Christmas Books

Diane Craver is a wonderful author, and basing this book on a childhood experience makes it more realistic. Knowing the author since i was a kid, I knew even before I read it that it would be a great book. It makes you realize how lucky you are. I would reccomend it to everyone who loves a good book (and even if you don't you'll probably like it anyway!!!)!

Based on a true story from the author Diane Craver's own childhood, The Christmas Of 1957 is a compelling novel about a father who battles with an disability, yet overcomes it and reaches out to his family on Christmas Day, giving them a unique and special gift. A tender, uplifting, superbly written story of courage, strength, and caring, The Christmas Of 1957 is highly recommended reading.

Mr. Artley paints a sweet nostalgic look at Christmas of the past.
From the special homemade toys, to the school Christmas programs.
And how cozy a wood burning stove could make the house.
He make you feel like you are there with his family.
It is a wonderful way for old and young alike to experience an old fashion,
Christmas on the farm.

We love this book! It is a great picture of life on the farm in Iowa not so many years ago. Our grandchildren love reading the book with us and seeing the wonderful pictures.

Tunstroem fuses the oratorio form and lyrical language to create a captivating intergenerational story of love, loss and faith. It is set in Sweden, New Zealand and Kansas, and is accessible to readers from anywhere on the globe

Ever wondered how your life would have turned out - if only... This is a story that will make you realise how our lives are a web of coincidences - or maybe it's faith? It's also a journey in time and space, set in beautiful surrondings in both in Sweden and New Zealand. It's a sad, wonderful and romantic, and yet never ever sentimental, story about a love larger than life, and what happens when a lovestory like that ends abruptly by a terrible accident.

Goran Tunstrom, who unfortunately died earlier this year, was following in the great tradition of Swedish storytellers like Selma Lagerlof and Vilhelm Moberg. Don't miss out!

This book is adorable! A must have for every teacher! My seven year old laughed out loud, my nine year old has read it four times and we just got it today. She cannot wait to bring it to school around Christmas time to read aloud to the class. The illustrations are wonderful! I couldn't help but notice the detail of fabrics and the showing of bright green crocs.

This is a must have for anyone who has ever been to, or whose children have participated in, a Christmas Pageant. Darling story in easy-to-read and understand poetry.

I got this book from the library for my 3 year old. I wanted her to know why we celebrate Christmas...the REAL reason and not just Santa. It was simply written from the books of Matthew and Luke. The pictures are adorable and held her attention. (...)

This book is so fun to use during the Christmas season and to have children act out the nativity scene. They really learn a lot and understand the story of Jesus and the real importance of Christmas better! I love it!

I LOVE this book, and everyone on my gift list to whom I have given it has loved it as well. The recipes are the tried-and-true favorites of Gooseberry Patch's staff members and customers from all over the country. Almost all are preceded by brief descriptions (usually about why they're family favorites and/or popular with guests), and many have unique packaging ideas. The illustrations are also warm and wonderful (and provide many ideas for one's own gift-giving).

This is a warm, wonderful book. I love it, and highly recommend it.

Although I have over 2,000 cookbooks, this is one of my top favorites. It contains recipes from customers all over the country -- and almost all are preceded by descriptions of why their family loves them, how many people beg for them, etc. Many also include directions for packaging as gifts. The book also contains cute illustrations, many of which provide great ideas for decorating one's own gift containers. There are also a number of quotations, some of which you may want to incorporate in your own crafts. There is nothing fancy about this book or the recipes -- it is primarily down home cooking, and everything I've tried has been delectable -- from layered cookie mix in a jar to main dishes. VERY highly recommended.

Wolfe wants Archie to drive him to a meeting with an orchid hybridizer. Archie begs off, showing Wolfe a marriage license. Archie tells Wolfe that he (Archie) must attend a Christmas party at which his impending marriage will be announced. Wolfe charters a limousine and leaves for the meeting, and Archie goes to the party. Before anything can be announced, the host drops dead of poisoning, and the chief suspect becomes a bartender dressed as Santa Claus. Santa disappeared shortly after the death and long before the police arrived on the scene. Wolfe must solve the murder before Santa's identity is discovered--Wolfe's very freedom may depend on it.

In "Man Alive," the second story on the tape, a beautiful designer is suspected of murdering a homeless man. She hires Wolfe to keep her out of jail. This murder is the last in a string of strange deaths that have bedeviled the designer's existence. Unraveling the tangle of greed, jealousy, and vengeance is no easy task, but Wolfe is up to it.

The CBC produced 13 Nero Wolfe radio plays, and Durkin Hayes Audio has published six of them on three cassettes. The production values are excellent, the stories well acted, and the CBC plays provide a medium for enjoying Nero Wolfe that is every bit as entertaining as the current A&E television series.

In 1982, CBC Radio (the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) decided to adapt 13 of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe short stories and novellas for radio. This tape contains two of these 1-hour long shows.

In general, the series was excellent, true to the character of the original stories and the original characters, with strong production values, good music, nicely integrated sound-effects, and good casting.

Mayver Moore, as Nero Wolfe, initially doesn't seem quite right (he doesn't sound fat enough), but soon overcomes any objections. Don Franks, as Archie Goodwin, Wolfe's assistant, is the perfect Archie, ably portraying this pivotal character, and it is hard to imagine any better Archie than we have here.

It is a shame that the CBC only did 13 episodes in total. Keep an eye out for other CBC radio plays, such as their excellent "Midnight Cab" series.

I bought this book for my 95 year-old mother-in-law for Chistmas this year. We told her to open it as soon as it was delivered to her so she could get in the Christmas spirit. She told me she is enjoying this book so much! She especially likes the stories of Christmas in other countries and the beautiful illustrations. One of these pictures reminded her of a postcard send to her when she was young. This brought back some fond memories for her. Maybe she'll let me borrow it now!

Wallowing in happy Christmas memories has caused me to start buying books of this nature. Although several times the narrative has been similar in various books, this one stands out not only for the concise text, but the beautiful graphics and selection of images. The country by country detail of traditions was really nice.

I put my little heap of Christmas books beside me, fix a cup of hot cocoa, crank up the air conditioning, and sink happily into a winter wonderland of Christmas in August!

In The Christmas Pony Laura is very determined to keep Mr. Crumbs, a pony who belongs to a neighbor who is moving away. Laura and her friends must find a way to keep Mr. Crumbs by raising money and doing jobs for people. My favorite part is when Laura got mad at her brother, Ben, and then said she was sorry. It was very sweet of her to do that. Mr. Jakes is a mean neighbor who the kids do not like, but then he becomes nice and helps them keep Mr. Crumbs. I did not expect this! This is a great book that you will enjoy, especially if you like horses. (Review written by Hannah, daughter).

* If you like horse books you'll love this book my favorite character is *??? Because * she is determined to save a horse but people tell her she can't get enough money to take care of the horse. I liked the time my character got a fair so they could get money to save a horse her friends helped her get enough money to save the horse. Will ????? Have enough time to save the horse. Isabella is my nickname.

I have seldom read such a well written, solidly constructed story. As I read this for the very first time, I found myself reading aloud, because the pure simplicity of the story pulled from me a long buried story teller. I will be telling this story to the children around the tree this year, and probably for years to come. It is an easy read, with a very strong and clear message. The story gives a glimpse of life in another time, and the yet the message is modern and poignant.

More than anything else I've ever read, this story captures the essence of Christmas. It is very inspirational, well written and delivers great impact.

I highly recommed it for readers of all ages, all backgrounds, and all religions.

This is a keeper you will want to share.