Christmas Books

This book was introduced to me by our pastor's wife. It follows the journey of a begrudging camel and his lack of enthusiasm to do as God's angels asked him and take gifts to the new baby King. Just when Hoshmakaka can't seem to bear anymore, he takes one last piece of straw and that brings him to his knees in front of the Baby Jesus and he forgets his burdens. This is a beautifully told and illustrated story that delights my four year old and brings tears to my eyes as I realize the parallel for our everyday lives.

A proud camel is selected to accompany the Magi described in Matthew to carry gifts for Jesus. He tries to get out of the journey (he has other commitments), but is convinced otherwise by some sand-blowing voices. As his journey continues, so does his burden, as gifts are added to his back. A young child even adds a straw for the baby's bed, that, well, I don't want to spoil the ending ("Will this straw cause me to fall?").

We used this book as the basis for our church's family Christmas Eve service. The children participated in a recreation of the Christmas stories in Matthew and Luke, and then settled in for a reading of this great book. During the story, we had two people in a camel costume come through the aisles, as "presents" were loaded onto baskets on the "camel's" back. It was a great success, and helped bring alive the oft-repeated Bible stories.

Thury has a great skill of weaving in enough adult humor to keep the attention of even the most holiday-weary parent (this camel complains of his joints, gout and sciatica, which all parents and granparents can relate to after weeks of holiday shopping, eating and "assembly-required" efforts). My seven year old has requested it again and again. Original, enchanting and a great twist on both the Christmas story and "the straw that broke the camel's back." Or did it? The pictures are outstanding.

This is such a wonderful book! Every year I look for a special book to share with my family, this year it will be The Last Straw. It is a humorous tale that also teaches a valuable lesson about humility. The Last Straw is right up there with Santa Calls and The Red Ranger Came Calling. I highly recommend this book!

I love this book. I read it to my Sunday school class every year (preschool & kindergarteners) -- I still get teared up when the camel arrives at the manger...it is so touching and awe inspiring! The children are completely entranced by the story -- no one stirs as we read the story -- even the 3 year olds will be still with their little jaws open.

Together we wonder... will the old camel make it to the manger? Will the camel accept the little boys gift at the end of the journey?

It should be on every child's bookshelf at Christmastime. It is the spirit of the season.

Barbie Jenkins is a wonderful writer, weaving together text in a fun and meaningful way. You'll love this Christmas picture book--so much so--that you'll want to read it all year long. If you're looking for a great gift book for the young or the young at heart, Barbie's book is perfect. The illustrations are lovely, too!

A lovely poem about a little angel who blows a kiss from heaven to the newborn baby Jesus. This heart-warming story about the very first Christmas is beautifully illustrated and will be an instant family favorite.

A wonderful Christmas book for young and old, this volume rises above the competition with its original story line and well chosen illustrations. Remember: it's not about seeing, it's about believing! Makes a perfect (and unique) Christmas gift as well.

The text of "The Legend Of The Christmas Kiss" by Barbie Jenkins is a poem, beautifully illustrated by the artwork of Joyce Revoir. This is the picturebook story of how the angels sent a beautiful snowfall on the very first Christmas when one little angel wanted to bless the newborn Jesus with the gift of her kiss. But something special happened to her kiss after passing through the clouds below. It became a glistening speck, drifting down and landing on the Christ child's cheek. Then a multitude of angels added their kisses to hers, and the earth is covered in a true winter wonderland. "The Legend Of The Christmas Kiss" is a unique and welcome addition to the growing library of Christmas theme picturebooks. for young children and their parents.

My six-year-old (almost seven) received this book as an early Christmas gift. We are just starting to read "chapter" books together. She went wild over this! The language and familiar school dynamics were just right for her. The slightly moral message in the end about over-coming differences and giving from the heart was nice, but probably a bit over the head of my first-grader. All in all, a nice series that gets away from the "glitz and glam" of the ever closer "tween" years.

Everybody loves Nancy, but some trouble-maker has used the school Secret Santa party to play a nasty trick on her! Everybody got a cool present, except Nancy Drew!

There are a few suspects, including a snotty girl who is jealous and mean. Is she the thief? That's what you might think, but it's Nancy Drew who can really solve the Secret Santa mystery.

The Secret Santa (Nancy Drew Notebooks #3) is a fun read for young readers starting on chapter books. They'll love to solve this classroom mystery along with 3rd grade heroine, Nancy Drew.

This was a terrific kid's book. It satisfies childrens reading needs. I suggest this to readers between the ages six and nine.

How did Emily know there was candy on the card? Read the book and find out. Anyway it was great. I want to be a detective, well, got to go solve a case about a present. BYE!!!!!!

This is the story of a young wifes love for her unloving husband. Her husband did not want children as his wife did. They did have 3 though. The husband was quite envolved with church attivities but at home was totally different. He made his young children do all kinds of chores from the time they were quite young. His oldest son was continually getting whippings from the dad. The wife always taught the children to always love their father even if he didnt love them, and to always trust in God. This book is quite thick, but you will find it hard to put down. I dont want to say anything else about the story as you will want to read it to find out what happens. It will bring sad tears and tears of joy to your heart as you read it. It is really an enspiring story. It made quite an impact in my life.

This is undoubtedly the most spiritually captivating book that I have read. I have read this book twice, a rare thing. Each time, it brings tears running down my cheek and a flood of joy and peace that take away the bitterness for the husband character. It is truly a light from heaven shining through a mother of courage, faith,determination and deep committment to God.

I have read this book 4 times, each time I read it, it is as moving as the first. It is an incredible story about an abusive home. It brings both joy and pain when reading, but is a story that truly touches the heart. I recommend this book for the young and old alike. Once you start reading it, you won't want to set it down.

My great-grandmother Stella gave me this book when I was 15 years old. I have read the book about 8 times in the last ten years. It is the best book that I have ever read. Very inspiring. All ages would enjoy!

My daughter is newly 3yo and newly involved in ballet. She LOVES these books. Even at age 2 she would happily listen to the story as many times as I would read it to her. My son enjoyed it too as it showed boys dancing as well.
The illustrations are gorgeous. The story gives a very realistic glimpse into the magic of being on stage and the work that goes into performing.
I have and will continue to recommend this book to anyone who has a child, boy or girl, that is interested in dance.

My daughter is entranced with ballerinas, and since her name is Lillian, someone gave her "Lili On Stage" for Christmas one year. It's perfect for any little girl (or boy, as boys are shown herein as well) who dreams of becoming a dancer.

Rachel Isadora, the author and illustrator, is a former ballerina herself and she graciously lets us into this magical world. Lili and her friends are shown getting ready to go onstage to perform in "The Nutcracker"--we see them stretching, getting into costumes and make-up, waiting with baited breath for their cues, and so on. What I like best about the book is that Isadora shows us the pixie dust and the magic along with all the incredible hard work that goes into not only being a ballerina, but putting on a ballet for the public. The teacher, costume mistress, stage manager, and prima ballerina are all shown doing their disparate jobs. We see that creating this dream of a ballet takes the commitment and cooperation of a great many people.

This book is great! I bought it for my younger sister, and when I read it, I just didn't want to give it up. It depicts backstage life beautifully, and I would recommend this for anyone under 11.

In our instant-gratification culture, ballet provides children a wonderful opportunity to learn about focusing on a long-term goal and taking pride in accomplishing each small step along the way. Rachel Isadora's Lili books ring true because Lili is not a child phenomenon, she's a young dancer who understands the slow disciplines of ballet. In Lili on Stage, she's performing in the Nutcracker. But she isn't the star, she's one of a group of children dancing in the party scene. It's obvious she loves her role, and recognizes what an accomplishment it is to dance in a performance. This book combines beautiful illustrations with a real understanding of the world of ballet. I'd recommend this and the other Lili books to any small dancer. (My dancing daughter is 13 and on pointe, and she still keeps Lili on her bookshelf.)

There are no little magical elves or angels in these stories, just tales of real people and their holiday experiences, from a teacher with a problem student to a father with a child with one single wish to a teenager who reluctantly invites his girlfriend to the family's annual shopping expedition. Also recommended are Toner's other two Christmas volumes, Holly Day's Cafe and Whittlesworth Comes to Christmas.

I first read Lipstick like Lindsey's 10 years ago. It has become my special gift every Christmas to myself, from myself... a special time to read, reflect, cry, laugh, and bask in the warmth, humor, and sadness of each story. I have given this book as a Christmas gift for many years...the recipients loving it as much as I do. My tattered copy is beginning to show its age, but the stories inside are as new and wonderful as the first time I read them.

This collection of short stories captures your heart because the stories reflect genuine feelings. Everyone will be able to relate to these stories and the memories they invoke. The true spirit of Christmas is demonstrated in a realistic and heartwarming way in stories ranging from lighthearted to poignant. Reading this book will become a Christmas tradition. Suemary Vance M.D.

Every Christmas I get out my three books by Gerald Toner and settle in for a good read. His stories always touch my heart! No matter how many times I've read the title story in "Lipstick Like Lindsay's" I get a tear in my eye when the father finally finds the long sought-after gift. Mr. Toner is a great storyteller! These books also make wonderful Christmas gifts that can be enjoyed year after year.

A fabulous, heartwarming Christmas book that portrays the birth of Jesus in a new light. Excellent and highly recommended.

I just recently received "The Littlest Magi" as a gift for my son. We absolutely love it! The illustrations are breathtaking and the story is magical. Mr. Auer has taken the well-known Christmas story and added a unique and creative twist. We see the birth of Jesus from the eyes of a small, orphaned boy who learns about the true meaning of Christmas. It will definitely become a holiday tradition in our household.

Lushly illustrated in a style reminiscent of Disney's "Aladdin", "The Littlest Magi" skillfully weaves a tale that combines elements of the familiar Christmas story with an original story of a small, unimportant boy--a servant to King Herod--who strikes out on an adventure and discovers that there is another kind of King.

The story allows children to visualize themselves in the title role and thus to participate in the events in a way sure to delight them.

I read this book to my seven year old nephew Thanksgiving night and he said, "I thought it was really neat how Jacob helped baby Jesus escape from King Herod and how he got a family in the end." This book tells the Christmas story through the eyes of a child and I expect it to become a family tradition for many Thanksgiving to come.

THIS IS A KEEPER! NOT ANOTHER BOOK ABOUT A SELFISH BRAT BUT A COOL SIMPLY STORY OF A LITTLE ONE WHO GOES OVERBOARD... WE LOVE IT!

I just bought this book for my son, and we both love it. It's very cute, funny and has a good message.

My kids love this book- we've only gotten it a couple weeks ago and so far they've requested it every night for their bedtime story. The illustrations are superior compared to most of the stuff out there these days. And good lesson too, about finding what we truely want in our hearts vs. being greedy and trying to own everything in the world. We're very pleased with the book and highly recommend it.

Because of some 'connections', I got to read an early copy of this book and I can honestly say that I think it's fantastic -- it is a fun approach to an age-old tale about the joy of dreaming about gifts (I still remember pining over the Atari 2600 that actually did materialize!), making long lists for Santa, and waiting for dreams to come true. Your child (or favorite giftee) may grimace at the arrival of a book, but they'll enjoy this one repeatedly -- I think it'll become a holiday tradition!

When a purple-haired, pregnant woman with body piercings takes the airline seat beside him, Erik Leiden is both intrigued and repulsed by this creature that seems so different than himself; nothing could be further than the truth. Both have come to Bavaria during the Christmas season in their individual quests for salvation in this poignantly written winter's tale.

Weathering a fierce snowstorm enroute to a German inn, they discover inner strength within themselves that enables them to eventually overcome the pain of their shattered lives. Jenny Heilman never remembers having ever celebrated a joyous Christmas, whereas he clings to the memory of the enchantment the familiar Crei Konige (Three Kings)Inn brings. As a divorced man with a daughter about her age, Erik empathizes with Jenny's plight as she clings to the address of the military base where she hopes to find the father of her baby. Similarly, having left his immediate family behind, Erik seems certain that he nevertheless will find the joy that filled him on prior visits to this remarkable place.

Gary Kroeker, who has served as poet-in-residence for the Southland Council of Teachers of English and the Conference of the Living Tree, weaves a magical story that demonstrates our redemption may come at the most unexpected times through the most unlikely circumstances. Trained as a surgical tech in the 101st Airborne Division, Kroeker draws on this experience as well as interviewing an expectant mother to bring realism and wonder during the climactic birth scene, in which Erik becomes both surrogate doctor and father to the child miraculously brought into the world.

As his German name "Leiden" (to suffer) implies, Erik seems to have led a rather unremarkable, conventional life, more attentive to maintaining the status quo than finding inner happiness after his divorce. As a result of the unexpected intimacy they share arising from their chance encounter, Erik and Jenny reveal their heartfelt honesty and tenderness toward each other, with "Heilman"(salvation) bringing the fulfillment they so desperately seek.

In addition to his role as English Dept. Chair at Los Altos High School in Hacienda Heights, California, where he teaches Advanced Placement English, Gary has had two collections of poetry published as well as several short stories. Vernal Calibrations (1992) which won the Lantham Prize for a first book is out of print, but Darkness Defined (1994) can be ordered in most book stores. He has also won the Abbey Prize and the William Stafford Prize for his poetry, which has been translated in many languages. Most recently, he has published "Crane, Chekhov and Elizabeth Pugh," which appeared in Bellowing Ark (July/August 1995), and "Van Gogh in California," which will be appearing in an upcoming issue of Crazy Quilt.

The book cover for the Magi may be viewed on the Erica House web site: http://www.tip.nl/users/erica.books/ericahouse/kroeker.html. The book may also be ordered through amazon.com.

When a purple-haired, pregnant woman with body piercings takes the airline seat beside him, Erik Leiden is both intrigued and repulsed by this creature that seems so different than himself; nothing could be further than the truth. Both have come to Bavaria during the Christmas season in their individual quests for salvation in this poignantly written winter's tale. Weathering a fierce snowstorm enroute to a German inn, they discover inner strength within themselves that enables them to eventually overcome the pain of their shattered lives. Jenny Heilman never remembers having ever celebrated a joyous Christmas, whereas he clings to the memory of the enchantment the familiar Crei Konige (Three Kings)Inn brings. As a divorced man with a daughter about her age, Erik empathizes with Jenny's plight as she clings to the address of the military base where she hopes to find the father of her baby. Similarly, having left his immediate family behind, Erik seems certain that he nevertheless will find the joy that filled him on prior visits to this remarkable place. Gary Kroeker, who has served as poet-in-residence for the Southland Council of Teachers of English and the Conference of the Living Tree, weaves a magical story that demonstrates our redemption may come at the most unexpected times through the most unlikely circumstances. Trained as a surgical tech in the 101st Airborne Division, Kroeker draws on this experience as well as interviewing an expectant mother to bring realism and wonder during the climactic birth scene, in which Erik becomes both surrogate doctor and father to the child miraculously brought into the world. As his German name "Leiden" (to suffer) implies, Erik seems to have led a rather unremarkable, conventional life, more attentive to maintaining the status quo than finding inner happiness after his divorce. As a result of the unexpected intimacy they share arising from their chance encounter, Erik and Jenny reveal their heartfelt honesty and tenderness toward each other, with "Heilman"(salvation) bringing the fulfillment they so desperately seek. In addition to his role as English Dept. Chair at Los Altos High School in Hacienda Heights, California, where he teaches Advanced Placement English, Gary has had two collections of poetry published as well as several short stories. Vernal Calibrations (1992) which won the Lantham Prize for a first book is out of print, but Darkness Defined (1994) can be ordered in most book stores. He has also won the Abbey Prize and the William Stafford Prize for his poetry, which has been translated in many languages. Most recently, he has published "Crane, Chekhov and Elizabeth Pugh," which appeared in Bellowing Ark (July/August 1995), and "Van Gogh in California," which will be appearing in an upcoming issue of Crazy Quilt. The book cover for the Magi may be viewed on the Erica House web site: http://www.tip.nl/users/erica.books/ericahouse/kroeker.html. The book may also be ordered through amazon.com.

I had the privilege of working with GW Kroeker for a few years and knew him in that time as an accomplished poet and writer of short stories. When he handed me his manuscript for Magi at Christmas I planned to read the first few pages (to get a sense of the work) before getting back to my busy day. I didn't put it down, however, until I finished.

While a literary work charged with meaning, it is also a gentle story of two wounded individuals who find redemption in each other. I'll leave the specifics to the other reviewers who have eloquently related the story, simply saying that I feel better off for having experienced this very human story.

The Magi at Christmas is a delight. On one level it is a poignant love story and on a another level, a profound chronicle of a journey from lonliness and desperation, to hope and rebirth. I found myself deeply involved with the ever-changing dynamics of the protagonists' relationship because the characters are believable and human. I must say also that I was drawn into the novel on a very personal level, since the main character, Jenny, is pregnant for most of the story. Having been pregnant at the time I read Magi, I found that Kroeker's discussions of pregnancy and the birth process lend a marvelous authenticity to the novel as a whole. Throughout the novel, Kroeker invites the reader to experience the people and places of Germany with the authority of one who is well-versed in the German language and culture. As in all great stories, Magi transports the reader from the here and now to a timeless place where there are invaluable lessons to be learned. I recommend this book without reservation and look forward to Kroeker's next project.

for any Simenon fans. As always- Simenon is economical in expression- but still giving a full picture of the scene. I love this book because it allows- in one of the short stories- a closer look at Madame Maigret- and her personality. She is a shadowy character in the series, but always present.
The Holiday themed cover that is curently being used, makes it a nice Holiday gift as well. I also like that it is a bit longer than the usual Maigret- maning that it makes a good gift for someone about to go on a long train/plane or automobile trip!

These stories are excellent. All nine pose intriguing puzzles for Maigret and his colleagues to solve. What makes them special is the quality of the writing (just enough words to convey the image and no more) and the subtlety of the author who always seems to add a little bit more to the reader's perception of Maigret. There are great scenes between Maigret and his wife, Madame Maigret. Anyone married for any length of time will enjoy these little domestic battles. There are also some well drawn child characters whose interaction with Maigret is skillfully depicted. The reader always ends up admiring Maigret for his thoughtfulness and his persistance. He asks great questions of the witnesses to draw out the story. This collection of stories is outstanding.

Typically, a Maigret novel is easy reading. Four or five hours of light reading is all it takes to read a very good crime story. This lightness allows one to go on a Maigret binge where in the course of a week, two or three novels can polished off.

Miagret's Christmas is a collection of nine short stories. Some of the short stories are not so short, they are more like novellas. At 320 pages of small print, this book is by no means light reading. It took me a couple of weeks to finish the book.

Of the nine stories, I found four of them to be classic Georges Simenon. They were world class in their cleverness. The other five were good but not great. However, Georges Simenon's good is most writers very best. All and all a great book but a bit of slog.

In the mid-eighteen hundreds Mr. Poe invented the genres of modern literature, never to be surpassed in most. He invented the detective story in The Murders in the Rue Morgue: The Dupin Tales (Modern Library Classics) long before Holmes and Watson stalked in poor imposture their apartment in Baker Street. Poe's Auguste Dupin of Paris is the original, and the best.

One hundred years later Frenchman Georges Simenon created the long lived Inspector Maigret, whose brilliance, subtlety, insight and patience are unmatched in detective literature.

Unfortunately in our fallen age all that many know of the French detective is the banal and tiresome Inspector Clouseau; nevertheless, the proud and fascinating characters of DuPin and Maigret will long outlast that forgetable farce.

I admit I have long been a fan of Maigret, and of Simenon, whose long career embraced other novels of profound psychological interest, including Strangers in the house: Les inconnus dans la maison. I often grate at the unfortunate, traitorous and out-dated translations made into incompetent English (does anyone still use the word "vexed?"); yet I admit often enjoying the English cassette recordings, including recently the poorly mistitled (Errol Garner style) Inspector Maigret and the Strangled Stripper (Inspector Maigret Mysteries) or that series's compelling recording of None of Maigret's Business.

As a devoted fan admiring all things Maigret I therefore noticed the extremely accessible price of this present item, and thought it might be some brief momento of the immortal Inspector. Imagine thereafter my astonishment and my joy open receiving by mail this substantial volume, about 5 x 8 inches and over 325 pages long, a collection of nine tales written around 1950, translated by Jean Stewart.

Maigret here, after a very touching and telling and caring domestic scene, investigates a sighting of Santa; in another tale he employs a choirboy in the solving of a crime, and later follows a purposeful trail left by a child fleeing a criminal. We read here therefore another side of Maigret, as he works with and for children, always with the keenest psychological insight and subtlety of the author.

Look not here for Clouseau; the true humour here is much more subtle, much deeper, more true and real. Look not here for Kojak nor for blazing gunfire and shoot outs with hoodlums. Here you find no Mickey Spillane, but a patient, quiet, profound reflection of the people and the city of Paris in the post-war years, with no direct mention of that devastating and divisive war.

Here you will find nine excellent tales from this master storyteller. You will not be disappointed, but will find much to read and to reflect and to remember when life was like this, to rediscover our human nature.

Truly the continual portraiture of the intimate, quiet and deeply caring domestic life of Inspector and Madame Maigret must be read now in this era in which literature and we ourselves have lost this. Read this and remember, and receive the greatest gift of Maigret's Christmas, the great and unstated love of this matrimony.