharing the story of Jesus! I found myself just as entranced as my children!

This is one of the most beautiful books one could ever own. It's the story of the first Christmas told in lilting verse through the eyes of the animals. Richly illustrated with special embossed details make this book a treasure for many, many generations. I am proud to own it in my own personal collection, and will purchase many copies as Christmas gifts for my family and friends.

I gave this book to my 3 1/2 year old son for Christmas and was afraid it would be too sophisticated for him. But he loved it as much as I do because of the rhythm of the lovely poem and the absolutely gorgeous artwork with golden accents and embossed pages. A book not only to read and look at but also to "feel". It is different from the many other Christmas books and I highly recommend it.

In ancient Nazareth an angel had a riddle for the barn animals. Who was the greatest of the four travelers and which would carry him? One by one the creatures answered--the horse first picked the soldier. Two other animals answered before the donkey told the angel, "the lady waiting here who needs bearing most of all." The three other travelers and their beasts of burden followed the donkey to the stall where Jesus was born.

This retelling of the Christmas story flows gently through a simple poem. It is stunningly illustrated for young children. With thick embossed pages, and rich colors, many will buy the book for the illustrations alone. Its simple message will become a classic in many households. - Carol Stratton, Christian Book Previews.com

I was given this book as a gift. Words cannot describe how amazingly beautiful the illustrations are. The pages are high quality and textured so the kids love how it feels. The colors are vibrant and it is a nice and easily understandable version of the story of the first Christmas.

This book is great! I can hardly put it down. I like it so much I'm ordering one for my MOm and Mom-in-law. It has tons of little stories and tidbits about Christmas that I swear I never knew. I'm a little shy and this gave me tons of cute little "did you knows" for the next cookie swap. Oh by the way, the recipes are goo too! Seriously, buy buy buy:-)

It is simply the best Christmas book I've ever bought! It has everything and more!

This book covers such a variety of subjects and is so beautifully illustrated throughout with old-fashioned artwork. From folklore to poetry, traditions to recipes, stories to songs, crafts to gift ideas; this book has it all! I just love to browse its pages to put me in the Christmas mood. It would make the most wonderful gift.

This book is load with many wonderful things that I never knew about Christmas, Lovely stories that will be passed on from Holiday to holiday every year. It won't be put away with the christmas decorations, because it keeps Christmas in our hearts all year long. I like the title beacause it covers everything about Christmas. A very great read.

I bought this book last year and love it!! It has the most charming vintage pictures! It contains so many neat things about holiday traditions and recipe's. I recommend this book for everyone on your Christmas list!

Francisco Jimenez weaves a beautiful story of a very poor, almost destitute, migrant family and their son Panchito. Panchito learns that even though he will not be getting what he most wants for Christmas, he learns the true "gift" of Christmas is having his family and their williness to sacrifice for a better life. A story for all ages and ethnicties to enjoy and savor one of the true meanings of Christmas. ..Oh, and it takes place in my own hometown which made it all the more endearing..

Many Christmas books talk about wonderous gifts and fantasy that is often too commercial. This wonderful story will help children find the true meaning behind Christmas, and see that everybody does not experience Christmas in the same manner, or get every thing they want.

This is yet another powerful children's book by Francisco Jiménez. His books, based upon his own experiences as a child of migrant farmworkers, are consistently both beautiful and instructive, heart-rending and joyous. For the vast majority of Americans who don't think about the lives of the people pick and process the food we eat, this book is a gentle, but strong reminder of the continued existance of poverty in our nation.

I actually found this book in a barber shop. The illustrations got the attention of my 2 year old. What a find! Every parent regardless of the age of their children should read this book at bed time. It had the attention of my four children, ages 2 to 10. I actually felt like I was reading my parents, and grandparents Christmas story. I was lucky enough to not have to live my life through rough times like this. I was able to have the education that my parents and grandparents worked so hard for, but only could dream of. This story helped me remember and appreciate all they had to endure. What a story it brought me back to my roots. Only warning I have for future readers... have tissues close at hand!

A true story from the author's childhood, this is a beautiful and moving tale told simply in both English and Spanish. My wife and I were both dabbing our eyes with handkerchiefs by the time we finished reading. The illustrations are very well done and enhance the message of the book. Highly recommended as an antidote to the typical materialist emphasis of Christmas.