Christmas Eve Books

I haven't had the chance to read this book yet, it is long and my 18 month old isn't very interested yet. Maybe next year!

This special was taped shortly before the death of the Mr. Hooper character, before Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch were "toned down," and before the arrival of the obnoxious red intruder Elmo. It is classic, old-school Sesame Street, beautifully made and written with some very memorable original songs that my family knows by heart ("Keep Christmas With You," "I Hate Christmas," and the wonderful "I Believe in Miracles"). The script is sharp and entertaining for adults as well as kids.

The main storyline follows a distraught Big Bird, on a frantic mission to find out how fat Santa Claus can fit down chimneys. If he can't figure it out before Christmas Eve, then Santa won't come, is his childlike reasoning. (Gordon's kind intervention is one of my favorite Sesame Street moments ever.) Subplots include Ernie and Bert's innocent reenactment of "The Gift of the Magi," Cookie Monster's attempts to write Santa a letter, and Oscar's surliness brought on by the happiest season of the year.

In the early 80s, an audio-only version of this special was released on vinyl, with the addition of an "anonymous" narrator. (If you can find it, I leave it to you to figure out who he is!) My mom would play it while we decorated the tree or played with our toys Christmas morning.

This is an adorable, heartwarming Christmas story that I will treasure always.

Ann M. Martin also produces a lovely holiday story for advanced elementary to middle school readers: this, ON CHRISTMAS EVE telling of Tess, who believes in magic and is determined to view the 'real Santa', not the department-store fake. Her holiday wish is for a friend - and her faith results in a rare holiday indeed in this story of love and magic.

Tess is a very likeable girl who believes in Santa and hatches a plan to see him and talk to him one Christmas Eve. She has always wanted to do this, but this year, she needs make a very special Christmas wish, and it has to be done in person. The story is sweet, full of the magic of the season and a charming, pure joy.

However, there is nothing on the book jacket that indicates there is a character with cancer, and by March after Christmas everyone is at a funeral.

This could be very upsetting to the young audience this book gears to. In my case, we have a parent in the family with cancer, and I can't believe I nearly gave the book to my child to read as a Christmas-y, magical, pick-me-up. I do wish the book jacket and blurb on the sleeve had been more open about the story line.

If you or your child enjoys sad books, however, this is a very nice holiday read.

It is Christmas Eve, 1959. Tess McAlister is nine-years-old, and while she is looking forward to the coming Christmas morning, she can't help but remember the magic she saw last year. When she was an impressionable young third grader, Tess spent the entire holiday season attempting to cheer up her friend Sarah, whose father was in the hospital with cancer. Tess did everything she could to cheer the somber girl up, even enlisting the help of her eleven-year-old sister Evvie, and her boy-obsessed friend, Maggie. Tess held tight onto an array of Christmas wishes. Wishes that were for her, her family, and, most of all, Sarah. She knew that it was up to her to confront Santa with her wishes, and did what she could to stay up last Christmas Eve. For she could feel the magic surrounding her. She knew that this would be the year that she would meet the elusive Santa Claus. Regardless of what the people surrounding her told her, Tess knew that the jolly old fellow was real. She had felt the magic swirling around her all season. And then, on Christmas Eve, after her parents had traipsed up and down the stairs, hiding gifts under the tree, Tess did something she had never done before...she crept downstairs and waited for Santa, her canine companion Sadie by her side. It was on this night that she planned on using the faith that had built up in her all season to seek out the only man who could possibly help her. The man who had the magic, and the power to heal Sarah's father, and make her friend happy once more. That was last Christmas. And now it is up to Tess to make this Christmas Eve wondrous. As wondrous as last year.

I didn't quite know what to expect upon purchasing Ann M. Martin's ON CHRISTMAS EVE. I was so used to THE BABYSITTER'S CLUB books that she had penned, that I thought ON CHRISTMAS EVE would be something similar to those tales. However, upon reading just one chapter, I realized that I was wrong. Martin has managed to build up so much amazing Christmas magic in this tale, and transfer it into the reader's heart, as they flip furiously from page to page. Tess is a remarkable young character, who is wise beyond her years. Caring and kind, and an all-around saintly angel. Her adventures in attempting to meet Santa Claus are humorous, while at the same time selfless, and exciting to read about. The interactions of the characters are enjoyable, giving the reader the opportunity to meet an array of people, all looking to celebrate the holidays in a different way - from Sarah wishing for her father to spend Christmas at home; to Evvie wishing for make-up and curlers to impress boys; and to Tess, wishing that her friend could have her father back - healthy and happy. Each characters story interweaves with one another, creating the ultimate tale of love, faith, hope, and the magic of a wish. An enjoyable, heartfelt holiday romp that can't be missed!

Erika Sorocco

On Christmas Eve, each and every year, it is said that the animals speak at midnight. Kate has heard this story and wants so much to know that it is true. So she leaves her home and goes out alone into the woods to see for herself. As she wanders through the forest she becomes lost.

When Kate suddenly awakes, snug and warm in her bed on Christmas morning she is disappointed because she believes she has dreamed her forest adventure. But a small doll provides her with the answer she has yearned for.

Wargin has written a lovely story that will warm the hearts and bring joy to all, children and adults alike. In Once Upon a Christmas Eve the illustrations are beautiful, peaceful and inviting and add so much to the story.

Armchair Interviews says Once Upon a Christmas Eve is a book worth having and keeping forever and one that will make a wonderful gift to that important child in your life.

Kate is a young girl who has heard about a holiday legend that claims that at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, all the animals can speak! Unable to sleep, Kate dresses warmly and goes out to see if the legend is true. The result is a true Christmas adventure that will entertain the minds of imaginations of young readers. This beautifully told story by Kathy-Jo Wargin is memorably illustrated with the museum gallery quality artwork of Bruce Langton whose snowy images provide the perfect showcase for Wargin's imaginative prose. "Once Upon A Christmas Eve" can justifiably be considered as a true Christmas classic to be read and enjoyed by many future generations of young readers.

Delightful illustrations and a sweet story. This is a book that we will buy for our children and grandchildren. The beautiful and accurate animals with the sweet girl really make this a Christmas classic!

I love this story for its unique perspective of the beloved Nativity story. It is told from the viewpoints of 'lesser' creatures, the 'ugly' ones most would deem unworthy to witness the birth of such a special Baby. It is wonderful to see these creatures, knowing that we are not all 'beautiful' or believe ourselves worthy of the honor of being a witness to such an event. I most especially liked Spider's words - 'if there were no wind or tall tree [from which to speedily travel], I would walk', mighty words for a small creature with a great distance to travel. That we would all do our utmost to realize what is most important to us!

I bought this for my son because it highlights some of the lesser-known creatures that may have been present at the nativity -- particularly the icky and slimy ones! Spider, snake, bat, cockroach and rat all hide in the shadows at the first Christmas.

The illustrations are gorgeous and the words timeless. We collect Christmas books and this one is a great addition to our growing library. Bunting and Minor are a dynamic duo -- an author and illustrator that each in their own right will be long remembered for their contributions in literature and art. Don't miss this beautiful story told from a unique point-of-view.

Eve Bunting puts an interesting spin on the story of Jesus' birth in this beautifully illustrated book. The unlikely characters of snake, toad, scorpion, cockroach, bat, spider, and rat each take a page to introduce themselves. To complement each page of text, Wendell Minor creates a framed portrait of each animal with amazing detail. Each animal exclaims, "I will be there" as it makes its journey across the desert sand to see the baby Jesus. Unnoticed in the little stable, these creatures witness the events of the night from the shadows. The dark brown and deep blue tones repeat throughout the book and contrast with the light from the bright North Star and the warm glow coming from inside the stable. The poetic writing style adds to the peaceful tone of the story about the little animals. Usually the creatures are hidden from view, but in this unique portrayal of the nativity story, the reader gets a glimpse of them as they are each revealed in a brief moment. We Were There will add spice to any collection of Christmas books.

Three stories set in the old west that are heartwarming and the perfect read for the holiday season!

I'm a huge Cheryl St. John fan--she's an autobuy--and the anthology introduced me to Jenna Kernan and Pam Crooks...two authors I'll watch for in the future.

A Western Winter Wonderland

A Western Christmas Anthology written by three great western romance writers. Cheryl St. John, Jenna Kerman and Pam Crooks.

Not a fan of Anthologies to begin with, I rarely read them as prefer the meatier content of larger novels, but I admit that I truly liked these three, delightful short stories, set in simple western towns. The stories are sweet and lovely. No sex - just the lovely description of the characters as they get to know each other. My favorite - Kernan's Fallen Angel.

Americana at its best, for those who like a well told story set in the old west, you will definitely enjoy these, charming three short novellas.

This book is a beautiful way to start off the holiday season. These three touching stories filled with love and hope weave Christmas magic.

Christmas Day Family by Cheryl St. John is the moving story of Marvel and Seth. When Seth turns up with his children at her boarding house, Marvel gets more than she bargained for. Now Marvel must come to terms with the secret that has been haunting her for years. Wonderful!

Fallen Angel by Jenna Kernan grabs you right from the start. When Ford Statler accidentally shoots Abby March he sets off a chain of events that will change both their lives forever. Each must overcome their past in order to reach for a new future. Perfect!

One Magic Eve by Pam Crooks is the story of Chet and Sonja. Chet's young son has developed a friendship with Sonja, but can Chet trust Sonja considering all the gossip surrounding her? A little Christmas magic will help them along. Amazing!

Don't miss this anthology!

Stellini's use of character and dialogue make the plot work; her characters convey a sense of roundness and the multi-dimensional qualities that evoke realism and reader identification. Rena has wants and needs not unlike anyone who simply has a zest for life and sharing that life with someone else. Traditionally, I am an action reader -- Clancy, Crighton, so this reading came as a surprise to me, and my wife. Believe it or not, I chose it for its cover, nullifying the old "Don't Judge" aphorism. So call me a romantic (if it means reading more Stellini, and her books are as good as this one). Thanks Terry Stellini!

I would have given A FULL MOON ON CHRISTMAS EVE, by Terry Stellini a 10, but it was too short. It is a fast moving story about time and how quickly it passes...and about love! Coincidence works very nicely for Stellini and her poem in chapter eight was worth buying the little book full of more than moons and romance. I am an early morning walker like RENA and recently lost my father. So many of Rena's flashbacks were real for me. Stellini has a way with words especially when describing the little things we have in our hearts but can't quite verbalize on our own until we see them written. Wonderful book for any season but especially nice to read by a fire one cozy December night as your waiting to see the winter moon rise! Last Christmas I gave this book to all of my girlfriends, the kids teachers, and my mother-in-law along with a mug and herbal tea. The note inside the mug read: Curl up and ENJOY! So, CHEERS! To romance, RENA and MR.O'BRIEN, and every full moon that ever graced the sky! Mary Terra

What a great piece of literature for any child! You child will come across new words. It is great for any age. This isn't just any Christmas book.

This is a Christmas book worth reading, devoid of the too-bright hype of many children's books. The verse is lyrical and soothing, and the pictures evoke a different place and time, in contrast with today's children celebrating a snowy Christmas. The illustrations are lovely, and the meaning of Christmas is brought out gently - a great book to read by the fire on Christmas Eve.

If you are new to the series, or are reading the series in order, the best time to read this book is immediately after Holiday in Death. The other reviews under this book complain about the re-issue because the rather short book had been published as part of an anthology. But the book is actually an continuation of Holiday in Death. If you have not read the anthology, pick it up. It continues the development of the relationship between Dallas and Roarke through their first holiday season. If you have read Holiday in Death and are unaware of the anthology, you will find yourself disappointed in how Dallas handled the rest of the holiday season which was started in that book. Midnight in Death picks up that thread very nicely and it finishes it out, including how Dallas finishes giving out her Christmas gifts. In terms of the ongoing character development Robb engages in with Dallas, this is very interesting. Dallas is not as socially inept as she believes herself to be and the reader really gets a glimpse of that in this short read. She may not be comfortable with it, but she can do it. The actual mystery may not be up to Robb's usual intricacies, but it serves as the "gluing agent" to finish up Holiday in Death. It's entertaining and works well.

I have every In Death book J.D. Robb has written and I love them all. I even got my husband to read one.

I really enjoyed this book. It is J.D. Robb at her best. I strongly recommend this to anyone who has become a fan of the J.D. Robb series. You won't be disappointed.

This was another great read by Nora Roberts. I love all of her books.
The only reason I rated 3 stars, is because the cover clearly states this book should be 2.99. When I recieved the product, I saw on the receipt I was charged 4.98 by Amazon, and that is supposed to be after the buy 3 discount! I'd say they made some money on that sale!

Along with many others, I am truly disappointed by the "mini book". With an item like this, you need to advertise the number of pages. The idea of paying $3.99 for postage, and receiving the package with only $1.14 on the package made me feel like a real idiot. It will be a VERY LONG TIME before I order anything from AMAZON again.

When I ordered this book, I was rather torn between two alternatives for what I thought I might be getting. One alternative was something challenging, comparable to Anthony Burger or Dino Kartsonakis. The other alternative was that the book would be akin to the High School Musical piano books, which are in my opinion worthless. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was not the later, but unfortunately it was not the former either.

The songs in this book do sound remarkably like the songs played by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Unfortunately it is hard to get all of the parts into something that a solo piano can play, and therefore some of my favorite rhythms were absent (originally played by bass guitar, I believe).

If you're looking for a challenge, this is probably not a book for you. On a majority of the songs (with the exception of "A Mad Russian's Christmas" and "Christmas Eve in Sarajevo 12/24", I could sit down and play right through them with relatively few problems. Even the two songs I listed are perhaps at most at the Intermediate level though. My only difficulty was getting those two up to speed without losing some of the rhythms and notes.

Overall, I would suggest this book for someone who simply wants something fun to play (Intermediate Level or higher) or who wishes to perform a song, such as "A Star to Follow". Otherwise, look for something with a little more challenge that was designed for solo piano to begin with.

This book is excellent for anyone wanting to learn how to play songs from the TSO Christmas Eve CD. I bought it mostly for the acoustic songs, but I've played around with some of the others as well.

By Jeffrey W. Bennett Author of Under the Lontar Palm and founder of LayMentor...
I bought this book to learn the screaming guitar solos. What a way to go for christmas. Exciting and dramatic. However, not all guitar pieces are transcribed in tabular format. This book is best played by sight readers.

I have to say the 1st story by Virginia Henley was nice, but highly improbable. The same could be said for the second story, but I guess that's why it's called fiction. All in all it's a nice way to pass some time.

This book was a fun read. For people like me who does not have time to read a whole novel, this book is for you. These romances writers all wrote wonderful short stories. I expecially enjoyed Virginia Henley's story, this is her first contemperory story, and believe me it is as hot and steamy as her full length novels. The rest of the stories was heartwarming, filled with love and the warm Christmas spirit. Although this anthology is good for any time, I heartily recommend that it be read during the Christmas season.