Christmas Books

Our family loves this book. My kids are 9 and 12 and they both love it, as do I! It was a great find for us and it will be for your family too.

I found the stories to be thought-provoking and fun to share with my kids. We got a lot of good ideas for meaningful things to do this Christmas season. It sure is good to remember what Christmas is really all about and with those that I love the most!

If you are looking for a way for your family to spend some time together each night during the Christmas season, then this is the book for you. It is filled with stories that make you laugh and cry. My 4 children ages 6 to 11 couldn't wait each night to see which story was next. It was like an advent calendar that we all could share in.

This is a great feel-good book. If you are reaching for the way to make the season more family-oriented and less about "things" this book is for you!

I am writing this review as a story contributor of this Chicken Soup book and a reader as well. I feel honored to be included in this book with such wonderful talent. These stories are just what a Mother needs to read to her children at night before they turn out the light. What a wonderful way to celebrate the Christmas season and what a meaningful tradition to start! This is a book to pass down for generations to come! I am proud to be the lead story of such a masterpiece.

Denise Peebles

I love this book! At first I thought it was just a humor book, but although it is quite funny, it also has a serious purpose. It really has a lot of information about how to create a holiday to celebrate during December that both members of a Jewish-Christian interfaith couple can be happy with. It has recipes and lot of other ideas and information. It actually has instructions for making a dreidel out of clay and playing dreidel, as well as recipes for Shirley Temple Emanuel and Meshuggeh Nog Latte, as well as a good list of famous half-Jews. It also has a great glossary with definitions like "Kibbitz: To chat, gab, engage in frivolous conversation. What WASPs like to do during cocktail hours before the holiday dinner. Not to be confused with kibbutz, a farm in Israel." A great gift for interfaith couples or people with interfaith couples in their family who have an interest in and sense of humor about religion.

This book is great for ways to help "blended" families celebrate both Chanukah and Christmas in a way that does not short change either celebration. Lots of crafts and recipes that the children can use to help them understand that it is possible to respect and enjoy both of their parents religion. I am glad I bought it. They will be glad to receive it.

This book fits my life...I decorate our Chrismukkah tree with menorahs as well as colorful glass balls. The wreath on our door has dreidels on it instead of pine cones and holly. Our daughter looks forward to both lighting the tree AND the Hanukkah candles. There are lots of funny tips and trivia about those who also celebrate both holidays in December. The author also has a self-published cookbook with lots of hilarious and yummy recipes - [...]

THE BEST, MOST HILARIOUS--AND USEFUL--BOOK EVER FOR MIXED FAITH FOLKS WHO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AND HANNUKAH WITH DOUBLE-THE-FUN FANFARE! FOR EVERYONE WHO KNOWS THE JOYS AND OYS OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON, THIS BOOK VALIDATES, ENRICHES, ENTERTAINS, AND IS SO FUNNY EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, "YULE PLOTZ!"

I've only said that a couple times in my life. Gompertz treats the subject with insanely clever humor and heart and is a top-notch writer. This isn't just a gimmick; it's clear this guy really cares about Jews and Gentiles embracing and carrying on their own traditions...together.

I'm getting this book for all my interfaith couple friends (and the list is growing). What a terrific gift for the holiday season!

Many, many years ago I purchased this book and with my daughter handpainted all of the lovely angels. Because my grandchildren now love to move the angels to various heights at Christmastime, I attempted to located several more of these detailed books - but they were out of print. However, magically Amazon located two more and I am having great fun painting the new angels to give to my grandchildren. The grandest gift of all!

This book is a great arts and crafts book to do with your kids or yourself. The illustrations are beautiful and there are so many ways to decorate the angels. I put them on my Christmas tree when I finished. I've ordered several more copies at my kids request.

My six year old and I did all the angels using either colored markers or inks and brushes. They are beautiful. I'm back to order more books because my daughter wants to do the angels I "got" to do.

This is a great project book if you have several ages to entertain. Even teenagers!

I am a great admirer of Catherine Stock's work. These angels are just wonderful and can make even the most "art-challenged" adult look good. It does take some serious investment of time to color and cut out all 12 angels, but you'll like the results. A little too advanced for my 3 year old, but I can see us decorating the angels together in a few years. Overall, well worth the price and effort.

Wonderful! We have had this book since the early '80s. My daugthers (then aged 5 and 8) colored these beautiful angels with water color pencils and added glitter. We hang them around the creche every year. Beautifully drawn. A wonderful project and a very special keepsake. I am ordering a book for each girl to save until they have thier own children. I hope it never goes out of print.

When Taylor begins her search, you not only feel her need to find her real mother but meet some delightful people along the way. The landlady and her "friend", the young man next door, the childhood friend all add depth and appeal. Add to that a large dose of small town Christmas and you have a joyous holiday experience.

It's a story you can't put down once you begin reading it. Taylor, a woman searching to find her real parents goes to Dell Colorado. The author paints a realistic image of a friendly small town at the Christmas season where Taylor believes she will find clues to who her parents were and the secret of the bell. It's an interesting adventure with an intriguing ending.

This is a great story which is very well written. It is hard to put down the book. You want to know what is happening. The way the book is written you actually can see yourself in the places the character is in, see the people she is interacting with. I love books like that. It is a story you can really get into.

I could hardly put the book down.
The characters were so believable.
The ending was especially wonderful.

I enjoyed this book so much. It just pulled me along. I could hardly wait to see what was going to happen next. It is a great story to read at Christmas time, but would be a good book to read any time of the year.
I bought extra copies to give as Christmas gifts to family and friends.

Since there is already a very good review of this book I won't be redundant but in light of the fact that there are SO Many Grace Hill books, I liked this book, but I liked In Tune With Wedding Bells, which is very similiar, better.

This book is so sweet and so romantic! I bought 10 of them for Christmas gifts! Anything by Grace Livingston Hill is a must read.

When Greg Sterling returns to his home town, he finds the second love of his life - he had just found the first on his return when a new friend introduced him to our Lord. Amazingly his second love is a Christian as well and after a period of trials, they find a unique love blessed by the Lord.

I've probably read this book at least a dozen times. It's one of my favorites by this great author.

Young man leaves home to find his place in the world, only to return and find it in his home town
Wishes to find a girl with spiritual qualities, thinking that maybe he will in an "old flame" from his past
Finds the girl whom he wishes to marry and loses her for a time only to find her again and the family with whom he would like to belong
The story of romance of the young and the contented story of the twilight years of what faith and love of God helps us through this life on earth and its hardships

Greg Sterling has struggled for years trying to raise cattle on his western land. When oil is discovered on his land, he is instantly rich! He returns east, hoping to see his old friends, and the old home where he lived before his mother died. Instead, he finds his old home is run down, and his friends have grown shallow and selfish.

As Greg looks out of his third floor luxury hotel room contemplating life's sadness, he sees a young woman faint and fall to the ground from her park bench. Greg rushes to help her, and takes her to the hospital. They learn that young Margaret McLaren is a poor penniless girl who has starved herself into exhaustion, trying to earn money to send home to her beloved grandparents who are just about to lose their farm.

Greg is much taken with this young woman, and arranges to pay all of her hospital bills, and to have her hospital room set up as a memorial in honor of his mother, as a free room for poor strangers. When the head nurse learns that a stranger has paid for Margaret's bills, she accuses Margaret of improper behavior. Margaret, still not well, flees the hospital. Margaret has no place to stay, and no money. She manages to find a poor job that first day addressing envelopes, and catnaps in the train station, moving around several times during the night so as not to be caught as a vagrant. She eats soup or coffee, rarely both, and manages to keep going for several more days.

In the meantime, Greg learns what the head nurse has done, and is frantic to find Margaret. He meets a friend who shows him all that Jesus has done for him, and he gives his heart to God. He then determines to set up a small business dedicated to helping people learn of God, and determines that Margaret is just the young woman to work as his secretary -- if he can find her.

Does he find her? And do her impoverished grandparents get to keep their farm?

I really, really enjoyed this book. I prefer GLH books with poor heroines who struggle against the odds, and this is such a story. I wish it had spent more time describing Margaret's days of struggle after leaving the hospital, instead it spent more on Greg's journey to find her. I enjoyed the homelike description of the grandparents' farm, even to the simple meals they ate. The ending was too fairy-tale-like to be believable, but still it was sweet. I have added this book to my permanent collection as one of my favorite GLH books.

I agree with a lot of opinions from below reviewers, including that this was Ms. Ferguson's best Regency romance story, but I felt I must subtract one star because I think its mystery plot was a bit weak. The biggest flaw was the first carriage accident when Timothy first discovered Serenity; it was just way too chancy of plot--everybody was dead except the heroine and lost her memory, how convenient, it was just too big of gamble for the villain to plan; and there were few other smaller incidences, although they were more believable of their likelihood, but villain's motive behind them was kind of stretched. So I would say that this was a very pleasant and touching romance story with a Christmas flavor, but can probably leave out its mystery sub-plot.

I had not read any books by this author before, I thought it was one of the better christmas romance stories that I have read to date. It keeps you guessing right up until the end, and makes it a book you do not want to put down until the conclusion.

Timothy Crawford has been writing to his grandfather with tales of the woman he loves--Serenity Adams. His grandfather has asked Timothy to bring this paragon of womanhood home to meet the family. Unfortunately this paragon is not real, and Timothy realizes that he will have to reveal that truth to his grandparent during a family gathering. As he and his cousin are en route to the family estate, they come upon a carriage accident and discover one survivor. It is a woman who fits the physical description of Serenity perfectly. When she awakens, she has no memory of anything.. Jo Ann Ferguson has written another wonderful novel. She mixes just the right amounts of humor, sentiment, passion, and adventure to guarantee a story to enchant her audience from page one until the final word.

Timothy Crawford may be a viscount, but he loves to build things. So even though his grandfather, the Earl of Brookindale, continuously tells him to let the business men run the family businesses, Timothy just has to keep his hands in the work. To sooth the Earl, Timothy and his cousin, Felix Wayne, tells the Earl that Timothy has found the woman of his dreams. Timothy names this non-existent lady Serenity Adams. When the Earl insists on meeting the woman Timothy knows he is in trouble. He is expected to present his wonderful fiancée during the Earl's seventieth birthday celebration on Christmas Eve. Fearing he will be disinherited, Timothy still decides to do the right thing. He will go to the Earl and tell the truth. So Timothy and Felix depart on a journey to Cheyney Park.

"Fate" is not only a fickle lady, but one with a sense of adventure. This is proven when the two gentlemen find an overturned carriage. All within the carriage are dead. However, one lady had been thrown out. The men believe her to be the lady's maid of one of the deceased. There is nothing around to identify any of them. The sole survivor did not escape totally uninjured. She has no memory. Since she matches the image of the fantasy fiancée, Felix seizes the opportunity that Fate has given them and convinces the woman to masquerade as Timothy's "Serenity" until after the holidays.

***** This is, in my opinion, the BEST regency romance that Jo Ann Ferguson has written thus far! Readers may enjoy this tale at any time of year, because Christmas is only mentioned during the scenes of decorating and because the Earl's birthday is around the same time. The author focus on the main characters, Timothy and Serenity, and not on the season.

Many authors add a child to the story so s/he will touch the heart of the reader. Usually, the child is mean, spoiled, or mute. Apparently the author is as tired of these scenarios as the readers are. Yet the holiday season seems more special with children around. This dilemma is neatly stepped around by what must be a wonderful brain storm on the author's part. Meet Theodora who is ten-years-old but looks six. For reasons revealed in the story, "Uncle Timothy" and the Earl placed the child in the care of a nurse since birth. She cannot use her legs. One arm/hand does not work. The other arm/hand has limited movement. She is friendly, smart, very observant, and definitely NOT mute. You cannot miss what you never knew, so she is content in her room. Of course, Serenity is NOT content and goes about changing things for the better.

Did the author stop there? She could have and this would have still been a "five star" regency tale. Instead a subtle sub-plot is added. This novel proves that Jo Ann Ferguson has a shining talent for writing in the Regency genre! Highly recommended for ANY time of year. I recommend that it be read during the colder season for atmosphere though. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Why I didn't find this book last Christmas is a mystery. Better late than never, however. It is certainly a book that can be read--and enjoyed--at any time of the year. There is the customary family get-together, new traditions (a tree in the house! an idea from Germany) as well as old ones (ringing the chapel bell once for each year since the birth of Christ, 1818 peals in all.) There is a sometimes irascible grandfather who longs to see his oldest heir married. And a mystery. Who is the young woman known as Serenity Adams?

The two cousins, Timothy Crawford and Felix Wayne are on their way to Christmas with their grandfather, the Earl of Brookindale, at Cheyney Park in the north of England when they come upon an accident. Of the three inhabitants of the carriage that has gone over the side of a hill, two are dead. The other, a young woman, has suffered a severe blow to her head, which has resulted in amnesia. Purely by chance, the young woman greatly resembles the imaginary fiancée the the young man have created for Timothy, in lieu of the real thing.

For Timothy is an enlighted young man, devoting many hours each day to the care and enlargement of his grandfather's business interests. Such activity has discouraged several young ladies in the past, so he has created the perfect example in Serenity. The young man is not at all looking forward to his grandfather's seventieth birthday party on Christmas Eve, at which time he'll have to confess his falsehoods.

But the young woman, not knowing her real identity nor where she belongs, dressed as she is in servant's clothing, agrees to accompany the men to Cheyney Park. This is as much to recuperate as to set in motion the inquiries that will hopefully find her own real family and allow her to go home once again.

In spite of not knowing who she is, what she is quickly becomes very evident: a young woman of quality. Timothy is soon head over ears in love with her, and hesitantly, she reciprocates, knowing full well the relationship may well have to be abandoned if she is not worthy to be a countess.

This is very much a feel-good book, and when the villain gets his comeuppance, you'll chuckle in spite of yourself. And probably shed a tear or two when a very young lady takes her 'turn'. An added enjoyable ingredient is the author's own variety of Regency slang, or language, not usually encountered in other books. All in all, a book that should live on for several more Holiday Seasons.

Julie Beard - My True Love Gave to Me Anne Clancy looks to be celebrating Christmas alone - not even her black cat Niner is around having been missing these last four days. Hearing what she thinks is his bell, she rushes out in a snowstorm calling for him and is hit by a car. When a most startling blue-eyed gorgeous hunk of man revives her, she assumes it is her neighbors friend who she was to meet that evening - darn but she could have warned her he was drop dead gorgeous! Only it wasn't the neighbor's friend - and it wasn't even Wisconsin, USA 1975 anymore either. She was catapulted back in time and mistaken for this gorgeous hunk of a medieval knight's intended bride. Now what's a modern girl to do? Divine short story with a lovely ending.

Jo Beverley - A Gift of Light Kitty Mayhew was alone working on a tapestry trying to figure out what was wrong with her mother's cat who was making the strangest sounds and putting her body through some very strange contortions. It was her maid Polly that let her know that the problem was that the cat was in heat and hadn't she heard the `tom cats' making all kinds of racket at night. The very worst of the `tom cats' was a big black one that she found out belonged to a neighbor. Armed with all the dignity she could muster Kitty went to the neighbor insisting they control their `tom' cat from courting her female. What she discovered was a very impudent owner who didn't seem to see that this was as much of a problem as she did. In fact, this rascally `Lord Chatterton' thought that this little spitfire needed to be taught the finer points of courting - human style. Through a ruse using the servants courtship as an excuse, he talked Kitty into the two of them acting as chaperones to find out if the servants budding courtship would last if it didn't have to be kept clandestine and would be brought into the open.

This was a cute, lovely story with some sweet and sassy dialog. Lord Chatterton was the initiator of trying to teach a lesson in courtship, but it was Kitty who finally taught Tom, Lord Chatterton, what it really meant to let in the `light of the Christmas season' and truly love.

Barbara Bretton - Home for the Holidays This was a darling story told partly from Sebastian, a Maine Coon cat's perspective and partly from his human owners, Jill and David. It is Christmas Eve and David and Jill are divorcing. Jill and David had been together since college; loving each other thru the hard times then slowly falling apart as David's need to advance his career and make more and more money was more important than spending time with his family. It would take Sebastian, the cat they both loved, on a journey that they could follow - to make David remember that the most important thing he needed was Jill and that they were partners - and that they were once happiest when all they had was a little money but whole lot of love. Sweet story.

Lynn Kurland - The Gift of Christmas Past I really liked this offering from Lynn Kurland. Sir Sweetums, Abigail Garrett's cat, has been missing, and her life feels as though it has gone down the drain, no job, no cat, no unemployment insurance, and no boyfriend just a couple of days before Christmas - she felt like George Bailey and was ready to jump off a bridge into the river. Well, she didn't exactly jump but she did fall in and when she came up for air she found herself in a cesspool of a moat. Not only a moat, but she was no longer in Wisconsin, but England and it wasn't 1998 anymore but 1238! She dragged herself out of the moat, and made her way to the gate at the top of the drawbridge - only to find a surly man dressed up like a medieval knight holding a sword and he didn't quite know what to make of her either! This was a really darling story with Sir Sweetums, who had passed by his ninth life, and was now a guardian angel cat who had one last human he had to find a suitable mate for. Very nice and romantic as these two people from different times had to come to grips with each other and the truth of who they were! Very humorous as well!

I bought this book for the Lynn Kurland story. It is wonderful. Miles and Abby are made for each other. I loved it for the time-travel aspect. Lynn knows how to capture the essence of the times she sends her hero's and heroin's back to.

If you want to carry on reading about Miles and Abby's life together read THE MORE I SEE YOU, it is set about 20yrs. after this story. You won't be dissapointed.

I originally bought this book to read Lynn Kurland's story, but after I read her story I decided to keep going and read the others. I found ALL the stories to be good reads, especially Jo Beverly's "A Gift of Light". This has given me the opportunity to find other authors that are readable.

The Christmas Cat is a delightful and light hearted book. I enjoyed reading the book by one of my favorite authors and it enables me to determine if I would like to read other books by the other authors included in these books. It also provides you with several different story lines so that you can finish the book in one day instead of not knowing the end of the book until later.

Just for those who are looking for a copy of this--it's going to be rereleased as part of Love Came Just in Time very soon . . . and it's not an out-of-print book. I get emails often asking for this book and according to my publisher it's still in print. Don't overpay for something you can still get for a traditional price!

American Girl can be trusted to produce a great product. This book is well written and illustrated for the younger person in mind..however, Mothers will love this book also. Many ideas and a wide range of materials for craft making for the holidays. American Girls does it again!!

Yet another great Christmas craft book! This book has many great ideas, including snowmen you can eat! I would definitely buy this book for the Christmas season.

I think this book is one of the best ideas American Girls has come up with. The book has many, many ways for kids like me to use my creativity in a useful way at a low cost. People should buy this book because it has a lot of ideas for beautiful, useful gifts. I used some of the ideas last year, and my family loved them. They're still using them! It doesn't cost much to buy and use this book, but you get the best reward when the people you give presents to open theirs!!!!!

I love this book. It contains wonderful, quick and pretty projects. I have already choosen several to make up this year for Christmas. I organize craft projects for my mom's group at chruch and several of these project will be great and very economical for a large group of ladies. If you have a young daughter I imagine she would love this book too.

This is a great book with clear photos and directions for Christmas things from home made mint snowpeople to tree decorations, that appeal to kids and adults.

Another great Eve book. Like All Hallows Eve, this one teaches a wonderful lesson to children while still being very entertaining! Gave this to all my friends children for Christmas last year!

This book is delightful for any child age one to one hundred. It is a lovely story with the greatest illustrations. It makes one feel young at heart and also reminds you about the true meaning of Christmas.

Christmas Eve: The Joy of Giving was a great follow up to All Hallows Eve. The writing is superb and easily captures the attention of my children. The visuals are a great compliment to the words and helps to bring the story to life. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

What a wonderful correlation of Santa and the Nativity! This book is a sweet story overall, and the illustrations are darling, but its real magic is that its messages really reflect the true meaning of Christmas, the spirit of giving and the gift of appreciation. Imagine if we all appreciated the things we receive! I know I appreciate this charmer and so do my grandkids!

This is a lovely book with a profound message. And the rhyming text is great fun to read and will definitely hold a child's attention to the very end. The artwork is magical, as well - I know children will want to linger on each page. Perfect length for a bedtime story.

Wow, this is a great book. I find many books on Christmas to be formulaic marketing exploits on the good will and memories most of us have for the holiday season, not the Christmas House. This is a true story of a remarkable man, George Skinner, who in LA during the 1930's transformed Polio and the complex morass we all call our families to bring joy and holiday spirit to literally millions and invent the modern tradition of Christmas decoration for homes with his creation of the first "Christmas House". It even ends with a romance, if it weren't true it might seem too good. The book is beautifully bound like a fine heirloom family photo album and reads like one if only the rest of us could write as well Georja Skinner, the books author and the daughter of George Skinner. This is a wonderful gift for those who love to decorate for the holidays, could use a dose of optimistic courage, or just want to read a delightful story of the capacity of the human spirit improve and inspire. After all, isn't that what Christmas is about?

A charming, heart-warming, inspirational story. The world needs more stories like this - now more than ever. The world also needs more people like George Skinner, the man behind the Christmas House and Georja Skinner, the woman and gifted storyteller behind this book. I wholeheartedly recommend THE CHRISTMAS HOUSE.

As an avid reader, I am always looking for books which are well written and interesting to read.
This book met all of my requirements for a great read.
Ms. Skinner presents a moving family story because she includes 'secrets' which many families try to deny or avoid discussing. Including the 'secrets' makes us see the individuals as human being with flaws who managed to succeed and help start a tradition which we all enjoy in the present day.
The enjoyment which I received from reading this book far exceeded the price of the book.

The Christmas House by Georja Skinner
New World Library

In the literature that celebrates the tradition of Christmas, Clement C. Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicholas" and Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" stand out as enduring classics. Dylan Thomas' A Child's Christmas in Wales, while perhaps not as popular, continues the literary tradition of reflecting on the cultural meaning of Christmas through the eyes of the individuals who celebrate the season.

Georja Skinner's The Christmas House is a worthy successor to these perennial classics, not because it is fictional (it is not), but because it plausibly explains the origin of a very common American tradition - house decoration during the Christmas season. However, this remarkable story is far from a dry exercise in social history, for in its unobtrusive lesson about the meaning of Christmas we find both the recovery of the origin of a tradition and the reconstruction of a family's history through the historical marginalia of a personal archive.

The Christmas House is at once a search for roots, an inducement to preserve history and memory, and the fascinating re-telling of one man's struggle with a devastating disease - poliomyelitis.

The story is a simple one, simply and directly told, and that is its great strength. The author's father, George Skinner, separated from his family in Canada and resettling in California with his father Albert, contracted polio at age 22 in the epidemic that struck Los Angeles in 1934. George was hospitalized, confined at times to an iron lung that enabled him to breathe, and, greatly weakened and disabled, released to re-join his father at their Boyle Heights home in 1936. He had spent over one year recovering in the Los Angeles General Hospital.

Disheartened but yet undaunted by this traumatic experience, he hit on the holiday expedient of decorating the façade and chimney of their home with Christmas decorations in such profusion that the resulting spectacle would serve as a grand "thank you" to their neighbors for their many kindnesses and tokens of support during his convalescence. It was the Great Depression, and neighbors banded together for mutual support.

The young George Skinner had no material riches to give back in return, but the delight he generated with his "Christmas house" idea sparked the imagination of his neighbors and energized the people of Los Angeles as the news media focused on the unusual spectacle of Santa Claus, snowflakes, and icicles at 919 Mathews Street. In 1938, over 100,000 visitors witnessed an even grander display at their home, though a house fire proved to be an unfortunate setback. George Skinner's determination and artistry propelled him into a successful career in broadcasting, and the author traces the Christmas house's subtle influence through her father's subsequent career, marriage, family reconciliations, and many holiday seasons.

The uniqueness of this story turns on George Skinner's experience with polio and his exceptional resolve to overcome its aftereffects. In that, it is reminiscent of the experience of Franklin Roosevelt, whom George and many others with polio upheld as a role model of colossal importance. George's experience nearly killed him, and his convalescence was long and arduous. Not much was known about polio in 1934, and the Los Angeles epidemic was unusual in many ways, primarily for the extraordinary outbreak of what first appeared to be polio among the nurses and attendants at Los Angeles General Hospital, but now believed to have been chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Among 2,500 confirmed cases of polio, of which George's was one, nearly 300 nurses were also affected by CFS.

In later years - the 1940s and 1950s - the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (now the March of Dimes) dispatched specialized medical teams to communities throughout the nation for epidemic relief and paid for the hospitalization and aftercare treatment of those affected by polio. In 1934, however, George Skinner had only his father Albert, a tool and die maker, to rely on after his hospitalization, and these were very hard times. Albert and George together built and rigged up many devices of their own making - an outdoor gym and stationary bicycle - to provide an opportunity for physical therapy. Before their residence became "the Christmas house," their modest home was in actuality a makeshift polio rehabilitation center. First, the regime of physical therapy; then, the therapeutic and artistic breakthrough of the Christmas house; these were George Skinner's personal triumphs and re-inventions of himself, and what makes this story all the more captivating are the many photographs and documents that illustrate every episode.

One of the prerequisites of writing history is the keeping of archives. Most of us pay scant attention to the repositories of records, i.e., archives, that form a common and critically important part of higher education, government, and community life. At the same time, most of us do keep personal records of many sorts: photographs, scrapbooks, correspondence, and family memorabilia are typical. In The Christmas House, the profusion of illustrations enriches the story tremendously, and this is an integral part of the story itself.

George Skinner's childhood, hospitalization, post-polio experience, and adult life are all captured in photographs; and the inclusion of telegrams, clippings, press releases, Christmas cards, and souvenirs also serves to impart a photo verite quality to this story proving, as author Georja Skinner phrases it, that her father and grandfather were "consummate pack rats." In other words, they were incipient archivists. She describes the experience of discovering a personal scrapbook of clippings and photos that her father had kept as "going through a time warp." This is a common experience. What is uncommon is the author's transformation of family history into a luminous biographical memoir.

The Christmas House is a testament to love of family, personal fortitude against adversity, and recapturing the past. Without an overbearing religious message, it is a book about the Christmas tradition, a perfect antidote to the hyper-commercialization of Christmas that Americans commonly witness.

If anything, its message is "preserve your memories," and it will serve to raise our historical awareness about polio and disability and about a unique moment in American history when a young man in Los Angeles transformed his personal misfortune into a popular holiday tradition.

August 17, 2005 / David Rose / March of Dimes Archives

"My father was passionate about Christmas. He believed Christmas was the perfect time to celebrate all the joy that comes with living, and he did his best to spread good cheer...His zeal came from an unlikely place: the polio epidemic of 1934." - Georja Skinner

On May 22, 1934, a robust twenty-two-year old college named George Skinner was swimming laps at the Los Angeles City College pool. Reading a book at poolside, his girlfriend Allison realized that an unusual quiet had descended. She looked up from her book and was horrified to discover that George was quickly sinking to the bottom of the pool-spread-eagle, motionless, and eyes wide open.

After arriving at the Los Angeles County General Hospital, the doctor immediately recognized George's symptoms: poliomyelitis. In the early 30's many were stricken with polio and, at the time, there was no known cure or prevention for the virus. The only treatment was isolation, rest, time spent in the iron lung, and morphine to relieve the pain.

As he lay in the polio ward, George received a dire prognosis. The disease had spread through 80 percent of his body and there was a strong possibility that he would never walk again. Unable to speak, George blinked his eyes in acknowledgement as the doctor relayed the shocking news. Albert, George's talkative happy-go-lucky Dad, was stunned into silence. Because the ward was under quarantine, the hospital staff asked Albert to leave-leaving George alone.

Although George was inducted President of the Optimist Society in 1932, he still struggled with the question "Why me?" After all, he thought, I believe in God. I go to church. One minute I'm playing varsity sports, in love with my college sweetheart, and the next I'm paralyzed, on the verge of death.

Other troubling thoughts plagued George in the polio ward-ones involving the family he and his father left behind in Canada 14 years ago. He had fond memories of his Mother and his brothers, especially during Christmastime. His Mother had loved Christmas and so had George. Yet, what was supposed to be a "few weeks vacation" turned into a new life in California--*without* his other family members.

Why did his Dad avoid questions about the family they left behind? Where were they? Why didn't they write or visit when he needed them the most?

Fueled by his fond memories of Christmases past, his fiery optimism, and his desire to repay the many kindnesses and overwhelming support shown by church members, friends, and neighbors, George vowed that he would one day walk again-and that he'd create a spectacular Christmas wonderland for all to enjoy.

The Christmas House, written by George's daughter Georja Skinner, chronicles the heart-warming-and sometimes heart-wrenching-account of George's rigorous exercise regimen and arduous recovery, which included enlisting the aid of Eleanor Roosevelt and FDR's private nurse for hydrotherapy. Ms. Skinner lovingly relays George's tireless planning for the Christmas House, the elaborate steps that George and Albert took to bring the vision to life and the outpouring of support from merchants, friends, and the community. In addition, The Christmas House is a poignant story of enormous dedication, creativity, resilience, forgiveness, love, and community spirit. Also tucked within the pages of this touching book is a sweet love story about Georja's parents.

Bound with leather and filled with over 100 photographs, various newspaper clippings and journal entries from George's scrapbook, The Christmas House: How One Man's Dream Changed the Way We Celebrate Christmas is a beautiful homage to a man many have credited with launching the holiday decorating tradition still in practice today.

An indoor holiday forest, hand-painted scenery, snow shipped in from Utah, floodlights, a magical wishing well, home-made baked goods, and an elaborate sound system-all designed by George-were but a few of the wondrous experiences enjoyed by visitors to the Christmas House.

It's fascinating to read how the Skinners transformed a bungalow into the magical Christmas House-and how its presence touched thousands of lives. Volunteers worked tirelessly to bring George's displays into reality. For example, one of George's ideas was to bury tree trunks upside down in holes dug in the backyard. He figured that the twisted roots would resemble leafless branches in the dead of winter. After he was satisfied with his makeshift forest, he painted the exposed roots with white paint and sprinkled metal shavings on the wet paint. You see, in the days of the Great Depression, they didn't have extra money for modern decorative conveniences like glitter.

The Christmas House by Georja Skinner is a stirring tribute to her father and his legacy. I cried, I rejoiced, and I marveled as I read about this remarkable man and his father and the community they rallied together at a time when despair and poverty covered America.