Christmas Books

With overtones of "A Christmas Carol" and "It's a Wonderful Life," this small, satisfying book from veteran author Van Doren answers to the paradoxical angst we all feel during the holidays. Van Doren quickly establishes a clear voice as he recounts a Christmas Eve adventure that wouldn't be out of place in Alice's Wonderland. Employing his hometown landscape and universal themes of too-much-work/too-little-time, the story sleds along an ever-surprising slope, accelerating steadily -- with the occasional pause for breath -- to a conclusion that is both simple and profound. A quick read, the book is a perfect gift and a primer for the ages.

I slipped away from the family holiday doings on the afternoon of December 23rd to take a nap and nurse a nasty cold, but my 2-year-old nephew's one-volume voice (loud) kept sleep away, so I picked up this lovely little red book. Not a whole lot more than 47 minutes later, I was able to rejoin the crowd, still sleepy but filled with Christmas goodwill.
It even lasted until said nephew woke me up at about 5:30 a.m. the next day.
If you need a reminder that finding beauty in everyday things can save not only your holiday spirit but also your sanity, READ THIS BOOK!

Divided into 3 liturgical sections: 1) Advent, 2) Christmas, 3) Epiphany... this is a really cool book (printed in RED ink!). Fabulous ideas for making your holiday season, as an individual, but most especially as a family, truly something to remember. How to create memories that will last a lifetime. Really.... I don't think I'm gonna sell my copy it's so cool!

This author divides up the Christmas season into it's three distinct parts: Advent, "christmastide," and epiphany, in keeping with the religious significance of Christmas. The focus is on the birth of Jesus and less on the commercially-driven tradition of Santa Claus and the buying frenzy. There are many practical and simple ideas for family and friend celebrations and get-togethers as well as quiet, reflective Christmas traditions. It provides lovely substitutes for all of the frenetic Christmas obligations that seem to permeate the season.

The instructions look very easy to follow. I just got this book along with another of her books. I always thought the beading looked hard but I was wrong, at least with these books! Nice Easy To Follow Pictures AND Easy To Understand Step by Step Written Instructions. Great color combinations using seedbeads, Bugle beads and odd beads you have been keeping till you figured out what to do with them. ..She has used a picture of a finger with a string tied on it to bring attention to importaint details to pay attention to as you bead.

The directions are easy to follow a beginner can even do these if they have never even beaded before.Clear picture directions. I'm very pleased with this book and am already making my own patterns with some of the patterns in the book Thanks for making it enjoyable.

My 6 year old daughter recieved this book for christmas and as a rule, I try to read each book myself, before reading it to her. Well, being the sensitive kind, I cried...twice! Please, don't NOT get this book, thinking that it is too sad. My daughter loved it! And she did not cry, but more importantly she asked questions about Pequele's life. (ie: "What is the plague?", and "Why was that monk mean to Pequele?", "Is Pequele an angel now?". This opened doors for me, on subjects that every child eventually arrives at. I feel that this book touches more than the heart. It tells a child that he/she can endure through even the hardest of times. It shows them that, even though there is death, there is learning. I also felt that it was more spiritual than it was religious. To me, this is very important, in showing the world to my very observant 6 year old. Trully deep.

I read The Acrobat and The Angel to my 3 year old daughter last night. It moved me to take action. 1)I am sending the book today to my best friend in Texas who has just lost a close family member. I hope it will help heal her heart. 2) I am getting my own copy of the book (we had gotten it from our library). and 3) I am going to tell lots of folks about the book. The Shannon brothers are wonderful. Both the story and the illustrations are touching. I dug in to all the illustrations to see the symbols used in the frames for each page - very telling! I also noted the two pages without frames and thought about what David Shannon was saying, putting his drawings there without "limits". Get it! Read it! Give it!

This is our second year doing the Adorenaments with our daughters (5 and 3 1/2) and they love it. We do one every night and the girls take turns getting to pick out the adorenament we read about and place it on it's own special Jesus tree. My 3 year old can tell you that other names for Jesus include "Immanuel," "Light of the World," and "Lion of the Tribe of Judah," and she can speak intelligently about them. The stories that go with each ornament are very "kid-friendly" without being at all cheesy. We just love this tradition and it helps us as a daily reminder in this hustle and bustle season that it's not really about the presents, treats, lights, parties, etc - it's about Jesus and the gift God gave us when He sent His son. I am so grateful to have this resource!

I love the Adornaments as well as my kids. They are a wonderful way to keep Christmas focused on the birth of Jesus and celebrate the many names of Christ. Immanuel, King of Kings, The Vine, Light of the World, Lamb of God...to name a few.

The ornaments are simple and perfect for little hands to touch and hang on the Christmas tree. My kids look forward to the adornament stories and activities in the days leading to Christmas.

The little book that comes with the adornaments is nice, but I would recommend What Nick and Holly Found in Grandpas Attic it is a great accompaniment to the Adornaments.

This book, Advent Anticipation: Drawing Nearer to the Christ-Child, was a great help for our family. It allowed all of us (of differing denominational backgrounds such as Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican & Baptist) to all draw together during the Christmas season. There was nothing denominationally to offend any of us, yet it brought us together spiritually at a time when this was expecially yearned for and needed. Some of us actually reread the book after Christmas. We didn't want to stop. It has many insights not readily available elsewhere.

 

 

 

Regardless of a person's denominational preferance (or lack thereof), if you'll just slow down long enough to spend a few moments daily within these pages, you'll be blessed. Ms. Conte's methods of providing daily devotionals that are biblically sound yet personally applicable allows for the quiet reflection time we all need, especially during this busiest of seasons. Here's what Pastor Peter Kelsall of the United Kingdom said about the book: "In season, the scriptures and meditations will warm your heart, broaden your thinking and help you keep the true meaning of Advent and Christmas in perspective. Out of season, there are depths here into which you can dip and be refreshed in your daily journey with God."

These conversations can work in almost any setting. The simple conversation style helps highlight the meaning of advent in today's world...and it's great having one resource that covers all three years of the lectionary cycle.

This book comes in extremely handy for a busy Advent season. The dialogues are easy conversations between friends and relates the day's scripture lesson to today's life. It brings a different perspective and understanding to the lighting of the Advent wreath.

Leslie Norris's book is excellent. I bought three copies... one for my nieces, one for my aunt, and one for myself! I was fortunate to hear Mr.Norris read the book, as well as read a rough draft he wrote that might soon be another Albert and Lucille story!! For anyone looking for the perfect holiday gift, Albert and the Angels is excellent! The writing is superb and the illustrations are fabulous. This book is HIGHLY recommended.

I have been waiting for this book to arrive for more than two years. Ever since I heard Leslie Norris read it along with his poetry I have waitied and waited for this book to be here so that I could read it at my family Christmas party. Unlike so many other things, my memory did not overshadow the real experience when the book finally arrived. After seeing the illustrations and reading the book for myself, I can forgive the publishers for the many delays I was made to endure. I read with renewed astonishment the wonderful prose of Leslie Norris telling the story of Albert trying to get his mother a special gift for Christmas. I fell in love with children's stories once again.

Once every now and then, a book comes along that you are just dying to share with your friends and family. This is such a book. Norris has a beautiful ear for the way children speak and an amazing imagination to see things the way children must. I say this because it is remarkable how close his words come to the way my own son speaks and plays.

Albert and the Angels makes you believe in a world of magic and inspiration. The words and the illustrations make for a wonderful evening with your children. I cannot praise this book enough, so you will have to see for yourself what I am talking about.

The magic of Christmas Eve is told in a simple
rhyming tale of an old fashioned Santa in a new
fashioned sleigh. Only one gift is shown
and that is from the friends of PV,
given to Santa. A story that must be shared with all the children (young & old). Note the snow, in all its shades of white to blue. If you wonder if there can be a fresh new tale of Christmas, read this and know that there can be.

The magic of Christmas Eve is told in a simple
rhyming tale of an old fashioned Santa in a new
fashioned sleigh. Only one gift is shown
and that is from the friends of PV,
given to Santa. A story that must be shared with all the children (young & old). Note the snow, in all its shades of white to blue. If you wonder if there can be a fresh new tale of Christmas, read this and know that there can be.

After "discovering" this book quite accidentally (while searching for an advent calendar pattern), I feel as though I've found a diamond in the rough! This book is so unique, and so intelligently designed. The patterns are simple to sew, with clear and concise instructions. If you've ever matched notches and stitched curved seams, you can make this nativity! Wonderful and relatively easy! As an experienced quiltmaker and novice cloth doll maker, I'm so glad this book even exists. It's exactly what I didn't know I was looking for!

It is helpful to know the scale of the patterns: the manger (made with basketweave print fabric and interfacing) is approximately 4.5 x 7 x 2 inches tall. Not pictured on the cover is a great camel pattern. The donkey, who kneels, is designed without legs -- an example of how intelligently the patterns are designed. Most nativities I've seen are either rustically wooden or regally porcelain. This book is both humbling and inspirational, so in keeping with both the Amish and the nativity scene. I look forward to any future books by either co-authors.

I have started making the figures in the book, and I find the instructions easy to follow. The illustrations are very good.