Christmas Books

As a teacher I am always on the look out for new children's books to use in my classroom. After reading this story I knew I had to have it for my classroom library. It is a wonderful, fun and imaginative story that had every child in my class mesmerized when read to them. I even had a few children who were skeptical about the whole "Santa" thing but after listening to this story they couldn't wait to leave cookies out for Santa or Sam. I will definitely share this story with my classes year after year. When I have my own family this story will become a family tradition. It is a timeless story that can be shared from generation to generation sitting by a cozy fireplace from year to year. A definite must have for any personal or school library.

This is a darling story about Santa & his brother Sam. It explains how Santa is able to be in so many places at once. The authors' read this story at a local bookstore. My son & his second grade classmates loved this book. When Santa visited their classroom later that year, the kids ran & got the book to show Santa. The children really believed this story was written by & about Santa and his brother. I was also very impressed with the authors' reading of the story. Apparently, they are both educators. Their experience with children is apparent in the writing of the story as well as their reading of it.

This is a delightful little book for kids who believe in Santa - but may be just a little curious or uncertain about how all the miraculous things he does take place. It is the only book I have seen that acknowledges that kids just might have question or doubts, at the same time as they tenaciously hold on to the wonder of it all. What I like best about it, though, is the way it both looks and reads like the kind of old-fashioned narrative a parent might create, right on the spot, one event spilling into the next (this happened and then that and then that) as he or she sits in a cozy time with her child. There is a lot of text printed in a very attractive, just the right size, easy to read font, that a second grader can read, on his own, and feel like he is really reading a book. The look of it somehow conveys the quality of a soothing spun-as-we-go along narrative, The pictures too are clear and uncomplicated - drawn for the kids and not to wow the adult. My son loved reading it first to me, and then, asked "Can I read it by myself, tomorrow?" The authors have a terrific website that tell you more about the story.

A beautiful book full of Santa Claus patterns copied from antique postcards. If you are a cross-stitcher who collects Santa's or postcards, you will love this book!

book is absolutely beautiful. It can be passed down for generations to come.

When I got this book, I was kind of curious, because it looks like a thin book. Boy, was I in for a surprise. Not only do you get to see the finished product for ALL the patterns, but you also get an un-biased history on Santa Claus. The charts are in the back of the book, and offer information on different cloth choices. These charts are printed on glossy good quality paper, the same as the rest of the book, and use the color AND symbol chart methods. Unless you have a thread conversion chart or are not willing to get one, and you don't use DMC threads, don't get this book. On the very back page are instructions of how to stitch on aida and linen. This book is filled with 22 classic and charming pictures of historical and modern pictitions of Santa Claus. It looks easy enough for people who have very little experience in cross-stitch, while offering an enjoying stitching experience for us more experienced stitcher's. I HIGHLY recommend this book. If Amazon offered a sneak peak at some of the pictures, it would definitely be a selling point for this item.
Happy Stitching!

I was looking for something different for the holidays, and the description certainly sounded like this book fit the bill - although I have to admit that I doubted that anyone could successfully combine the elements in the book's description into a coherent enjoyable story. I'm glad that I took the chance; Mr. Shaw has a genuine talent for spinning an imaginative, exciting and fast paced tale, however unlikely the individual elements may sound!

I think it's hard for a children's book to succeed when it lacks the exposure provided by one of the large national publishing houses like Scholastic, and this is a tragedy in many ways because writers like Mr. Shaw have to struggle for their voices to be heard, and we miss many great stories that simply never make it to the hands of the reading public. This book is superior to many of the offerings I've read from large national publishers that have been aggressively marketed over the years.

I highly recommend this book as a wonderful story for kids (boys and girls) in the 7 to 10 year age range. My compliments to Mr. Shaw for a great read that will be enjoyed by both my daughter and I for many years to come.

This was a fun book to read. I don't normally read children's fantasy books, but on the request of a friend I purchased The Santa Mysteries and gave it a try. And I was not let down. It was a great Christmas story, but it is at its heart a fantasy fiction book. I would call it a strange (in a good way) cross between the movie Monster House, Zathura, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Raindeer.

The author states on his website that his books are for readers who liked Harry Potter, Narnia, and the Wizard of Oz. S. William Shaw was dead-on. If you like children's fantasy, this is an unforgettable must read.

After finishing this book, my only regret was that there is not yet more available from Shaw. Shaw's writing style is very similar to Steven Brust, especially Brust's -- 'Vlad Taltos' books. This book is a fun, humourous, fast-paced book that will draw you in and keep you racing for the end, and then leave you wanting more.

This story focuses around the adventures of three youngsters; our man with a plan is Bennett Short, and his two sidekicks are Darcy Decker and the Pickle, aka Stanley Valentine. Bennett is a big fan of the Man in Red, and we do not mean the one with horns and pitchfork. Santa is his hero and he has a plan to sneak aboard Santa's sleigh. He wants to get to the North Pole and find out all the Santa Mysteries and write a tell-all book and make a gazillion dollars.

But as most of us know, things do not always go according to plan. Bennett and his friends do get to the North Pole and they get to hang out with Santa. However Darcy's curiosity leads to devastating results.

In this awesome little book you will find our Al Gore as a robot created by Santa, and see Santa abducted by aliens who hate Christmas and all that is fun. You will watch Darcy go from being arrogant and expecting Pickles to mess things up, to realizing that he does so again and again. Yet with all of that, Darcy never gives up and keeps striving to correct his mistakes and make up for the damage he has done.

This is in part a coming of age story, part adventure and a whole lot of fun. We watch Darcy grow and mature, and we in turn can learn from him and face the struggles and difficulties in our lives anew. The greatest power of story is that story at its best is myth, but not myth in something that is not real, but myth in the sense of the ultimate underlying reality of existence. Shaw captures the essence of that second type of myth in this and his other book Sherman Oak and the Magic Potato. In that sense, even though he has only published 2 books, he is in my opinion a great writer.

This is a book that was so fun to read I have already started it a second time, this time reading it more slowly to savor the story rather than racing through as I did the first time I read it.

This book would be a great end-of-term summer read!

(First published in Imprint 2007-07-27 in the book review column.)

My son had this book when he was a child. Unfortunately, the book was lost in a flood along with many more items of memorabilia. Since it is no longer in publication, I considered myself lucky to find a used copy in very good condition so that my grandson can experience this wonderful book (and I can experience it with yet another generation!)

Each of my children had a copy and wore them out. It is a wonderful holiday gift and a good interactive story for all preschoolers and toddlers. Each child should have their own copy.

My daughter wore the pages off this book as a toddler. It is fun and interactive. I am purchasing a book for my 2 year old nephew and another copy for our home. This is a great gift book for your child or grandchild.

WHAT A WONDERFUL BOOK TO READ TO MY GRANDCHILDREN. THEY WILL LOVE THE ILLUSTRATIONS AND KNOWING WHAT REALLY HAPPENS AT THE NORTH POLE. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK. I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR NEXT BOOK CHRISTOPHER BROCKMAN.

This is a beautifully illustrated book, containing four short stories that you read to your little ones before bedtime. The pictures really seem to illustrate what happens at the North Pole in the days before Christmas. The kids really loved them. Also, it was really cool finally finding out how Santa gets all those presents into his red bag. I would definately recommend this book to parent, grandparents, and teachers everywhere!

Santa's Countdown To Christmas is a wonderful book, with colorful illustrations, and the most interesting story to read to the little ones at Christmas time. I think it is very unique and skillfully written. I am
delighted to have bought this charming book. I hope to see more books from the author Christopher Brockman.

This book was a very well written book that made me laugh. It was about Sanata deliverng his goodies and was having a really bad time at it. I read this book to my nieces and they loved it. They were laughing at the pictures and just having a good time. I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read about christmas and enjoys a little humor with it.

This book was a very well written book that made me laugh. It was about Sanata deliverng his goodies and was having a really bad time at it. I read this book to my nieces and they loved it. They were laughing at the pictures and just having a good time. I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read about christmas and enjoys a little humor with it.

I was raised thinking that Christmas was not complete without this book. It never failed to make me laugh. This is a charmingly illustrated, humorous story about Santa having a bad night on his delivery rounds. A polar bear and a tag-along elf complicate his evening as he stumbles from one slapstick move to the next. He manages to get his work done and leave without causing any major damage, though, and the family has a great Christmas morning without knowing that Santa knocked over their tree just a short while before. Kids and adults alike that I've read this book to have adored it; I read it to my own family every Christmas. This is the kind of book that becomes a beloved addition to the holiday library, right next to the collector's copy of "The Night Before Christmas." I highly recommend it for years of seasonal enjoyment!

Santa is up to all the work that makes Christmas merry for all of us. But, how to really enjoy it, himself?

Mrs. Santa comes up with a great idea. Why not stop off at the last house on his route and play for a while!

Children will delight in this little book and beg to hear it again and again. Cute illustrations!

This reissued Golden book will be a hit with three and four year olds! The busy elves, the too-busy-to-play Santa, and his solution (to play at the last house on the route) will make grownups smile even after the billionth reading.

This is a refreshing Christmas tale of Santa
and his beloved elves. Busy in his home at the North pole, the story shows you all the wonders of Christmas toys being made.

Santa was so busy that he never got to play with any of the toys, that is when Mrs. Clause had an idea. "Why not stop at the very last house on your list and play a while." she told Santa. What a wonderful idea! Santa thought and smiled.

A delightful children's story with colorful illustrations and a hope that maybe you
will be the last house that Santa stops at next year! You never know!

This has become my favorite Christmas story. I read it to adults as well as children. The simplicity is matched only by its depth. Outstanding illustrations increase the experience.
A keeper!

The story of the magi bringing their gifts to Christ re-told with an application that is relevant and tender. It is a favorite to read at Christmas.

A fresh look at the gifts of the Magi and their hidden meanings. A very quick, thought-provoking read.

It is getting close to Christmas and Tom Van Sloaten is getting discouraged. His father has not been getting work. As a matter of fact, his father's health seems to be getting worse, and with the country in the midst of the the depression, it looks like a grim holiday season. Of course his younger sister who also goes to the same high school seems unaware of the strain on the family, she is only aware of her own social agenda. And the younger brothers and sisters are looking forward to Sants's visit. In this bittersweet Christmas story Anne Osborn Poelman weaves a Christmas story for all ages. Tom struggles with the desires of his heart and the expectations of those around him and looks for the true meaning of Christmas. Others around him also are looking for their own meanings of Christmas. This is a tender story that does not dissappoint and does not strike a single false note. This is based on an experience from the author's family's history. A delightful story that will be enjoyed over and over.

Thanks for the book, Anne. I haven't finished yet but it's great. I recommend it to families looking for a good christmas story.

Peace, Van.

This is the perfect book to start your holiday season. A wonderful story of a struggling family during the Great Depression and the generosity of the eldest child in creating a memorable Christmas. The characters are well developed. Short enough to read in a series to your family. This is what "family values" mean to me. Merry Christmas.

Steven Hornby has come up with a seasonal sensation in 'Secrets of a Christmas Box'. His creative writing and fantastical setting are going to hype up my children for the Christmas holiday. The messages of love for self, for another, for family and for community perfectly compliment the ideals of the season. The magic in the writing teamed with the magic of the holiday make this an extra-magical novel to experience with family.

Secrets of a Christmas is a wonderful story with indearing characters and
a heart warming message.
From the first page to the exciting last it takes you on an amazing adventure.
I would highly recommend this book to all ages, I think adults and kids will love it.
Do yourself a favor and buy this book.
Micheal Kiely ( Animator ).

Secrets of a Christmas Box is a wonderful fantasy novel for both children and adults. An original idea that is fully fleshed out and well executed. Full of magical characters and great suspense. Highly recommended