Advent Books

Very funny...keeps the kids interested over and over. The pictures are bright and illustrations are great. Great story from beginning to end.

The kids love the silly names for the reindeer!

Kids and adults will both love this book which combines the two favourites of children and biggest names and in the gift delivery business in the one picture book. As well as being a clever idea it also teaches children that when somebody is doing someone else a favour we (in this case we is being lived vicariously through the reindeers) should be less critical of the way they are doing things and instead be more helpful, being that being helpful will get the task done smoother and a lot quicker. A really good book that you can bring out again around Easter as well.

The story begins with Santa having a work place health and safety accident involving a toy train that some elf hadn't put where it was supposed to go. Out of action there is no way he will be able to fulfill his duties of delivering presents around the globe. No mere human or elf for that matter can pull of this magical task except there is another who makes the same journey around Easter. However there's a few differences in the normal operating procedure of the Easter Bunny, firstly Easter Bunny does not deliver in Winter (this book is set in the Northern Hemisphere) so has a few problems with the snow and cold temperature. Easter Bunny places his chocolate eggs wherever he wants to but Santa has given him instructions as to specific places to put presents for each child. These aren't always clear and Easter Bunny makes some mistakes like putting presents under the tree in the garden outside instead of Christmas tree. Also Santa's diet of milk and cookies isn't appropriate for a rabbit but of course the children didn't know Easter Bunny would be filling in. These and many more hurdles are in the way of the Easter Bunny pulling off Santa's mammoth task and initially the reindeer just criticise and mumble to themselves before it dawns on them what the importance of this night is, and that Easter Bunny is doing Santa a favour so maybe they should be helping him.

i love the grunch because he is so funny. Everyone that I have talked to says that the movie and coloring books are so cool!The grunch is so cool because he is mean to the who's and at the end he is realy nice.

i love the grunch because he is so funny. Everyone that I have talked to says that the movie and coloring books are so cool!The grunch is so cool because he is mean to the who's and at the end he is realy nice.

I have been an avid Crafter for years. In fact I thought I had seen it all. I was watching a T.V. Crafting Show (Aleene's) and was captured by a lady effortlessly painting beautiful designs on glass windows with sponges. It looked so easy and turned out so beautiful. I bought the Christmas Book and the Kit that went with it in Sept. What a pleasant surprise. Not only did the Book show and tell you EXACTLY how to do the Designs with full-color examples, but also provided extensive information on Window Painting as a Business. I tried out some of the Designs on my own windows and they turned out beautiful. Before I knew it, I had neighbors and friends asking me to paint their windows. I actually made over $500.00 and only had to spend $45.00 to do it. I will definitely be buying Cindy's All Occasion Book as well. Candice

I originally bought the Book out of curiosity, liked it so much, my daughter has decided to Window Paint for part time income. The Book gives simple, easy to follow directions, and great advice on how to get started in the Business. I love the full color Illustrations which demonstrate just how the Designs will look. Can't wait for the upcoming Video. Donna Grier

If you are looking for great reflections on Advent and Christmas, or if you are a pastor planning a series of powerful messages for the season, this book is a must!

This is a wonderful collection of messages and medidations on the meaning of Christmas!

I have several of the santa books from Julie Sykes and Tim Warnes and they are so much fun to read. the preschoolers ask again and again to read them. Santa has lots of silly accidents. Santa's animal friends give him encouragement and freindship and sometimes get into some trouble of their own. In this book, santa wakes up late, trips and falls over his pants, can't find the reindeer in the woods, gets hit by a snowball by the reindeer, who are having a snow ball fight, crashes his sled that becomes stuck and then is rescued by a large beautiful horse on the farm while a rooster shouts out encouragement. Santa gets to open the last present, which is an alarm clock, ofcourse.

This is a fun romp with the jovial fellow. Having over-slept, will he make it in time to deliver all the presents? Brightly illustrated, heaps of fun. Young children in the throes of Santa-believe and excitement will love it. (And what would the reindeer and other animals give a Santa who didn't wake up on time? )

If you're a native Atlantan there are a few things that you will hold dear to your heart--the swan-shaped cream puffs at the Swan Coach House at the Atlanta Historical Society, the Ladies Lounge at the Fox Theatre, the frozen chicken salas at Rich's Magnolia Room, the old magnolia tree at the old Ponce de Leon Ball Park, Mary Mac's pimento cheese, and--at the top of the list--Priscilla the Pink Pig Flyer at Rich's. It's just the most unique thing about Christmas in the city. We might not have snow or ice skating, but we have Priscilla!!! This book is just adorable. The book has a scrapbook section in the back so I printed out photos of my daughters on Santa's knee (in 1964!)and the photos we took of my grandbabies Kylie, Josh, and Paige at the Pink Pig last year (the 50th anniversary)and gave copies to each of those grandchildren. They just though it was so "cool" to see their mommies at their age--in a Mini-skirt kilt and saddle shoes and horn-rimmed glasses! This book is such a blessing and a treasure!

If you're an Atlantan--a true, old-line Atlantan, that is--you'll love this book! Riding the Pink Pig was THE way to get into the Christmas spirit for anyone who grew up in the 1950s or 1960s (although the ride continues to the present day). This book is packed with so many memories, pictures of Santa's Secret Shop, recipes from the old Magnolia Room downtown (remember the frozen chicken salad), it just about made this old fool cry. Although the Rich's name is not going to be around too much longer--which is a crying shame itself!--the Pink Pig Flyer continues and this book is a must-have celebration of something uniquely Atlanta and too rapidly disappearing.

Broken into eight parts with five subcategories in each, Rhonda Rhea provides an insightful amusing anecdotal look at the Christmas season in which many find themselves overwhelmed by the demands. The author provides insight into the real traditions and how they help to overcome the "Christmas Busies" that start in some places before Thanksgiving and makes the season feel like a trek through the "Jungle All the Way" until the New Year arrives as a refresher. Not just for Christians, readers will appreciate this rich look at Yuletide with and without kids. Inspirational with discerning looks at the spirit of the season especially the sharing through the authors humorous personal adventures and quotes from Biblical passages representing varying Bible interpretations (sort of religiously correct), I'M DREAMING OF SOME WHITE CHOCOLATE is a fine reminder of why Christmas can be a merry jolly season for all; just make mine a chocolate bell from the Bronx bakeries.

Harriet Klausner

Though writing nonfiction is nothing new for her, I'm Dreaming of Some White Chocolate is Rhonda Rhea's first book about the Christmas season. Rhea knows the struggles many people go through during that time of the year, and her book provides help for those folks. Using amusing anecdotes that many Christian families have dealt with, Rhea helps to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas.

As Rhea reminisces about her Christmases past and ponders her present situation, she makes it easy for others to connect with and understand what she is writing about. Long lines, holiday rushes, and way too many sweets are just a few of the holiday dilemmas she singles out. Using humor and sarcasm, including numerous hysterically funny top ten lists, Rhea defines a typical Christmas. However, she doesn't stop there.

During every moment of the holiday season, one question constantly pops up: What is the true meaning of Christmas? Is it time spent with family, sharing love, basking in expensive gifts, eating chocolate, or believing in Santa Claus? The answer is yes to all of them...if you believe in a modern, commercialized holiday. The author helps us remember that the true meaning is found in Scripture: it is Christ.

Rhea has used humor to help others with issues such as dealing with family and motherhood in her previous books, Who Put the Cat in the `Fridge?, Turkey Soup for the Soul, and Amusing Grace. Using that humor to make her readers laugh at every page, Rhea still finds a way to bring it all to one point. She gives good tips on how to have a real holly jolly Christmas, and they all revolve around Christ. Jesus should be the center of our lives, she reminds us, and we shouldn't let the holiday season cause us to forget. Rhea gives a profound reminder that serves a great amount of useful information, making this book the one to have while preparing for the holidays.

I'm Dreaming of Some White Chocolate is full of fun, humor, inspirational ideas, and the message of Christ's love. Whether you are hustling and bustling to make it through the season, or you have your shopping finished by Thanksgiving and are stress-free at Christmastime, this book makes for fun and insightful reading. - James D. Holstein, Christian Book Previews.com

This book is a good introduction to Kwanza for children and yes adults too. It explains the meaning of Kwanza, The symbols, and the terminolgy associated with this cultural festival.

This is a great way to introduce children to other cultures, and specifically to Kwanzaa. One child, excited about celebrating Kwanzaa, learns that it is not about just her, but about Umoja or unity with others.

What a great way to stay focused on the Reason for the season. I am still enjoying the book the week after Christmas. It is designed to be used during Advent (the four weeks before Christmas) and the two weeks after Christmas. I will continue to use this book for years to come.

Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (10/07)

Award-winning and best-selling author Ann Spangler has adapted selections from two of her previously written books, "Praying the Names of God" and "Praying the Names of Jesus," for this awe-inspiring devotional book, "Immanuel." The book is designed to be read during the Advent and Christmas season and is arranged for daily readings over a six-week time period during the pre-Christmas season.

Six titles or names of God have been selected that focus on Jesus, God's Son, in a way that is especially meaningful for the advent season: Yahweh or Lord, Yeshua or Jesus the Savior, Immanuel, Yeled or Child, Melek, meaning King of Kings, and Kokab, meaning Bright Morning Star. These names offer peace in an otherwise stressful season of Christmas frenzy.

Each of the six weeks is formatted for five daily readings which include either a brief overview of the "Name" being considered, key scripture passages, background information, devotional thoughts, or suggestions for prayer, and reflection. Friday's reading also provides additional ideas for continued prayer and praise to be carried into Saturday and Sunday.

I was especially moved by the promises associated with each name in the Friday readings. Confidence, salvation, rescue, deliverance, and His presence with us are just of a few of the promises to claim. I also enjoyed the guided suggestions for each scripture passage: for reflection, with ideas for a personal worship, a praise theme, and items to be considered for thanksgiving, confession, and supplication.

Whether using a Bible-study approach, with thought-provoking questions, or a contemporary story illustrating a spiritual truth, Ann Spangler captures the true and deeper wonder of celebrating the feast of Christmas.

The compact size, the hardback binding, and the beautifully designed jacket make "Immanuel: Praying the Names of God through the Christmas Season" an ideal pre-Christmas gift. This daily devotional guide is a book that will be treasured and used time and time again for advent inspiration. Praying the Names of God through the Christmas Season is a wonderful way to rediscover the gift of advent.

Be prepared to have your heart changed, your spirit renewed and your understanding of God's love for you cemented into all of who you are in Him. Not a warm and fuzzy, feel-good sappy book, this is the best book I've read since "Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. That book changed me and Daniel Schaeffer's book changed me to an even deeper level. You and I know that it takes a Spirit anointed book to change our worldly, hardened hearts. Well, this book melted a lot of the barriers I've put up in my warped thinking about why God really couldn't love me.
Most of all, Schaeffer's book helped me understand that my innate, human inability to understand the depths of God's love often blocked the peace, joy and love that God eagerly wants to shower on each of us. Jesus' birth and His "suicide mission" to earth shows us, in such a full way, the heart and mind of Christ. If you've ever wanted to see Christmas from God's loving viewpoint, this is a MUST read book. Don't put off getting your own copy -- Christmas will never be the same for you.
I've bought 12 copies and am giving them to my family, friends and two of my brothers who are too stubborn to surrender to God's mighty love. I have full faith that this is the book about Jesus' love that will finally open their eyes to the awesome love of God in a way that no sermon has been able to break through for them.
I loved the Reflection & Celebration discussions at the end of each of the short 15 chapters. They helped internalize the chapter's true meaning. I've talked to my pastor and will most likely use this book in a small group teaching setting next fall.
You'll probably adopt the "12 Days of Chistmas" sneaky project for the whole family to share with another person or family. You'll look at the Christmas wooden soldiers from a new perspective and see the feed trough humbleness of God at a deeper level. This is one book you'll never regret reading, but you could regret not reading it sooner.

Sincerely, Dr. Evelyn Nikkel

This is it! The book I've been looking for this holiday season (2003). I like to find one each year that reminds me of exactly what I need to focus on first for Christmas, and this book exceeds my expectations.