Christmas Books

Absolutely gorgeous. Stunning illustrations. Magical ... haunting ... I cannot say enough.

I love Christmas books for children and when I discovered this one, I couldn't believe it. It is a definite heirloom and one to be shared with the entire family. This book was not totally set for the younger age group but for everyone. It isn't entirely encompassed with baby words and illustrations like others I've seen. The pictures are also quite beautiful.

This hardbound book is absolutely beautiful, consisting of wonderful illustrations based upon the gospels of Matthew and Luke (KJV).

The illustrator Gennady Spirin, is masterful, brilliant, and elegantly captures the essence of the birth of Jesus Christ.

The construction of the book itself, 33 pages in length, is designed for adults and mature children and is most definitely not a plaything for toddlers.

Purchase this book and establish a new and wonderful Christmas family tradition.

Sit and enjoy the reading. If you're planing a long flight you could read all the book in that flight. The story is good for any age because it doesn't have curses or bad words or sex or anything scary but this is not a Xmas story.

Although Rachel Hampton has survived a hit and run accident, and is able to resume helping run the Three Sisters Inn, she's still a bit wary. Was the hit and run an accident? Or did someone hit her on purpose. Then Tylor Dunn comes to stay at the Inn. He believes his grandfather was murdered, and he wants to know what happened, but no one will talk about it. His search stirs up old memories and rouses a killer, and Rachel is the intended victim.
Marta Perry always tells a good story. This is book two of her Three Sister Series, set among the Pennsylvania Amish Community. A Christmas To Die For is an exciting blend of romance and suspense. Now I'm looking forward to book three.

Is justice worth it?

Tyler Dunn returns to the land owned by his grandfather, land right in the heart of Amish country. His grandfather, John Hostetler, died of a heart attack during a robbery and now Tyler wants justice. But will justice come at the expense of Rachel Hampton, whose family owns the inn adjourning the Hostetler property? And does love stand a chance in the midst of this suspicion?

A CHRISTMAS TO DIE FOR is the second in The Three Sisters Inn trilogy. This is the first book I've read in the series so I can verify that it is easily read as a stand alone. However, there is what appears to be a significant spoiler from the first book that is revealed in the conclusion of A CHRISTMAS TO DIE FOR so you may want to read this series in order.

Marta Perry does a beautiful job at creating characters who are both likeable and show a lot of depth in their emotions. Rachel's plight touched my heart instantly. She is still recovering from a hit and run accident (apparently addressed in the first book, HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT) and her fears are understandable. Years ago, I too was involved in a hit and run incident where I was a pedestrian so I immediately felt a bond with Rachel. Her desire to have a family Christmas, despite some of the past upheavals in her own life, is both understandable and heart wrenching.

A CHRISTMAS TO DIE FOR is a poignant tale set in the midst of the Amish people. The setting is just as important as the mystery and characters themselves, as the ambiance makes the story all the more powerful. I will definitely be reading the other two books in this series!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Perfect for the disillusioned or stressed, friends, lovers, spouse, family, cops, vets, volunteers, hard-workers, young, old. A smile to the wise, sigh of relief for the lonely or sad.

"Christmas Wishes" is a heart-rending, poignant collection of short stories, that can drag the Scrooge in you, clawing and kicking, against your will and cynical attitude, past the commercialism and façade into the spirit of the genuine joy of Christmas! (It did for me!)1 story and my aunt & daughter were enchanted and eye-sparkling--and want their own copies! It is a balm for the skinned-up knees of the heart, and a soothingly warm and honey-sweet tea-toddy for the sore throat of the soul.

THIS is the gift you WANT sitting right at every store register during the holidays, and the one you want to sign your name to when you give it--get several!

What a pleasant surprise! This collection of sometimes hilarious, always touching short Xmas stories (plus a way-clever adaptation of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" set in the White House) will make a great gift or stocking stuffer for friends and family this year. Author Moore likes to pack his stories with unexpected twists and turns that lead to meaningful conclusions. The final story, "Snow Ripples" is especially amazing in it's depiction of a homeless man's journey from down and out to a decent life through the kindness of strangers and his own hard work. I'm glad I picked this up, and will also buy for friends for this Xmas! Happy Holidays!!!!

A new kind of Christmas book, geared towards adults. What grown-up couldn't use a little boost of REAL Christmas Spirit during the ever more commercialized Holiday Season? Realistic stories about people who have lost the spirit, and how they get it back. The real shocker is the story, "My Fellow Americans, God Bless Us, Every One," - a rewrite/update of Dickens famous Christmas story, featuring as the new Scrooge the President of the United States. I can't help but wonder which president the author had in mind? Get this book and start some new, mature Christmas traditions.

In a crowded, Christmas-shopper filled bookstore, loaded with brimming displays of colorful books, this one just grabbed me as I walked past and turned me around and called on me to pick it up. It implored me with its dazzling clear blue dust jacket festooned with large sparkly letters in the title and a huge white full moon with Santa's sleigh just disappearing off the cover. The illustrations in this book are lavish and colorful and filled with heart-warming sentimental details and the innocent joys of childhood wonder and expectation on the most magical night of Christmas Eve. In a way this book is "A Visit from St. Nicholas" but in a different family's home in a different era. Like its predecessor it captures the excitement and the hustle-bustle of that "jolly old elf" busy at work bringing Christmas fun to children. The text is simple and little ones will love it and so will the people who love them. Merry Christmas!

Tony Johnston's Clear Moon, Snow Soon is a wondrous Christmas picturebook that captures the spirit and mystery of a visit from Santa Claus on a starry winter night. Soft, breathtaking, full-color splash-page illustrations by Guy Porfirio highlight the very simple text, making Clear Moon, Snow Soon perfect for the youngest beginning readers. The deep blue-white of the wraparound cover painting is particularly striking.

Holiday books come and go, but Clear Moon, Snow Soon should become part of your Christmas reading shelf, especially if you have young children. The winter blue cover with the hologram title is lovely and an invitation of beautiful illustrations inside. The reader is not disappointed. Illustrator, Guy Porfirio, has captured the wonderlust that a young boy has while waiting for Santa. Rich, golden-hued colors reflect an evenings glow throughout. A simple read, this is the definitive bed-time story book for December. Rising Moon has always been know for publishing "beautiful" children's books and Clear Moon, Snow Soon is another visual winner.

Clopper and the Night Travelers is a picturebook for Christian children, told from the perspective of a friendly donkey who was present for the birth of Jesus Christ. Clopper and the Night Travelers further tells the tale of how Jesus' mother and father followed the guidance of an angel to hide the baby Jesus from the wicked King Herod's dominion. "When we got to Israel, Joseph heard that Herod's cruel son Archelaus ruled the land around Bethlehem. In a dream, God warned Joseph not to go back there. So we kept going north, all the way to Nazareth. That was a long trip and my hooves needed a rest!" Jovial, cartoony illustrations endear this story, which makes the early years of Jesus' family's life accessible to young readers. A welcome addition to Christian children's picturebook shelves. Also highly recommended is the previous picturebook in the Clopper series, "Clopper the Christmas Donkey."

Clopper and the Night Travelers is a well-grounded, child-friendly telling of the first years of Jesus' life. Shared through the eyes (and ears) of a donkey, the readers hear the story from a new voice. Nearly each page set has (on a parchment page) the Biblical words allowing older children to learn not only Clopper's story, but The Story. Illustrated by Ed Olson, the inviting characters add to the tale. Emily King (be sure to read her stories of Mrs. Twiggimbotham) continues in her use of fine language and correct grammar to present a new Christmas book, both pleasing to children and adults.

Clopper is an adorable storyteller. He includes scriptures on many pages as he describes his experiences during his time with Jesus. The pictures also show accurately that Jesus wasn't a newborn when the wise men came to visit the Lord. The story follows a progression of events including the time Mary and Joseph stayed in Egypt with Jesus until they were told it was safe to return. But because of the reputation of Herod's evil son, they took no chances and decided to continue on to Nazareth. A map shows the route their journey took. I enjoyed the detailed illustrations and the story given from the donkey's point of view. This book could be read any time of the year even though it's geared toward Christmas time.

In 1912 in the Sierras, life is not only hard for everyone, but most people believe they are worse off now than a few years ago. Ten years old Daisy James insists she sees angels, but her two older brothers and her younger siblings look upon her as a lunatic. Still, Daisy believes while knowing that all the townsfolk are sad, especially her mother Abigail, who stopped singing and laughing when she lost the baby last year.

Daisy has a plan to bring joy and God back into the lives of the beleaguered locals. She wants to build a church, but no one heeds the words of a preadolescent female. With the patience of Job, Daisy writes a play, COME, MY LITTLE ANGEL, in which she persuades her peers to participate on the journey back home.

COME, MY LITTLE ANGEL will catch the attention of the reader from start to finish with its "Little Engine that Could" story line to inspire everyone at a time we need books like this. The historical tale never slows down as readers feel the pain of the charcaters and the hopes of the little heroine who refuses to bend from peer, parental, and sibling pressure. Diane Noble provides a noble experience for those readers who need a lift or who want an angel in their life should share the novel with their children.

Harriet Klausner

A sparkling gem of a story that transcends season and settings! From the first page, COME MY LITTLE ANGEL tugged at my heartstrings, drawing me into young Daisy's magical world, infusing me with her unwavering hope. A timeless classic!

I decided to read this book based on a recommendation by Liz Curtis Higgs (one of my favorite authors)and I am so glad I did. This book is a wonderful little story about how God honors the faith of a child. I read alot of books and it has been a long time since one moved me to tears, but that is exactly what this one did. It is easy to focus on the bad things in this world, especially now, but this book reminds us that God does care about us and our world and he will answer prayer.

What a fun and sweet way to teach the true meaning of Christmas. The artwork is wonderfully joyous and vivid. This will be a yearly Christmas Eve tradition in my family.

Enjoyed the book very much. It reminded me of the way things can get out-of hand during the busy holiday season. Reading this book with your children is a good way to remind the children in our lives (and some of the grown-ups!) of what really matters in life. Thank you for another wonderful book.

This book is sure to become a classic! It captures all the fun and chaos of the holidays as it reminds us of what Christmas is really about. Beautifully written and illustrated, The Conifer Court Competition will instantly put you in the Christmas spirit. I will be giving this book to everyone I know!

I purchased this book for my children this Christmas, and was just blown away by the illustrations. The detail is amazingly beautiful, and the story is very well written and developed. A definite must read each year now for our family.

My sister sent this beautiful book to my children for Christmas. It's a stunner with complex, rich sentences, lush illustrations, and a storyline that includes flashbacks, foreshadowing, frame tales, and developed characters. My children, ages 3 and 6, love it, too. My daughter noticed that the cover of the book resembles worn leather--she's right, and the effect is wonderful. We read the note from the author and learned new things about cowboys and settlers (which I won't give away here). Suffice it to say that from now on, we're sleeping with horse hair ropes around our bedding!

This is a touching story of perseverance and hope. I was looking for books to give as Christmas presents this year, and this really impressed me.

This is a great book. I have now purchased it for my grands. My daughter used to take it to school with the baked cookies from the recipe at the back of the book. The teacher would read the story then pass out the Cranberry Cookies and my daughter and the teacher thought it was GREAT!

I remember this book from my childhood. I took it to class in Grade 2 for the teacher to read to the class. Everyone loved it so much that the other Grade 2 teacher asked to borrow it for her class. This is a heartwarming tale that young and old alike adore. I'm so glad I found it again so I can read it to my own son.

I grew up reading this book every Christmas and it holds a very special place in my heart. The recipe for the cookies is amazing as well!

This music is beautiful. You too can sound just like David Lanz on the piano! My favorite pieces are What Child is This, The First Noel/Christmas Eve Waltz, and Silent Night. An intermediate level player can bring tears to your eyes playing those songs. I'm sure you will love it.Christmas Eve

I have owned this for about 9 years now, and my family and friends beg me to play songs from the book every Christmas. If you like David Lanz's Christmas Eve cd, this is perfect because the songs are basically the same as he plays. His style is unique and beautiful.

Around the holidays, nearly all of my students want to play Christmas music. It can become really tiresome, but I love this book. Joy to the World, O Come O Come Emmanuel, The Christmas Eve Waltz/The First Noel, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, and Angels We Have Heard On High are played at just about all of my student Christmas recitals. A few of the arrangements are less than stellar, but the good ones are GREAT! The shorter improvised pieces with the theme of angels from the recording are also included. If you are an intermediate or above pianist, I highly recommend this collection. The arrangements are faithful to the traditional melodies, but add a new spirit to them.