Advent Books

Christine McDonnell's Ballet Bug tells of Bea, who thinks ballet is boring until a slumber party movie awakens her passion for dance. She enters a ballet class and learns the real challenges of dance as she struggles to catch up with her peers and faces a pair of vengeful twin competitors.

I have just purchased a copy of ballet bug, mostly becuase of viewing the cover. THE SECOND GIRL ON THE COVER, THE TAN ONE, IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!! Not only is the writing good but the arwork is fantastiC!!!!!!! =) =) =D =D!!!!!!!!! That second girl on the cover was outstandingly gorgeous and i wish to see more of that character in other books. in fact, she should star in every single book out there! AH SHE IS BEAUTIOUS I CANT STAND IT!!!!!

Sincerely
sTelli fAdeKudis

My 9 year old daughter never reads. I bought this book last week after "judging a book by its cover," the illustrations were fabulous. She has not put it down since! Great book for young readers.

The Mom's Choice Awards® honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of the panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, Ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times Best-Selling Author; LeAnn Thieman, Motivational speaker and coauthor of seven Chicken Soup For The Soul books; Tara Paterson, Certified Parent Coach, and founder of The Just For Mom Foundation(tm) and the Mom's Choice Awards®. Parents and educators look for the Mom's Choice Awards® seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. This book has been honored by this distinguished award.

Part of the colorfully illustrated "Animalations" series, Beaser the Bear's Rocky Mountain Christmas is a holiday-themed picturebook for young people featuring a lovable bear family sharing the true meaning of Christmas together. An accompanying CD of the rhyming text set to music is a great way for parents and children to share holiday spirit. "Beaser told of opening stuff, / And when he was all through, / He had so much he could not use, / He wondered what he should do. // At that moment Beaser understood / what it was he should do. / Give his extra stuff to other cubs / And make their dreams come true." The final pages offer an assortment of activities teachers or parents can share with children, and true facts about Rocky Mountain bears, in this charitably-themed picturebook enthusiastically recommended for the yuletide season.

Reviewed by Carter (3) and Regan Windsor for Reader Views (11/07)

"Beaser's cubs, Rickity and Snickity
Know that Santa brings them toys,
But Beaser wants his cubs to learn,
How to feel Christmas Joy."

"Beaser the Bear's Rocky Mountain Christmas" shares a powerful message with kids - the joy of giving, especially to those less fortunate than themselves. Most importantly, it does it subtly through a fun story, with fabulous illustrations, and song on CD. Following the Three R's Before Reading (Rhythm, Rhyme, and Repetition) "Beaser the Bear's Rocky Mountain Christmas" stimulates young listeners on many levels; especially when they get up and dance to the `Beaser the Bear' song!

As Beaser makes his way to his "tinsel covered den" he notices some bear cubs "down the way" without a family, food, or a home to stay. As Beaser reflects on his Christmases as a child he remembers the big pile of stuff he got, but also that "it's about sharing with others that will bring Christmas joys."

He begins to think about what his own Papa told him. "Grow your heart by sharing. If you give to others, you'll be filled with Christmas caring." With this thought Beaser passes the story on to his cubs of how he ended up with so much stuff at Christmas he really didn't know what to do with it all. Then the answer came to him, he would "give his extra stuff to other cubs and make their dreams come true."

As he continues his story he tells them "of the cubs down the way, who didn't have food or a family or a bear den where they could stay." As his bear cubs listen to the story they excitedly chime "Papa, let's not wait `til Christmas. Let's grow our hearts today!"

Rickity and Snickity then begin to go through all their cupboards "finding treasures to give away." Finally they surprise Beaser when they suggest the cubs come there to stay. A proud Beaser sheds tear as he welcomes the additional family into his den with big bear hugs.

Filled with big, colorful illustrations and a rhyming, repetitive story, "Beaser the Bear's Rocky Mountain Christmas" provides plenty of opportunity for discussion.

"They give away their stuff?!" says Carter pointing to a picture of the cubs.

"Yes, they have things they no longer use or need that other cubs would really love to have. Cubs that don't have lots of stuff like these cubs do."

Jumping off my lap, Carter runs to his stuff. "My stuff!" At two he is still struggling with sharing, so giving his stuff away seems a bit scary. He continues to get comfortable with the concept, however, as he runs over yelling "I want the Bears!" while pointing to the book. Rather than listening to Mom's voice though, he prefers the narration and music provided on the CD, with the cute little bell to let him know when to turn the page. The best part of all for him, however, is the song at the end that he jumps up and dances to! The song has a simple but powerful message. "If you learn to give to others, you can make their dreams come true. You can grow your heart in a very simple way. Give away your extra stuff and start it today."

"Beasar the Bear's Rocky Mountain Christmas" is a great opportunity to introduce the concept of sharing our stuff, embracing the idea of giving it away, and learning about the joy that it brings to the one who gives. What makes this book work so well, however, is the fabulous story, complemented by beautiful illustrations, making it so appealing to kids again and again.

Father Benedict Groeschel has once again put us in his debt with a fine book of meditations designed principally for use during Advent and the Christmas season but actually helpful for anytime as we await the coming of the Lord. The most salient feature of this book is its capacity to relate the reader to the very practical aspects of the Christian life by the use of examples and words from people who have experienced and articulated many sides of life. This is the kind of book you can carry with you and read frequently and profitably.

This is my first work by Benedict Groeschel that I've read. I am already ordering others. His style should appeal to all Christians regardless of affiliation. He is very down to earth in his writings and teachings. I find him very approachable and can apply his thoughts to my every day life. He never appears to be too intellectual. Excellent work for Advent devotions. Highly recommended.

This small book has profound implications for the life of the Christian seeker.

The book is divided into two sections:
- daily meditations from Advent to Epiphany
- Hymns, Prayers, and Spiritual Readings

While the book is written by a Catholic, it is equally valuable for Christians of all denominations. The reflections are pertinent to the daily life of the follower of Christ. It is an important and meaningful resource for following in the steps of John the Baptist to the stable in Bethlehem.

First, I must say this is one of the best Christmas presents I have ever received.

The illustrations in this book are magnificent, and the words are beautiful. The book basically describes that anyone can be a kid at Christmastime as long as you believe.

I recommend this book to all fans of Mary Engelbreit's illustrations.

Attractive gift book on the spirit of Christmas. Each set of facing pages contains a bit of verse and an accompaning picture dramatizing Ms. Engelbreit's belief that you are never too old to believe in Santa.

My name is Sarah Madjlesi and I am a Senior in High School in Corinth, MS. I love Mary Englebreit and I love this book. I love all of her work and I love collecting her stuff.

The bones of the book involve a nice piece of archeological detective work determining a surprisingly exact time for the birth by providing a knowledge of the night sky of the times and a sympathetic understanding of the relevant cultures and thier approach to Astronomy/Astrology.

Seymour introduces many other ideas alongside the title theme, which, for my money, are the greater rewards of the book. (the nature of faith, knowledge and academia, man's place in the world, the neccessity of humility and so on...)

He writes in an accessable and interesting manner, snappy and to the point, the central ideas are clearly expressed and easily navigated.

Seymour discusses how the Earth's magnetic atmosphere is influenced by the movement of the Moon and the interplay betwen the planets and the Sun and develops a highly feasable and quite convincing argument for the confluence of biological and planetary activity.

He also looks at the statistical evidence for astrology.

'The Birth of Christ' provides a compelling challenge to the idea that all astrology is a nonsense and having been presented with a sound rationale, based on the evidence of science, i feel obliged to be more open minded than before i read the book.

Dr Percy Seymour tackles the most controversial subject of the last two millenniums - questioning some of the widely held beliefs of most of the modern world with regard to the birth of Christ. It's a scientific journey with awesome implications - an excellent read.

I have never before encountered a book which sifts the little bits of truth from all the chaff concerning astrology. Prof. Seymour takes the results of the statistical analysis of astrology done by previous scientests and applies their empirical results to a theory based to modern astrophysics. No froufrou astral influences here, this book is based on hard science.

I've been looking for this book as my daughter wants to get it for several gifts. I'll pass on to her that I found it. I have read it and seen the reaction of children to this book. It's absolutely delightful. What a shame that the above review from the School Library Journal is so unfavorable...
Get this book for your child or grandchild and it will become as traditional at Christmas Time as reading "Rudolph" or "The Snowman" is...... You'll enjoy it too!

This book is adorable, charming and sweet an absalute must for all you people who like to read.

This book is adorable, charming and sweet an absalute must for all you people who like to read.

In a time when so many families are struggling through job loss, this book does a beautiful job of explaining how our addiction to buying new things can rob us of the finer and more meaningful ways of giving. BONUS: The book includes a cd of beautiful narration with songs woven into the story.

The Broken Doll is not a quick read, but meaty and full of emotion and character building discussion. Points hit on include job loss, greed, new isn't always better, love of a parent for their child, the joy of giving, appreciation of family, and even bullying between the new dolls and an the old doll in the garbage can.

The out of work father longs to buy his daughter a gift but just can't. He sees on old doll (the bullying victim) in a trash can and dares to think he could "make" a present out of this old discarded object. Be careful, it may bring tears to your eyes. Don't read it alone! Enjoy it with your child. Perhaps their Christmas list won't be so long this year.

My grandchildren and I enjoyed the book very much; it was a very heart warming story. We loved all the singing on the DVD. I highly recommend this book for the whold family.:: Linda Mendez; A big fan of Diane Zuber,Thank You.

An original story creatively written by Diane C. Zuber and deftly illustrated by Mary Meehan Firtl, "The Broken Doll" is a Christmas story for young children ages 4 to 9. It is the story of a family's love for each other having more importance than the presence of expensive toys under a Christmas tree. Young Audra begs for every toy she sees but due to her father's recent lay-off from work, the family doesn't have the money to buy toys this Christmas season. Over the weeks leading up to Christmas morning Audra is a little girl who learns several valuable lessons all culminating in having the best Christmas ever for her family and herself. "The Broken Doll" is a wonderfully entertaining addition to any school or community library's Christmas picturebook collection -- and has an entertainingly presented message that children can benefit from all year long.

I love this book! It has short devotions for the whole family for every day of advent, and some great craft and activity ideas that really make the season memorable. It's a great tool for bringing the true meaning of Christmas back into the home.

I highly recommend this book for those looking for a devotional for their family. Concise, short, easy to use. Perfect after dinner.

I found this book to be exactly what I was wanting for my family. Although we attend a church we are not particularly "religious" in our home. I wanted my children to acknowledge the deeper meaning behind the increasingly commercial holiday. This book focuses on the daily use of an advent wreath in the home. There are songs, bible verses, and reflections for each day of advent. The content is appropriate for all ages.

My two year old son loves looking at the pictures in this book. The baby looks so real. I was pleased to find a book that is simple enough for a 2 year old to enjoy it and so beautiful that an adult will love reading it as well. My son especially likes the picture of the lovely mother gazing down at her child. Although the art work and Wise's poetry are what make the book enjoyable, the fact that the characters are people of color make this book a must have for our family. Because it seems very unlikely that Jesus was a blonde with blue eyes, I want to present images of a more colorful Jesus to my son. I also appreciate the depiction of many wise men from the East, not just 3.

I borrowed this book from the public library and found that it took my breath away. Author Margaret Wise Brown has done many of what are now considered classics such as RUNAWAY BUNNY,LITTLE ISLAND and GOODNIGHT MOON has one more to add to her collection. The illustrations by Cooper are amazing. The realistic pictures of the newborn baby (which remind me so much of my own sons when they were that small)in the manger are very moving. Some narrow-minded people may be put off by the fact that the main characters are African American and the book "appears" to be depicting the Holy family, although Brown's text does not actually indicate this. I also find it ironic that two different online bookstores that I went to for this title do not actually have the cover displayed. The illustrations depicting angels are absolutely gorgeous. I took the book to work to share it with my co-workers who would appreciate it and they agreed with me. I was very reluctant to take it back because I knew I would not be able to have it over the Christmas holiday. I just have to have this book for my personal collection to share with my two sons. This book celebrates the miracle of life and the joy of two parents gazing upon their son with hopes for the future. I hope this book wins an ALA (Caldecott or Coretta Scott King) award or awards this year.

I ran across this book when looking for Christmas books to read to my son. This is a wonderful book that tells the story of Christ's birth with vivid illustration that reflect us as African-Americans. Easy read for the young reader and reading aloud (as we did before we opened gifts). With delightful illustration for everyone as well.

Nothing says Christmas like marauding aliens! "X" is a thieving alien who is sent to Earth on a fiendish mission to rob the entire planet. But upon arriving at the North Pole, X mistakes Santa's workshop for a weapons-building facility and thus begins a chain of events that leads to an all-out alien invasion. Can Santa and his trust elf save Christmas (not to mention the human race!). Or will an army of evil aliens learn that is better to give than to steal? Co-authored by Stephen Chiodo and Jim Strain, "Alien Xmas" is expertly illustrated by Charles Chiodo. The resulting collaboration is a unique, original, one-of-a-kind, superbly presented and enthusiastically recommended Christmas picturebooks that combines science fiction with the values of the Christmas season. This is one Christian picturebook that will thoroughly and completely entertain children and adults alike.

The Chiodos never fail to amaze me with their imagination and creativity. This story is no Santa vs The Martians. And its not Giving vs Receiving. It's the End of the World... and right before Christmas! X is like Invader Zim, going off on his leader's assignment, with stealing being so natural for his kind. To see the alien awaken to the love behind Christmas is reminiscent of Alf's Christmas, but within a crazy, exciting, and (at one point) hopeless scenario, it's a whole lot more fun. Seeing what happens to Santa's airborne sleigh had me convinced there was no happy ending in sight. Without giving it away, the ending will delight any reader, young or old, sci-fi fan or not. Its very clever, very hip, and does not talk down children. If you like a heartwarming story that isn't sickeningly sweet, packed with gorgeous artwork from Charlie Chiodo, you have to get a copy of this book. This book is also a must for any Chioo Bros fans. Its a rare chance to see how their projects look drawn up before fabrication or shooting starts. Honestly, the illustrations alone are worth the price. After reading X's story, I bought copies for all my sci-fi friends. I'll also never be able to see the word "Xmas" in the same light.. or should I say the same color?

I picked this up for my son because he's into aliens and I really enjoyed reading it to him. I found myself laughing at the nutty humor and storyline, and the illustrations are really rich and unique. It doesn't hurt that there's a little forward by famous animator Ray Harryhausen, one of my personal heroes. There's even a blurb by Ray Bradbury! How much more of an endorsement do you need? This will be a holiday favorite in my family for years to come.