Christmas Books

As Christmas becomes the holiday season and is more and more commercialized, this book allows one to reflect on the spiritual side of Christmas. A wonderful read that will even pull the spiritual out of Santa Claus. Shea has a wonderful way of saying much with few words and in a way to that is understandable to all. If you have been feeling a bit out of touch with the true meaning of Christmas with all the social events and shopping this book is a good way to recover Christmas.

In 'Starlight', John Shea offers narratives that can be read on many levels, with even the most superficial, literal readings being worthwhile. However, it is Shea's reflections on the stories that help us to reach deeper meanings, which resonate with the soul's journey through the miracle of Christmas. His style is lucid and with a (seemingly) effortless use of metaphor, he weaves the threads of the stories into his reflections. There is such depth and subtely to his text that each rereading enriches my soul and gives another glimpse, another facet, of the relatedness of human beings to the miracle.
This is a favourite quote: "We are like flies crawling across the Sistine Chapel. We cannot see what angels and gods lie underneath the threshold of our perceptions. We do not live in reality: we live in our paradigms, our illusions we share through culture we call reality, but the true reality of our condition is invisible."

"We can embrace the (Christmas) season in such a way that it is not a harried time that depletes us but an invitation into a consciousness that sustains us...When the season is working well and we are cooperating with it, it renews our soul," writes Shea in this new edition of "Starlight," first published in 1992.

His reflections explore the "theological truths" of Christmas as expressed in the Bible, tradition, experience, culture, reason, and imagination. The stories, for which Shea is famous, are rooted in poetic and mystical traditions of the spiritual masters. Chapter 5, "The Magi Ride Again," for example, focuses on "the abundance of poetry and story" rather than the scarcity of historical data regarding the Wise Men. Shea shares and reflects on numerous Magi stories, essays, and poems with their own messages. There is the legend of the wise men as young, middle aged, and elderly (Christ talks to every age in the life process) and O'Henry's Gift of the Magi (a gift of no value in the eyes of the world may become priceless to the eyes of faith).

Shea also addresses the broader theme of a "defiant" Christmas, in which we experience the relationship between God, our neighbors, the earth, and the universe "and defy anything that ignores or obstructs" this view. Adopting this defiant attitude, he suggests, allows us to celebrate the season of Christmas all year long. The book "Starlight" would be a good starting place for individuals and groups wishing to make more of Christmas than a seemingly endless series of shopping trips and social gatherings.

I pick it up each year as Advent rolls around. It gets me really ready for Christmas. I never get tired of reading it year after year. It is especially good, I would feel, for folks not of a religious bent. It gives fresh insight to the Christmas season.

I was in first grade in the late 80's and we were doing a unit on the nutcracker. We went to go see the play and did a lot of music, art and english activities related to it. I was enjoying it so much that my mom bought me a copy of this book, same cover and all. I really loved the illustrations in it, from the christmas decorations to the land of sweets to all the snow. I've misplaced my copy but if I ever do find it it's a keeper!

Although many versions of the ballet call the girl Clara, she is called Marie Stahlbaum in the original E.T.A. Hoffmann story and in some versions of the ballet. This retelling is lovely. The name "Marie" is not incorrect; it just refers back to an earlier version of the story.

In reference to the next review, Marie and Clara are not the same character. Marie is the little girl, and Clara is her doll.

This book is beautifully illustrated and the story is an abreviated version of the origional which is nice for young children. My only complaint is that the character "Clara" is called "Marie" which is very confusing to children (and adults).

These are the Christmas stories that should be read and taught.

When you're a child, you'll sometimes take a personal treat and hide it away to nibble at in bits and pieces savoring every taste and saving what you can for later hoping to draw out the experience as long as you might. And so it is with "Strike the Harp!" This is a book best hidden away and read in small bits with every word and turn of phrase allowed to work its magic. Hardbitten colonels blink into the falling snow, wiseguy Micks angle for a better life, waitresses acquire orphans, and small boys peer between the ranks of toy soldiers at the hard truths beyond. Once again Parry has produced a quietly moving collection of stories that would melt a heart of ice. A masterful mix of Charles Dickens, O. Henry, and Jean Shepherd in equal measure this is a marvelous piece of work to be treasured and shared for years to come. In case I haven't made it perfectly clear, this is great work. If fine literature is food for the soul, Owen Parry is a master chef and the fortunate reader is in for a literary feast.

Owen Parry has the rare ability to transport his readers from their armchair to the very place about which he is writing. I swear that I could smell the coal furnaces and the oil lamps, feel the wind, and the cold seeping up through my boots as I read his marvelous story of Christmas in the coalfields of Pennsylvania. He has this wonderful capacity to paint word pictures on the page that is unequaled. Read on in this collection, and I'll bet you can hear the voices of an orphans' choir as they sing "O, Tannenbaum" in a garrison town along the Rhine. Get this book for yourself to enjoy -- and several more for your family and friends. It's a wonderful, heartwarming collection.

Two years after his perfect holiday gift of OUR SIMPLE GIFTS, a collection of Civil War Christmas stories, Owen Parry offers up another treasure in STRIKE THE HARP! Venturing beyond the historical period for which he is best known through his series of Civil War novels, with this new collection of Christmas tales Parry proves that he is adept at capturing the heart and soul of any era. Taking us from the late 1800s to the end of World War I, from the eve of the Great Depression and then into the grip of those desperate years, and finally to 1960, each story is a shimmering facet of a perfect gem. A gem that celebrates quiet victories of the heart wherein the strength of sorrow is harnessed to climb back into the light; that shouts with delight over the invincible spirit of the scamp; that gently eases a child along in his understanding of father and family.

Each story is complemented by an original poem and, given the lyricism of Parry's prose, it is no surprise that this superbly gifted writer has a talent for poetry also. STRIKE THE HARP! sings the soul of the Christmas season and is bound to fill you with wonder and joy.

I just directed this pageant in our church. This script is very cute and full of laughs -- in the 3rd act, King Herod plays "Nativity Jeopardy" with the 3 wise men, who happen to be Albert Einstein, Steven Hawking, and Isaac Newton. It got a lot of laughs from the congregation. The CD that comes with the book contains all the sound effects you need, such as a harp glissando which plays every time the angel appears, and the trumpet fanfare that announces her arrival. You can copy the script for each actor (the author gives you permission), so it's a very cost-effective way to put on a pageant. The each-character-is-only-in-one-act system makes it easy to schedule rehearsals -- the kids only come to rehearse the act they are in, so you don't have kids hanging around and not doing anything. It does help keep things organized.

I directed another of this author's pageants last year, and our congregation has really enjoyed each of them. I recommend this work.

Not to be unfeeling or jaded, but children's Christmas pageants are kind of a dime a dozen. There's only so many ways you can tell the story, you know. Pageants can be very rewarding, but also extremely frustrating to put on. Here's what makes The Surprising Christmas Pageant a sure-fire success: There are three acts, and no one is in more than one act. "Huh?" you say. "What difference does that make?" I'll explain. This means you can have simultaneous rehearsals for all three acts, thereby cutting down on rehearsal time, and cutting down on the "down time" when kids sit and wait forever for their part to come up, and get into trouble or distract others in the process. You will need to get more than one director if you want to have your rehearsals simultaneously, or you could just have different acts rehearse each time. It is a funny pageant that the kids will love, and no one gets bored waiting for their turn on stage. Convenient resources like a song lyrics page and the included performance listening CD make this a wise choice for any church drama director.

Note: I do, however, disagree that the pageant can be performed successfully with only 2 rehearsals. I guess if you want them to look unrehearsed, only 2 rehearsals will probably do the trick. We found that about 10 weekly 45-minute rehearsals worked well for us.

I belong to a VERY small church and having just directed "The Surprising Christmas Pageant" which was presented this morning...and was told by the pastor that "it was probably the best pageant she had ever seen"...I cannot reccomemnd this book enough.
While it says it can be performed by kids from 1st grade to sixth, we actually used the often reluctant 4th and 5th grade, junior high and high school students in our church with the help of our rag tag choir (for one number) and a couple of willing parents. The script is flexible and very user friendly.

Wonderful play ..easy and fun

A nanny who loves two children is supposed to turn them over to an uncle who refuses to acknowledge them and a man who's not ready to settle down meets a woman longing for adventure. Both of theses stories are wonderfully engrossing reads. I could hardly put the book down. Vicki McDonough and Pamela Griffin have done a terrific job with the historical setting as they created a wonderfully romantic tale in this small Texas town. I love the way the stories show God's leading even in times when we see no way out of our circumstances.

This is a fantastic read and a must have for anyone who likes historical or inspirational romances.

Witty and wonderful. These are delightful stories full of loveable characters with the humor threaded throughout. It doesn't have to be Christmas time to enjoy these sweet romances. A must read.

Formerly I wasn't a lover of romance novels, but these two authors have changed my mind. The two novellas are filled with characters in the truest sense of the word. Four meddlesome old men, former Texas Rangers, have taken it upon themselves to be the Wild West's matchmakers in the town of Cut Corners for love-shy heroes. The result is heartwarming, humorous and often unexpected. McDonough and Griffin's stories are not cookie-cutter romances. I can't wait for more from these two.

Texas Christmas Grooms
By Pamela Griffin and Vickie McDonough
Anna Campbell arrives in Cut Corners, Texas, with young Molly and Mark Olson. After the tragic death of their parents, she, their nanny, is charged with bringing the children to Erik Olson, their uncle and guardian. But Erik refuses to believe they are his kin. If Anna could afford to, she'd keep the children herself, but she can barely provide for herself. Her money is running out and she must return to Dallas to make her living. To do that, she will have to convince the stubborn Erik to take the children. It seems impossible.
Travis McCoy is a traveling photographer who never intends to marry. So why can't he get his mind off the beautiful Vivian Sager? Most of the bachelors steer clear of her because of her bumbling ways. Dreams of adventure and travel consume her. She knows she's clumsy, but oh how she longs to be a wife-to Travis McCoy.
For the last two years, a lucky couple in Cut Corners has found love at Christmas time. Will there be another wedding this year? The Meddlin' Men, four elderly ex-Texas Rangers, called that because of their matchmaking ploys, will do everything they can to make it happen.
If you're looking for a happily-ever-after read, this is your book. Griffin and McDonough provide laughter and love along with true-to-life characters who try to follow God's leadership in their lives.

First time i saw this book, it gave me a shock! It's so beautiful and neat with those complicate stencils! therefore, really want to own one and look at it whenever i like! \(^o^)/

This book is one of the best pop-ups I have ever seen. The graphics are bright and fanciful. If you were fortunate to see the film, you will certainly enjoy looking at this book for many good times to come. The ultimate coffee table book.

This book represents the pure genius of Tim Burton. It is a beautiful and fun book to open. Every page is a story into itself with the delightful grphic pop-ups. A real treat for adults.

This book...is a must for any Nightmare collector. Along with a summarized version of Tim Burton's genious story, the charazters and scenes pop up along with a few movable pieces and "hot spots" that when you touch them something appears!!! The only thing wrong is that it's too short!!

Holly Hobbie is a wonderful writer! All of her books are great, but Wish You Were Here is our favorite. Not only are the illustrations beautifully done, but the story itself is hilarious. Every time my daughters and I read this, I can't help but laugh at the sight of the little pig who has turned blue because he has caught the 'violet virus' (by getting stung by the fierce-banded bush bee.) I can read this over and over without getting tired of it...and that's high praise from a Mom!

We are new to the Toot and Puddle Books, but we have fallen in love with them! Such cute characters and with a lot of adult humor in them too. Highly recommended!

My son got this book a few years ago. I believe he was around 3 when he got it. We've literally read it hundreds of times. He's read it by himself since he was about 4 years old. He loves the book. Toot and Puddle have become those characters that you go back to. They are funny, cute and become endearing. I can honestly say, as a mom of this 5 year old boy, that this is a must have book. It shows excellent examples of what friends are all about. The illustrations are adorable. There are tons of things to talk about in each illustration and larger words to look up the meanings to. A very good book that builds comprehension and begs the parent to teach your child the importance of questions. We love this book!

This is the first Toot & Puddle book I have read, and I am charmed. The characters are lovable and eccentric, depicted in vivid watercolor paintings that are simultaneously funny and gorgeous. The story is delightfully quirky, and, unlike many other books for this target age range, the language is not dumbed down for the reader. I am now a new Toot & Puddle fan - looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

I got this for my 1 year old son because he loves all his touch and feel books and wanted him to get a little religion in his life since we don't attend church regularly. I really like this book and he enjoys it a lot. I can't wait until he understands it more around Christmas!

This book came in excellent condition, within the time frame given, and it is a wonderful story about the birth of Jesus that isn't difficult for children to understand. My 21 month old daughter loves to read this and she enjoys feeling the different pages and pointing out the different animals and giving the animal sounds.

I have been reading books to my 6 month old baby since he was about 3 months old. He absolutely loves it!

This durable board book is a collection of five favorite Bible stories with a twist...each page features an item to touch and feel, making the little reader a part of the story. The animations are bright and vibrant and the stories are told simply but faithfully. Little hands will reach for this book over and over!

The book cover may fool you into thinking that this story is probably only for kids in 3rd or 4th grade. This is not true. I read it one day out of complete bordem, and by the end of it, I was laughing till tears pratically came out of my eyes!! Not only does Anne Fine does an amazing job as the narrator for Ralph, she will keep you laughing page after page. With Uncle Tristam's "educational" short stories for poor Albert to Great-granny's way of training kids. Which, by the way; is not exactly pleasant.

Anne Fine uses humor to show us that even on the merriest of all holidays, disaster can happen right in our very own house. This is a book that I enjoyed TREMENDOUSLY and hope that others will too after reading my review.

I loved this book! It's not just for kids, but for any family plagued by obnoxious relatives during the holidays. If you've ever had to sit through a performance by a snotty brat in front of her adoring parents you will identify. Likewise if you've ever slaved over a meal, only to have your guests spew out their dietary restrictions and/or peculiarities at your table. Read it and put it on your next year's Christmas list.

This plot was interesting and entertaining. However, the incredible humor Fine creates in her characters and their situations makes this book one of the great ones. Ralph is retelling the adventures of his Christmas from the prison of his room. He was sent there after his cutesy cousin, devil cousin, evil great grandmother, dilusional great aunt, vengeful uncle, and uncountable other obnoxious relatives get into a huge fight. His poor parents are trying to survive the holiday, feelings are hurt all over the place, and Ralph is just trying to stay out of the whole thing. Seems like a lot of characters, but they're all developed well enough that you don't get them mixed up. I'm using this as my next read aloud for my class. My middle school students will love the witty writing of Anne Fine.

Ralph doesn't get along with his family. In fact, no one does ...

Meet Ralph in this dreadfully funny novel. Ralph is a normal kid. But every Christmas, Ralph is thrown into the torture of spending it with his family. Even though spending Christmas with your family may not sound that bad to you, it is to Ralph. You see, no one in Ralph's family gets along. From his unbelievably negative Great-Granny, Natasha (who says things like, "If I had my own teeth, I'd bite you"), to his perfect princess cousin, Titania (who puts on "cute acts" by singing songs of fairies and wearing frilly pink dresses), and finally to the terrible twins, Sylvester and Sylvia (who trash the house in every possible way), Ralph is bound to tell the worst Christmas story ever.

This funny book has become one of my favorite humor novels. I enjoyed reading the lines the characters said, and I also enjoyed the great number of problems that came up without a solution. The thing I like most is that the plot really draws you into the story. As I was reading, I got more and more involved with what the characters were thinking. Most of the time I felt like I was standing right next to the character who was talking. This book is great for readers who are looking for something nasty and funny.

Nice illustrations and humorous parody of the 12 days of Xmas. A good Xmas gift for the cat lover.

Author of "Hobo Finds A Home"

What an enjoyable book to read (and of course sing) to children. The cat illustrations are beautiful and it is easy to identify different objects.

I think it's a cute Christmas book for cat lovers everywhere. It takes the familiar Christmas carols and gives them new lyrics as told from a cat's point of view. I loved it and didn't get bored at all. I bring it out each Christmas season to enjoy.

Parodies of the Twelve Days of Christmas are great fun - in this all the gifts are cats of different varieties or actions. The drawings are cute, amusing but uninspired. Still, if you need a stocking stuffer for a cat love (or to infuriate a dog lover) this is delightful.