Christmas Books

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.

I echo the review from "A Customer".
In addition...
I'm a preschool teacher and the kids definitely understood the story. It's a great addition to a multi-cultural program and can open up conversation about culture.
As for the book, I enjoyed the illustrations!

I bought this book for my three year old daughter. She absolutely loved the story. Now when she plays in her kitchen she makes me homemade tamales. :-)

Our family loves this book! We checked it out from our local library and soon it was my four year old daughter's favorite. When December rolled around, I checked it out again, bought tamale makings and my four year old and I made cheese tamales. We took them to her pre-school class for snack along with the book. Her teacher read the book to the class and then they all had the tamales that my daughter and I made. It was a huge hit!! Now that she is in kindergarten, we will do it again (I am buying the book since I have two girls and I think this tradition will go on for a while!). Tamales are a really kid friendly activity and it was a great experience for both of us. You should try it!

I love this story because it brings back memories of when my family would get together at Christmas time to make the annual batch of tamales. Everyone was involved and when all the work was done, we couldn't wait until they were ready to eat. The story is well told and my students look forward to hearing the story year after year.

My class of second and third graders really enjoyed this book. Many of them make tamales at home every year. They enjoyed reading about someone else that shares the same traditions. It opened up a lot of discussion about telling the truth. The only problem was all the talk about tamales made them hungry!

This is another book I purchased to use with my elementary students. What an absolutely delightful story! Any book that so wonderfully illustrates respect of many different beliefs gets high marks from me.....and this book does just that. Through this delightful story the reader learns of Christmas and Hanukkah traditions AND that they can compliment each other very nicely. I also think the story is a great example of service and being a great neighbor.

My teacher does an "author study" program and our first featured author was Patricia Polacco. My teacher read some of her books to my class and during reading I would read them to myself. I read this book and it was one of my favorites. We bought it and I love it. I recommend this book for anyone who loves to read! The author writes about the time when she was a young child and a lot of her neighbors got scarlet fever. The girl and her family is Jewish, and since they are not sick, the girl, her older brother, her mom, her babushka, and her grandpa go out and chop down trees and decorate them with colorful animal figures. I won't tell you the surprise ending, but this book is awesome! I recommend this book highly.

A few years ago I was lucky enough to overhear our school librarian recommend this book to another parent at the school book fair. There was only one copy left so I took it.

Now, each December I get out our family's box of holiday books and this is the first one we read. My youngest child handed me a tissue before I started reading it last December! She knows how this book touches my heart and warms my soul.

I have given this book to family and friends ... young and old. Great book to spread the message of what is really important -- at the holidays especially.

Trees of the Dancing Goats is a beautiful, poignant story and one of my all time favorites. Grown-ups love it as much as the kids. If you don't have this one on your bookshelf, you should get it! If you've been good, maybe Santa Claus will drop a copy in your stocking this year!

Drawing upon her own family's experience, Patricia Polacco shares a story of true holiday giving. Her Russian grandparents teach the meaning of friendship and miracles as they relate the story of Hanukkah and as they reach out to their Christian neighbors who are suffering from a deadly epidemic of scarlet fever. They adapt the symbols of their Jewish celebration to bring Christmas to those who are too ill to create their own festivities. Polacco's colorful illustrations capture the warmth and spirit of the characters and do much to enhance this wonderful story.

A Very Dairy Christmas is the story of teenaged Callie and her friends and their struggles growing up. On the surface that may sound like a very ordinary story line, but I can assure you that Callie's experiences are anything but ordinary. Callie and her posse live in a world of wealth and privilege. They attend a prestigious boarding school and enjoy all of the tangible benefits that financial security can offer. Even though she appears to have it all, self-assured Callie lacks the things that every young girl needs most--love, attention and the guidance of a caring parent. As a reknowned fashion photographer, Callie's mother travels the world and is often absent when her daughter needs her most. As a result, Callie has become demanding and self-absorbed and dominates her relationship with her friends.

A Very Dairy Christmas is truly the story of Callie's redemption. When her mother insists that she spend her Christmas vacation on her grandparents' dairy farm in Wisconsin, Callie is furious and does all that she can to make everyone around her as miserable as she is. However, through a series of funny and heart-tugging events, Callie comes to realize that giving to others can be very rewarding. When she turns her considerable intellect and resourcefulness to the good of others, her midwestern family and friends come to see a very different side of Callie.

As a former high school teacher, I found Callie to be a delightful character. Her evolution into a caring and compassionate person serves as an object lesson for young readers. I liked A Very Dairy Christmas so much that I included it in my educational resource A Novel Approach to Family and Consumer Science. Written to encourage reading across the currliculum, Callie's exploits developed into great classroom learning activities.

I highly recommended A Very Dairy Christmas! And though it's a great holiday read, don't wait for Christmas. Check it out today!

Although this was released in November of 2005, the story in A Very Dairy Christmas is timeless. It deserves to be revisited every holiday to remind us of the possibilities for all of us - the possibility to change, the possibility to help. It is especially relevant during the holiday season to give us a nudge in the direction of giving something of ourselves, not just our pocketbooks.

As for pocketbooks, Callie has a large, designer one filled with credit cards. The daughter of a famous fashion photographer she is queen of her teen group, all girls at the very exclusive private school Ridgecrest Prep. She has it all, all except a close family. Her mother is usually off on fashion shoots and rarely has time for Callie. Her mother, Zoey, does not feel good about it but it is a situation she can not change. So they are both looking forward to the Christmas holidays and a promised ski trip together to Aspen. But at the last minute these plans change and Callie is forced to spend her vacation at her grandparents' dairy farm in Deer Creek, Wisconsin.

Callie's grandparents are very happy to finally have Callie back in their lives. As a child she spent many holidays there but after her father, their son, died Zoey cut off all contact. But Elsa and Johann are shocked by the attitude and behavior of the girl Callie has become. Since their feelings are not tempered by family love, their friends and farm workers are even more disgusted by Callie. They go out of their way to make life difficult for the rude, arrogant girl. It takes a reunion with her childhood friend Amanda, who is suffering from leukemia, for Callie to realize what a brat she had become. The fact that Amanda has a very attractive brother is an asset too. With help from her ever loving and patient grandmother, Callie works to mend friendships and find a mission in life. For her it is the discovery of the children's cancer ward at the local hospital. The story of how she meets their needs is the warm, touching story line in this feel good book.

This book is marketed as a teen book because of its teenage main character but it can certainly appeal to adults also. It is a also a fun book to read, filled with many comic moments that amuse and entertain. The author is able to take a serious subject and make it accessible to all readers.

Sylvia Hysen has used this book to promote Locks of Love, the nonprofit that collects long pieces of hair to make into wigs for children who would like them due to hair loss caused by a variety of diseases. She emphasizes not only the need for donors but also to get the word spread that this is available.

The author is planning a sequal "A Very Dairy Summer" where we hope to be reunited with Callie and her new found family.

This is the story of Callie Michaels and her pals the ABC debutantes. It is a story of contrasting social acceptance and generational differences. It is a story of a teenager's desperate attempt at winning a parent's affection and attention. After years of separation from her estranged German grandparents, Callie is coerced to spend Christmas vacation with them on their Wisconsin dairy farm.

From the moment of her arrival Callie creates an atmosphere of conflict, resentment and attitude. Isolated and alone Callie is confronted with a sense of guilt as her grandfather recovers from a near death accident caused in part by her selfishness.

Reconnecting with a childhood friend, who is suffering from leukemia, Callie assesses her priorities as she tries to make amends with her grandparents. After visiting the children's oncology ward with her friend, "She thought about her life at Ridgecrest and compared it to Amanda's. All the things she and her friends considered important seemed so petty compared to having leukemia. And yet it didn't stop Amanda from helping others. Callie had never witnessed such altruism."

Sylvia Hysen is brilliant writer. She has incorporated, into the plot of this story, a touching message. Hysen introduced the work of "Locks of Love". This is an organization that provides children undergoing chemo-therapy treatments hair pieces, made from real hair. This hair is donated by concerned individuals. Callie sacrificed her long tresses to provide Amanda with a new sense of normalcy, dignity, and self confidence.

Callie's mother, Zoey, joined the family for Christmas day at the dairy farm. As healing gave birth to reconciliation Callie's mother saw a new maturity in her daughter. "Looking at her without the bias of a mother, she saw a beautiful, compassionate young woman."

Hysen kept a balance of conflict, compassion, and romance throughout the story. I hated to have it come to an end and am looking forward to the sequel. "A Very Dairy Summer" is due to come out soon. This novel is written for a young adult audience, however; the author's sensitivity to parent-teen relationships makes it a good read for parents of teens as well.

Top notch!

You can't help but fall in love with the characters from A Very Dairy
> Christmas by Sylvia Hysen. It is heart warming to watch Callie Michael's
> dynamic character develop from a spoiled little rich girl to a generous
> caring teen. Callie leaves all her indulged comforts in the Big Apple
> to spend Christmas on a dairy farm in Wisconsin with grandparents she
> barely remembers. While she thinks she is heads above all the people she
> meets in Wisconsin the locals can't wait to see her leave. I appreciated
> the mishaps the farm hands played on Callie, she deserved them all and
> more. Despite how poorly she treats her grandparents and their friends,
> her grandparents stick by the girl they loved as a little girl and they
> give her time and opportunity to grow and come to her senses on her own.
> Just when you are ready to throw Callie out with dirty dishwater, she
> does a 180 degree turnaround and realizes that people from varied walks of
> life should be valued and respected. This story also has a just the
> right amount of romance. Casey is a handsome young boy that is connected
> to the grandfather's dairy farm. He definitely is a match for Callie and
> eventually she has to convince him to give her a chance. You can't help
> but fall in love with him.
> I think girls ages 12 - 15 would enjoy this book. I also enjoyed it and
> would recommend it to others.
>
> Lillian Armijo
> Reading Specialist
> Ranch View Middle School

Reviewed by Tammy Petty Conrad for Reader Views (3/06)

Teenager Callie lives a luxurious life bouncing between New York City and her prestigious prep school, but she's forced to spend her Christmas holiday with grandparents in Wisconsin whom she barely knows. She arrives with a chip on her shoulder having been disappointed by her over-achieving, guilt-ridden mother, Zoey, and makes sure that everyone is as miserable as she is.

But as in all entertaining books, twists and turns deliver a very different teen by the end as she learns valuable life lessons about the importance of family and friends. We also meet a variety of entertaining characters, from the farm hands that reminded me of those on the Wizard of Oz to Callie's outrageous friends. And we know exactly what kind of girl Callie is when the staff at Tiffany's knows her by her first name!

Admittedly, I didn't expect to enjoy this novel for several reasons. First I only read Christmas books in December. Second, designer and brand names are dropped right and left which makes it either more realistic or more like one big advertisement, depending on your perspective. And I'll confess I am many years removed from wearing a teenager's shoes. But I told myself each night just one more chapter, and then found I had read ten more before I put the book down. Ample dialogue and short chapters kept the story moving as it delved deeper and deeper into Callie's family history and that of a potential love interest and his family.

Sylvia Hysen is a screenwriter and this contemporary family comedy is an adaptation of her own award-winning screenplay. I can easily see how it would translate to film. Plenty of details make it a visual read. As a writer, I enjoyed learning how she took a personal interest in the Locks of Love organization, which uses donated ponytails to make hairpieces for ill children, and incorporated it into the story.

While we can't all relate to prep schools or dairy farms, most of us can understand family conflict and the importance of resolving it. It is always compelling to read abut a female character with brains, spunk and heart. A Very Dairy Christmas amuses and warms our hearts. And it's not just for the holidays either!

All three stories were well written. These stories deserve their own stand alone novel! They were great. All the stories pulled you in and you hated to see the characters go! I would love to hear more about Erin and Raimi as well as Tre' and Dr. Summer Lane.

All three stories were great. Francis Ray's story was about Samantha Clark, a former manager of a bed and breakfast. Samantha answer an ad for a housekeeping position and never expects to find the handsome Ethan Rawlins, a man still in pain. Shirley Hailstock's story is about a woman that was hurt when her prom date stood her up. Now he has returned and she is trying to fight the attraction that still lingers. Donna Hill's story is about a radio relationship expert that has no relationship of her own, when she meets the handsome program director, will all of that change?

If you only had one wish for Christmas, what would it be? Would it be something materialistic, or would it be to find love with that special someone, on the day that is set aside to celebrate the birth of the one who is the epitome of unwavering love? In WINTER NIGHTS, an anthology with stories from such notable authors as Francis Ray, Donna Hill and Shirley Hailstock, we are treated to three endearing stories of true love at its finest.

Though each story was your typical romance with the happily ever after ending, the authors managed to portray deep emotions that have you rooting for the characters as they embark on that often bumpy, but ultimately rewarding, road to love and happiness. Next time you're feeling blue and need a little something to bring a smile to your face, or you want to escape from the pressures of life, pick up a copy of the newly re-released WINTER NIGHTS. You're sure to come away with a full heart and the knowledge that true love really does conquer all.

Reviewed by Renee Williams
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

Again my girl Ray out did herself with another great read! "Winter Nights" kept me up all night! I encourage everyone to go out and get a copy. They even have it in paperback now!

Francis Ray's, "Until Christmas" is a touching novella about a young woman who not only touched the heart of the high school principal, Ethan Rawlings, but Samantha also won the hearts of Ethan's twins, Alan and Alex. Samantha, aka "Sam," was hired as a combination housekeeper, babysitter temporarily, but only until Christmas. At least, that is what Ethan told the twins and Sam, as well as himself. However, it was much too late for all of them to abide by this decision. Each was starved for the other's affections and each had become too attached to give up. The twins, not only saw Sam as their housekeeper/babysitter, but they saw her as a friend. She could play ball and was not afraid of their dog. The twins' affection went deeper still. Although they were in contact with their grandmother, they were still minus a mother figure. Sam with her winning ways, not only because she was a good cook and let them help her in the kitchen, but because it was who she was, had become special to them and they wanted her with them full time. Not only had Sam become special to them and the twins had become special to Sam, but Sam had also affected the twins' dad. Ethan's feelings for Sam were more than that of an employer, more than that of a friend. Somehow, in that short time, Sam had imbedded herself into Ethan's heart. Was he willing to allow a new love interest into his life or was he still shadowed by the deceit and experience of his ex-wife and the deceased mother of his twins. Ethan thought he had a solution to the problem when he reluctantly agreed to keep Sam, "but only until Christmas." However, love does not have a set time to go away. Therefore, until Christmas, turned out to a lifetime of love for Sam, Ethan, Alan and Alex. "Until Christmas" was the best. Way to go, Ms. Ray.

"Kwanzaa Angel" was a sweet remembrance into the past with a chance to correct the future. Erin had been hurt in the past by Raimi, who had reentered her life. Would Erin give in to her feelings that never dissolved for Raimi and become involved in a new relationship or would she revert back into the past? "Kwanzaa Angel" was about the Kwanzaa celebration, but with a twist of love for Erin and Raimi. Good story.

"'Round Midnight" was about the New Year's celebration. I loved the story of Dr. Summer Lane, the psychologist who now has a job at the radio station as a counselor on the air. Her show airs around midnight. It is at the radio station where Summer meets Tre Holland, one of the bosses. Everyone thinks Summer is a snow or ice maiden because Summer stays to herself and does not socialize with the others. However, Tre is attracted to Summer and sets out to melt the snow. Summer also has feelings for Tre and wants the ice to melt from around her heart. However, after getting together, somewhere while the ice is melting another freeze comes along and the ice around Summer's heart becomes another block of ice. Summer and Tre suffer heartship and are temporarily separated. Tre sets out to recapture Summer's love and to permanently melt the ice. He knows a new year will be approaching and is determined to be in Summer's life when the new year begins. So, he sets out around midnight to make it happen. Will Tre succeed in his endeavor? Read "'Round Midnight" and see what the New Year has in store for Summer and Tre. Great story with just the right amount of heat.

This book is really great. It is full of cute bugs and great pop-ups. My daughter loves it and we sing it all year.

Our great grandsons (ages 2 and 4) are enjoying the book and begging constantly to have them read.

My 3 1/2yr old bug lover is enamored with this book (and Jingle Bugs too). He LOVES to sing the 12-bugs-of Christmas and it is good for his memory skills to try to remember them all. When he hears the 12-Days-of-Christmas on the radio, he always points out how it is so similar to HIS song! Ha!

I am a big fan of David Carter's bug pop up books. At first the concept seems a bit odd and off setting, but they really are cute bugs, and the interactive elements are quite thoughtful and inventive.

This book goes through the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas," but makes up new words that are related to his buggy creations. Throughout the book, you open each present (lift the flap), to see the bugs inside. Inside each package is some type of pop up element (my favorite is the one that comes complete with tinsel). Each is creative, delicate (as one reader mentioned), and attention getting.

My only reservation about this book is that the interactive elements are not as diverse as in his other Christmas book, Jingle Bugs. With this book, it is basically entirely lift the flap, whereas the other one has different types of activities throughout. However, I do like the fact that you can sing to this one (a great plus in keeping little ones interested).

My 6 and 2 year old kids love this book and wanted to read it over and over during Christmas. The bugs are really cute and Christmas themed. There are tinsel bugs, gingerbread bugs, fruitcake bugs, yodeling Christmas tree bugs. The pop ups work smoothly.

You can even sing the book to the tune of 12 days of Christmas - if you can stand it.

"...Christmas is such a special time that very special, almost magical things can happen. And the most magical thing of all is Santa Bear: I'd say he has the best job in the whole world, because the joy of giving is what Christmas is all about." -- From the book

This lovely book by Stan and Jan Berenstain follows the Bear family as they navigate through the trappings of Christmas: making lists, feeling the tug of store-front windows loaded with toys, kids worrying if they've been good enough to merit Santa Bear's visit, the spirit of giving and more.

I love that this book doesn't demonize wanting things (like The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies), and shows kids deciding to spend their own money to buy their parents special gifts from Christmas.

One adorable scene in this book is when the kids encounter a bell ringing Santa outside the mall, standing in front of a pot that says "Help the Needy". Paper Bear explains "His job is to collect money to help the needy--birds who need seed, squirrels who didn't put enough aside for the winter".

Especially good for Christmastime, The Berenstain Bears Meet Santa Bear is a heartwarming story with an uplifting message that children will no doubt enjoy.

This is such a cute book! This one has the Bear family going to the mall two days after Thanksgiving and finding that it's all decorated for Christmas. Mama thinks it's too early, but Papa thinks that the kids will be fine and they will be able to handle it. Then the next page shows the cubs jumping up and down in front of the toy store way too excited for the season to begin. Sister has a ton of questions about Santa, like how does he get down our skinny chimney, how does he drive his sleigh when there's no snow, etc., etc. Just the same questions just about every child has at one time or another. It also goes through how hard it is to wait until Christmas Eve and all the things a kid goes through waiting for that wonderful event. Lastly, it shows the cubs buying thoughtful gifts for their parents and being very excited when they open them on Christmas. The book closes with Papa explaining all of Sister's questions on Christmas Eve while they are looking up into the sky, waiting for Santa Bear to come. Then, it starts to snow and blankets the entire town with Christmas snow.

This is such a great little book - it shows all the joys of Christmas through a child's eyes but also teaches about giving. When Sister says that Santa Bear has the hardest job in the world making all those presents and then delivering them, Papa counters with the fact that he thinks that Santa Bear has the best job because he gets to give all those gifts to so many cubs. That's the last sentence in the book too - when the cubs give their gifts to their parents, they realize that Papa was right - Santa Bear did have the best job in the whole world because it feels better to give than to receive.

We LOVE this book in our house and I just can't recommend it enough!

I got this book as a christmas present in 1990 and really enjoyed it. All the toys looked exciting to me and I really loved the illustrations.

I gave this book four stars because it is a great book for children dealing with questions about Santa Claus. Papa Bear answers all these questions with a simple answer, "Christmas is such a special time of year that very special, almost magical things can happen. And the most magical thing of all is Santa Bear."

This book is about how the cubs start wanting their presents for Christmas. Brother bear wants just a couple of things and makes a small Christmas list, while sister bear makes a really long one. Sister gets thiknking and she realizes she's being greedy.

I reccomend this book to any child who is havinbg a want problem. The point of this story is don't be greedy. This is for children 5-8 yrs. of age.

We bought this book for our 2 year old niece, Zoe. This is a book that both children and adults can love. The pictures are breathtaking. The story is wonderful too ~ about family and friends and a beautiful winter evening.

A well written, heart warming story about the importance of friendships as we journey.Beautifully illustrated, I took my chances on this one by the cover and was not disappointed.I purchased 2, one for my 15 mo. old grandson and one for myself to share with my other grandchildren.Simply stated, a must read for the little ones during the holiday season.

I BOUGHT THIS BOOK FOR MY 5-YEAR-OLD GRANDDAUGHTER. I DID NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ THIS WITH HER, BUT I WAS TOLD SHE LIKED IT VERY MUCH. THIS BOOK PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL ANOTHER KIND OF CHRISTMAS STORY.

bought this for a baby 1st christmas present. story is sweet..adventures of a new bear and pictures are beautiful and big.

Christmas is about sharing, and that's the lesson this book is trying to teach. A young bear is woken from his hibernation by the sound of Christmas songs, and on his way to find the source of the music, he runs into animals who are in need of help. As he helps them, both he and they learn the real meaning of Christmas: Sharing and giving selflessly is the source of Christmas happiness.

The art is very nice. When the story describes the bear listening for the music, the artist was able to recreate the scene perfectly. The children in the house singing carols are portrayed in rapturous joy and the tenderness of the bear is lovingly painted.

Despite the author's portrayal of bears as playful, happy, and helpful animals, I think this book is very enjoyable and appropriate for kids 2 and up. I don't think it's a good idea to portray bears like that since they are actually strong, wild animals which should not be approached, but so many other kids books portray them as cuddly, so I can't be too hard on Kinerk here.

What I can be hard on is the choice of font. The skinny, broken, scraggly font is hard to read. It is difficult to read ahead while reading aloud since the font needs deciphering. It took a couple readings before I could effectively read this aloud to my son.

One other problem for some parents is the omission of Christ and/or any other religious significance for the holiday. The Christmas tree is given an unnecessary significance, and the book has a heavy dose of naturalism. This may be a turn off for those parents who wish to teach their kids "the reason for the season".

All in all, the book is entertaining, well drawn, and has enough plot to be read over and over again. Naturally, the book only has a shelf-life of a month or two before the Christmas season is over, but the book's physical binding and size make it a keeper. 4 stars for an excellent book, but a point off for the font.

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!

Crocodiles do not conjure up images of a well-behaved pet! Alice Jayne sure tries to convince her eccentric family to keep a "puppy eyed" crocodile she finds under the Christmas tree. Our sympathy immediately goes out to the Christmas Crocodile who really "didn't mean to be bad." He sure gets into trouble in this book.

From page one, get ready to laugh at the adorable antics and pictures of less than amused family members. If the "Cat in the Hat" had been found under the Christmas tree, even he could not have created this much chaos! After gobbling down just about everything (a water bottle, candy canes, a Christmas roast, pumpkin pie, twenty-nine crumpets on the kitchen counter, a box of pralines, one fruitcake, five golden oranges, the left stove top burner, and a plate of ginger star cookies), the family locks the crocodile in the back room. They then retire for the evening.

What happens next can only be told by Bonny Becker and illustrated by David Small. We have copy which says: "For Alexia, Season's eatings!" signed by Bonny Becker! This is a magical book from start to finish. You don't want all this fun to ever end...and you know...it might just being again. Don't peak at the last page! This is the perfect gift for any child at Christmas time. They will enjoy reading it all year long.

~The Rebecca Review

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!

I found this book on the back of an old bookshelf full of some old books. I saw that it was in good condition and had a beautiful cover.
The SECOND I read the first page, I couldn't put it down. I love this book and read it like crazy. Now my dad got it for me off the internet somewhere. It will come in the mail soon and it will be mine. Some parts, such as the line Glory says: "Merry Christmas, Charolette. And Merry Christmas, Morning Glory, wherever you are." made me cry! I love this book and I'm counting down the days until it arrives!

A child's book that an adult can enjoy is a wonderful book indeed.
This one is wonderful!

IT WAS THE BEST I MEAN TOPS I EVEN CRIED SOME IT IS A TOUCHING SWEET STORY YOUR KIDS WILL LOVE IT TO I AM SURE PLEASE READ IT IT IS WORTH IT IT IS A VERY EDIFIYING AND TOUCHING STORY IT LOOKS BORING BUT IT REALLY IS NOT IT IS THE TOP OF TOPS BOOKS

This book I really liked. I had this book for a very long time, but never really got to read it. I started it one day and I couldn't stop. I finished it within two days. Glory and Lucy Wollcot are sisters living in the workhouse (The home for little orphan girls)in London Town.Their meal are scarce their nights are dark and cold and they hear many terrible storys of little girls who escape then get caught. To brighten up their spirits, Lucy "creates" storys of their family that she barley rembers- and a doll named Morning Glory that they are sure they will find again some day. When a deadly fever comes accross the workhouse, the girls escape without getting caught to the terrible streets of London. When the sisters find an old, discarded doll, Glory is positive that it is Morning Glory. Morning Glory is different from other dolls... And she works her magic on every body!

The Christmas Doll is a children's story about two orphan girls who live and work in a workhouse in Dickensian England. Life is hard for the girls who are constantly cold and hungry. When some of the children in the factory become sick, Sara (the eldest), fears for her younger sister Glory. The two girls run away and have many frightening and exciting adventures on the streets of London, before finding a place they truly belong.

I listened to the audio edition of this novel and really enjoyed it. Sarah and Glory are two strong-minded powerful little girls, whose friendship and loving hearts endure many terrible tragedies. Wonderful. 5 stars. Suitable for all ages. Sensitive really young children should read with a parent.