Advent Books

First of all, the song is one of the most beautiful songs ever written! I am not exaggerating. The first time I heard it, I cried. Growing up Catholic, this song meant so much but it doesn't matter what denomination you are affiliated with. We all understand the fear and struggle when asked to follow God's plan but we know that he will bring us through. That is what this song is about. It is one of the most beautiful Christmas songs ever written!

The story that Amy Grant writes to accompany the song is heart-wrenching. It's a modern-day version of the song. This song will bring comfort to anyone going through trials. This is an especially great gift fot expecting mothers.

I highly recommend this CD/book to all customers. It also makes a very nice and unique gift. It's for both the music lover and book lover.

I was introduced to the song my senior year of high school when my choir sang it for the yearly High School Christmas concert. The teacher spent a class prior to the concert explaining the meaning of the song. I, and many others, were humbled when we discovered the power of the message that we were conveying. On the night of the concert it took all my skill as a singer not to cry as I sang the song. Just this last christmas I recieved the book and CD from my grandma. Even though I recieved several great gifts, it was this book and CD that touched me the deepest. The book gave the song a greater depth and meaning, and hearing the song again was a magnificent experience. I would recommend this book to everyone, but especially to women. It offers a message of strength and hope in uncertain times.

I got this book at the annual Amy Grant Christmas concert but was very happy when I saw it on Amazon the next day so I could buy it for presents for family and friends. The book tells the story of how Amy came up with the lyrics to one of the most powerful Christmas songs ever written "Breath of Heaven." The song is about Mary and the way she must have felt with all the responsibilty of carrying the savior.

The book itself is very colerful with pictures and verses throughout it. And the best part of the book in My opinion is the Story written about Amy on the reasons behind the lyrics to the song! As an added bonus the Book comes with the Single to the Song the book is about as perfprmed by Amy! A must for any Amy Grant fan or Christmas lovers!

I received this book in the mail and was excited about it because I had not really wanted to spend the money on it, but did want to read it. I have to say I was nearly brought to tears and certainly humbled by the experience of reading Amy's words and listening to her beautiful song in which she pays such a loving and reverent tribute to Mary. I remember Amy saying once at a concert just before she sang the song "Mary was not better than anyone else...she was just willing." I STRONGLY urge you to read this book and then sit and listen to the song while looking at the incredible illustrations.

This book is a MUST for anyone with kids. It shows them how it feels better to give something of yourself rather then recieving from everyone else. The illustrations keep everyone's attention through the whole wonderful story while teaching a very valueable lesson.

This book offers a great message for children about the spirit of giving. It's beautifully-illustrated with characters and situations that captured kids' attention.

This is a great book that children need to show them that having more toys is not the most important thing but sharing with others less fortunate! The illustrations are also very good!

I picked up this book last Christmas at my local independent toy store to read to my kids as the Christmas holiday approached. I enjoyed the fact that it gave them a great message about graceful giving without beating them over the head with it. The artwork is sweet and uncluttered. I ended up returning to the store to buy the rest that they had in stock to give as gifts...all well received!

We started a Bible study using 'Chosen and Cherished'. Everyone loved the first session, we are looking forward to the next one. It's an excellent study for future brides as well as married women. It highlights Proverbs 31. If you are looking for an effective Bible study for women that is easy to facilitate, this is it. If you can get the book for the participants, it has an outline that lists all scriptural references for each DVD session as well as questions for small group or individual reflection in the back.

Kimberly Hahn has a clear and direct writing style that is relaxed and easy to understand. She does a great job of mixing personal experience with scriptural and church teaching. The message she conveys is so appropriate for marriages today and will inspire those who are married or thinking of marriage.

Proverbs 31: 10-12, the basis for this work, quotes the mother of Lemuel, King of Massa, giving her son guidance on choosing an appropriate bride. Chosen and Cherished, based on these sections from Proverbs, grew out of bible study Kimberly Hahn has offered for years to Franciscan University students. The verses describe the worthy wife as more valuable than pearls, an unfailing prize, and one who brings good rather than evil to her husband.

Each of the six parts takes its title from a verse in Proverbs 31 and is broken into two chapters that feature Hahn's experiences as wife and mother, additional Scripture passages, and Church teachings. This structure provides an opportunity for Hahn to address such issues as premarital sex, adultery, divorce, contraception, and abortion. She also offers practical advice and stories to illustrate the principles at hand. In the chapter What Really Counts, Hahn contrasts "behavior fit for a prostitute a century ago (that) now parades across the TV screen" with qualities she observes in her mother and other older women who exemplify "godly womanliness." A section on pursuing purity in A Woman of Worth lists guidelines to help unmarried persons avoid near occasions of sin. The chapter on the sanctity of marriage discusses the role of parents in supporting the marriages of their adult children. It contains a series of bullet points under the headings quality time, physical touch and closeness, gift giving, and words of affirmation.

Overall, this is a balanced resource, tackling issues head on while affirming and reaffirming the immense rewards for couples who, with faith, hope, love, and prayer, live their commitment to the vocation of marriage.

Kimberly Hahn has developed a beautiful study for women of all ages that helps us see how God created us and in what way we can live our life to the fullest as wives and mothers. She helps young women prepare for marriage, she helps women bring more to their marriage than they perhaps thought about, given the culture we live in, and she helps mothers raise their children to cherish their purity and to become good spouses themselves. She speaks with clarity and with experience and is someone that we can trust, knowing that she lives what she teaches. The DVD series allows us to have her into our homes and share her knowledge of Scripture as it relates to women, marriage, and family. Kimberly touches our hearts, whatever our age may be. She is a treasure to Christianity!

A delightfully light-hearted tale of Christmas adventure, "The Christmas Aliens" has become a new Christmas tradition in our family. While most Christmas stories revel in the past, this one encourages children to dream of the Christmases to come when they meet their new friends on planet Krelb! Full of charm and wit, this unusual Christmas tale pleases the entire family.

By the time Santa Claus emerges from the washing machine, not the chimney, you and your child will be hooked. What a rollicking, foot-stomping wonder of a book! Why aren't more kids reading Mr. Silber's work?

Silbert is a genius. The best book I have read since Murakami's "A Wild Sheep Chase".

I highly recommend this book to any parent. My infant was clearly engaged. I'd like to see more from this author/illustrator team!

Max Lucado may not be the best theologian out there, but when it comes to turning out a heart-warming story he knows how to hit the mark. Another great book by Lucado on Christmas.

This book was purchased as a Christmas gift, but of course, I had to read it to make sure it was a good book. I loved the story and cover. It was a soul touching story about a man that found the grandfather he had never known. The miracle of the whole situation was uplifting. I love small, beautiful coffee table books and this is now on MY coffee table, along with three others I had purchased to give as gifts. I just couldn't part with it. It moved me. If you love stories about miracles at Christmas, you need to purchase this book.

Max Lucado's THE CHRISTMAS CHILD is a retelling of an earlier work, THE CHRISTMAS CROSS which is now out of print. The new edition is illustrated with photographs from a movie version of the work

If we look at what works and does not work in fiction, THE CHRISTMAS CHILD should not work. It is sappy, sentimental, and predictable. One of these characteristic in a book meant for an adult can work, two of these characteristics would be a maybe at best; all three would be fatal flaws for a book. Yet this work has all three characteristics and all three work together rather well. When a person reads this story about redemption and forgiveness, it is easy to be moved to tears. Lucado has a gift at touching the heart through his writing, and in doing so teaches the essential message of Christianity. The author of this little volume understands the miracle of the Christmas story, but knows that human nature has been weekend by sin, an ever present reality even at Christmas, and that the true miracle of Christmas is the redemption offered through the child born in a manger. Lucado demonstrates this through two very human people: a Chicago journalist who has been having marital problems and a church maintenance worker who has known great tragedy through mistakes he has caused.

Some could call THE CHRISTMAS CHILD a CRIPPLED LAMB or JACOB'S GIFT (two Lucado books intended for children) for adults. To put this work in the same category as THE CRIPPLED LAMB and JACOB'S GIFT is a compliment. All three works move the heart and retell the wonderful story of Christmas and how the Christmas message applies to our lives all through the year.

Entertaining, comforting and joyous. Leaves the reader feeling good.

The journey you and your child will take in this book is wonderful. The illustrations are gorgeous and the story is delightful. If you are even considering this book, think no more and just buy it!Neither you nor your child will be disappointed.

Could Christmas really be every day? Only in Michael Garland's imaginative holiday treat. With sparkling illustrations as bright as ornaments on a tree and catchy rhyming text youngsters will share an exciting adventure with Tommy.

Tommy is blessed with a unique aunt who sends him a fascinating invitation on Christmas Eve. She invites him to get in the taxi that is waiting in front of his house and come to meet her.

Lo and behold, there is a magic taxi waiting for him and it carries him to an even more magical city where it is Christmas every day. Once there Tommy looks for his aunt but instead finds clues that take him through the wondrous Christmas City in a search of his aunt.

Very much like a treasure hunt over 200 items are hidden throughout the book as well as a holiday message to be decoded.

Youngsters will have as much fun as Tommy does as they turn pages to happily discover the many surprises in store.

- Gail Cooke

This is a wonderful addition to anyone's Christmas book library. The illustrations are stunning, with many, many hidden little things to uncover. It would be a perfect gift for a family with children of different ages- the little ones will love hearing about Tommy's journey, while the older ones will like hunting for the hidden images, going through a tricky maze, and solving the riddles.

My son checked this out of the library and begged me to get it so we could "keep it forever." I will be sending copies of this book to several of our friends this holiday, but I suspect it will be a book kept out and enjoyed all year long.

Michael Garland is back with a holiday sequel to last years innovative, Mystery Mansion. Come join Tommy as his Aunt Jeanne sends him on another creative and inventive treasure hunt. It's Christmas Eve when the invitation arrives telling Tommy to hop into the waiting cab outside his door, and in no time he's soaring through the air on his way to Christmas City. But where is Aunt Jeanne? Follow the cleverly worded, rhyming clues to find her, and along the way solve puzzles and collect the more than two hundred holiday items, some hidden, some in plain sight, including snowmen, angels, reindeer, elves, and candycanes, all the characters from the song, The Twelve Days Of Christmas, Santa's reindeer, holiday greetings in ten different languages, and a series of letters that when arranged, spell out a special message. Mr Garland's bold, bright, and busy computer generated artwork is engaging, and sparkles with energy, dazzling color, intricate, eye-catching detail and playful humor. Imaginations will soar as youngsters 6 and older pore over the pages, and revel in all the fun-filled magic. Christmas City offers hours of interactive entertainment, and sends kids on an imaginative, holiday fantasy adventure of a lifetime.

Cute, spiral bound, wipe-off cook book with 3 plastic cookie cutters. No actual photos of the cookies you are making, most (not all) of the recipes do have art work showing the cookie. Why only 4 stars? The book is cute but not exceptional, your basic cookie recipes, not necessarily kid friendly. AND, be warned, the little tidbits of info and legends it gives you with the recipe might just spoil your little one's Christmas! "The legend of Santa Clause rose out of the story of St. Nicholas, a fourth century bishop from Myra..." and "Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was created for the American Montgomery Ward department store chain in Chicago..." - not what you want to read while making cookies for Santa!

This book has so much going for it: you can lay it flat because it's spiral bound, the pages wipe clean, it comes with its own cookie cutters, and the recipes are fun and creative. It would make a terrific gift for anyone on your Xmas list. I can't wait to get baking!

Thank you for the best children's recipe book I've seen in a long time. The recipes are easy to follow and so much fun with the set of cookie cutters included in the book. Kids will love the fun trivia about each recipe. I thought the spiral pages were a very practical addition to the book--you can spill flour and melted chocolate on the book, then wipe the pages off with a damp cloth and the book looks brand new! This book is a must-have on your holiday shopping list!!!

This book is a really fun cookbook with simple, easy-to-follow traditional and new Christmas cookie recipes, but it's also more than that. There are tips on cookie decorating, cookie gift-giving, cookie ornaments and gift tags. Interspersed with the recipes are short, easy to understand histories of Christmas wreaths, candy canes, Christmas cards, etc. Your kids will love this book.

My teacher read this to our class when I was only 6-years-old, and I had to run out that weekend and purchase it for my very own book collection. Now, 12 years later, I still pull this book out all of the time to look at some of the most gorgeous illustrations to ever be printed in a children's book, and to read the story of the little Christmas Day Kitten. A must-have book for all, as the beauty of it will warm the heart of everyone in your family for years and years to come.

Erika Sorocco

This book is the epitamy of heartwarming. After all the sad, depressing things that happen in today's world, this book (and all of James Herriot's stories) makes you feel a lot better. Perfect for kids, this book will warm the souls of everyone.

Even though I haven't read this book since I was younger, I remember it as having a perfect happy ending. Even if you don't buy it, you should at least go to the library and check it out. You might like it enough to buy it anyways :)

This picture book, although written for children, can be enjoyed by people of all ages, especially cat lovers! James Harriot has a style of story-telling that draws you in and doesn't let you go until you've finished the story. This story is just a small sampling of the many wonderful vet stories that Harriot has to tell.

Not having been familiar with the work of James Herriot before this book, I was happily surprised when I read this to my little cat-loving daughter this christmas season. This is a touching story which brought us both to tears, but gave a joyful smile as we reached the end of the story. Truly a story to be shared with every child at christmas!

This book is outstanding! It will add immensely to your understanding of the Christmas story. Reading stories from this book has become a new Christmas tradition for our family!

Used for advent meditations, each chapter prepared by mind and heart for Christ's birth. First, it slowed me down - mentally and physically, putting into perspective the true meaning of Christmas. Each of the twelve encounters brought to life Christ's birth. Recalling the conversation between Gabriel and Michael, could have taken place today with the current state of our world. I am eager ot share this book with others - early gifts for next Christmas!

Used for advent meditations, each chapter prepared by mind and heart for Christ's birth. First, it slowed me down - mentally and physically, putting into perspective the true meaning of Christmas. Each of the twelve encounters brought to life Christ's birth. Recalling the conversation between Gabriel and Michael, could have taken place today with the current state of our world. I am eager ot share this book with others - early gifts for next Christmas!

These stories will make you think about Christmas in a different way. The stories are exceptional. The artwork is fabulous. The message is unforgettable. Praise the Lord!

I thought this story was a brilliant idea. The illustrations are colorful and funny. I think the humbugs will capture children's imaginations. Younger children might be trying to stay awake to catch humbugs now, instead of just Santa Claus.

Only problem I had with the book was at times the rhyming of the narration was a bit forced and so in reading it I lost the tempo and thus a little enjoyment.

Fun book for kids & adults. Enjoyable to read & a good reminder that the little vexations around the holidays don't have to ruin your Christmas spirit. I'm going to buy a bunch of these as presents.

This book is a delight! I purchased it for my grandchildren last Christmas (2004)and they couldn't get enough of it. "Read it again, Grandma!" They laughed, searched for the humbugs in the tree and examined each and every beautiful picture for hiding humbugs. I took it to read to my preschoolers at school and they giggled and paid rapt attention - not an easy feat with 3 & 4 year olds. I'd recommend this book for anyone - a small child or a grownup with a child's heart hidden inside - as a Christmas classic to treasure!

I bought this book at a writing seminar for teachers. It is a delightful Christmas story to share in your classroom or with your own children. The Humbugs are adorable little bug like creatures who try to test the strength of your Christmas spirit. It's about having Christmas spirit and how it can't be crushed because of the things it represents. It's a terrific and timeless tale!