Festivals Books

Funny and poignant, the book is sure to delight children and their parents, all while sharing a valuable lesson.

In a stable in Bethlehem, Something Wonderful was about to happen. The animals could hardly wait. Donkey took the lead as "Project Manager." He delegated responsibilties of organizing the parade and the party to various barn residents. Everyone got to work. With so much activity and so much to do, it wasn't long until something went wrong. Arguments sprung up between this animal and that. Then something else went wrong. The parade route hit a glitch and no one could agree on the buffet.

Finally, Lamb asked a question: Did anyone know what The Something Wonderful was? No one did. "How can we make all these plans when we don't even know what The Something Wonderful will be?" Donkey balked, insisting they must be prepared, but Lamb persuaded the other animals to "watch and wait." He also encouraged them to be nicer to each other and try to get along. "Mr. Donkey, I don't think we have to make a fancy celebration. I think God will give us The Something Wonderful just because He loves us." Rooster added: "We can show God we love Him by being kind to each other." All the animals agreed.

"And then one night something did happen at the little stable in Bethlehem.
A special baby was born there.
A little baby boy named Jesus
... it was wonderful."

Luke 2:1-20 is quoted at the back of the book.

Susan Reagan, illustrator, fills this book with warm colors and delightful characters children will love.

What I Like: Everything! It offers a gentle reminder to children and adults that the holiday is not about the hub-bub surrounding it; Christmas is about Something much more wonderful.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Special Note: The recommended age is 4-8, but younger children will also enjoy it. My 2-year-old loves it!

Tanya -- Christian Children's Book Review

In a brilliant tale that reads like telephone tag, the rooster tells the cow who tells the camel who tells the donkey who tells the lamb, important news that "something wonderful" is coming. This fanciful beginning of The Something Wonderful by Karen Hill immediately captures the attention of young readers and young-at-heart adults.

All the animals prepare in their own ways for the event, and begin to get annoyed with one another in the process. The lamb wisely suggests that they wait patiently for God to show them "the something wonderful," and in the meantime be kind to one another. And as they do so, they are amazed one starry night to see a special baby born in their stable-which was a truly wonderful something to behold.

Written in lilting, yet prudent prose, children will be eager for every page turn. The lovely illustrations by Susan Reagan not only convey the emotions of the animals cozily, but they are also artwork worthy of framing. This timeless message combined with delightful pictures destines The Something Wonderful to become a children's classic. - Anne Walker, Christian Book Previews.com

I'm a collector of great children's books, and I was delighted to find this one: it's fresh, imaginative and just-plain-fun. I've started reading it to my three-month-old so that Hesselberg's stories are the ones she grows up on -- a big improvement over Cinderella and the Three Little Pigs! I've passed along the title to one of my faculty colleagues, who has written a book about children's literature: she loved it, too. It's a big hit -- with my infant daughter and her grown-up mommy.

As a elementary school teacher, I use this book all the time for great read aloud stories which never fail to light up eyes and get laughs from my students. Sometimes the story is a prompt for them to write their own tales. Kids are tough audiences and often the books that garner the acclaim of the adult critics bomb with the intended audience. These stories past the test in the classroom week after week.

Finally someone has taken the time and trouble to set down the history of the Veiled Prophet organization and its projecs. Tom Spencer has done a splendid job. His book is eminently readable, packed with facts and details, and bright as a penny. It's also a sociological tract, scholarly but not scholastic. The one disappointment is the almost total neglect of the Veiled Prophet Ball and its Queens. I expected at least a list of the V.P. Queens and more photos of the coronations, especially the extravaganzas of the 1930s which have to be seen to be believed (think Busby Berkeley and the sets from "The Wizard of Oz") and from which abundant photos survive. What about the most famous Queen of all, Anne Desloges? And what about the whole Queen culture--all these girls year after year after year plain as a pancake with plain hair styles (if you could call them styles), basically the same gown as was being worn 50 years ago, no distinguishing talents or features (with some welcome exceptions) who after their year in the spotlight are never heard from or seen again. At least in the days the coronation and ball were telecast we had the fun of the Post-Dispatch with a straight face describing a Queen who was downright homely as "a willowy blonde." I was disappointed, too, that the book didn't tackle the subject of exactly how a Queen is chosen. It has changed over the years but it's never been that big of a secret; almost any girl in the court will willingly blab it. There needs to be a book on Veiled Prophet coronations and Queens, darn it.

Finally someone has taken the time and trouble to set down the history of the Veiled Prophet organization and its projecs. Tom Spencer has done a splendid job. His book is eminently readable, packed with facts and details, and bright as a penny. It's also a sociological tract, scholarly but not scholastic. The one disappointment is the almost total neglect of the Veiled Prophet Ball and its Queens. I expected at least a list of the V.P. Queens and more photos of the coronations, especially the extravaganzas of the 1930s which have to be seen to be believed (think Busby Berkeley and the sets from "The Wizard of Oz") and from which abundant photos survive. What about the most famous Queen of all, Anne Desloges? And what about the whole Queen culture--all these girls year after year after year plain as a pancake with plain hair styles (if you could call them styles), basically the same gown as was being worn 50 years ago, no distinguishing talents or features (with some welcome exceptions) who after their year in the spotlight are never heard from or seen again. At least in the days the coronation and ball were telecast we had the fun of the Post-Dispatch with a straight face describing a Queen who was downright homely as "a willowy blonde." I was disappointed, too, that the book didn't tackle the subject of exactly how a Queen is chosen. It has changed over the years but it's never been that big of a secret; almost any girl in the court will willingly blab it. There needs to be a book on Veiled Prophet coronations and Queens, darn it.

This book is perfect for babies & small children. My son is 9 months old & this is one of his favorite books. It has short phrases on each page while teaching numbers & doesn't have a lot of pages. The colors are bright & pictures are cute. The edges of the pages have a shamrock & my son finds it easy to turn the pages. He's also attracted to the cover because the shamrocks are shiny.

This board book makes for a good introduction to St Patrick's Day for younger kids because of it's simple concepts, colorful pictures and sturdy construction. (It can also be used year 'round for it's counting.) "St. Patrick's Day Countdown" is a book that counts backwards from 5 down to 1 using St Patrick's Day theme items and then some; bunnies, shamrocks, a pot of gold... you get the idea. It's also fun because the book is not exactly book shaped but has grabbable shamrock "tabs" so little ones can help turn the pages. I bought this for my one year old niece and her mom said it was "perfect". I like that it does not have hit-you-over-the-head St. Patrick Day overtones (ie. nothing religious) to it but still captures the spirit of the day.

Why do we celebrate St. Patrick's Day? Why do we wear green? And just who is St. Patrick? This book, one of a series of holiday symbols books, answers these questions and more in a clear, concise writing style. One of the best parts of the book, though, is the large, colorful, eye-popping photographs on each page. As a librarian in a K-3 elementary school, this books meets all of my requirements: informative, accurate and eye-catching enough that students will pick it up on their own. I also recommend the remaining books in the series: Easter Bunnies, Thanksgiving Turkeys, Fourth of July Fireworks, Halloween Jack-o'-Lanterns, and Christmas Trees.

Why do we celebrate St. Patrick's Day? Why do we wear green? And just who is St. Patrick? This book, one of a series of holiday symbols books, answers these questions and more in a clear, concise writing style. One of the best parts of the book, though, is the large, colorful, eye-popping photographs on each page. As a librarian in a K-3 elementary school, this books meets all of my requirements: informative, accurate and eye-catching enough that students will pick it up on their own. I also recommend the remaining books in the series: Easter Bunnies, Thanksgiving Turkeys, Fourth of July Fireworks, Halloween Jack-o'-Lanterns, and Christmas Trees.

My children (ages 1 1/2 and 3) and I love this book. There is some predictability, which the kids like, but not too much, which I like. The pictures are beautiful. It was a favorite at Christmas time--we read it nearly every night at their request.

This is a beautiful story of Christ's birth told in a repeating rhyme. The story tells of the animals who were present in the stable, Mary and Joseph, and all the people who came to rejoice as the light shone on the big round world. I was looking for a simplified version of the story with beautiful pictures - one that is not too advanced for the preschool set but still appealing for the parent that gets to read it over and over and over - I highly recommend this one.

If you haven't read any of the 'Alice in Bibleland' stories before then you are in for a treat! My 2 youngest sisters had them when they were growing up & loved them. I have used them in my children's group at church & they were very popular there - I had a large number of boys in my class & even they, when I pulled out the book at story time would say "Yes! It's Alice again!" - I enjoyed reading them too! It is cleverly written in rhyme, keeping the story simple.
Alice is an everyday little girl who likes to read her Bible. While she is reading an airmail bird flies in and drops a letter in her lap that tells her reading is the magic key to take her where she wants to be. Her Bible becomes big enough for her to walk through & she enters the scene she has been reading about. In this book Alice sees the Christmas story unfold.
I think these are so popular with children because they get transported to Bibleland with Alice and the story becomes alive for them.
Highly recommended!!!

One Starry Night: Stop and Smell the Roses Series (Stop and Smell the Roses)
God Gave Us Christmas (God Gave Us...)
The Little Lamb of Bethlehem

Alice is always going on little trips from the Boble. I think that if I was Alice I would always be busy going back in time. A great book for ages 5-1,000,000,000,000! I'm 11 now and I still love these books.

The illustrations in this book are beautiful. This is really a "heirloom book"! Mary is shown nusing baby Jesus, which I thought was a great statement. The passages per page are short enough for a 2-year-old to follow. Our family can highly recommend this book!

Jane Ray's beautiful illustrations make this book a Christmas treasure. Especially notable is that Mary is shown nursing baby Jesus.

If you haven't read any of the 'Alice in Bibleland' stories before then you are in for a treat! My 2 youngest sisters had them when they were growing up & loved them. I have used them in my children's group at church & they were very popular there - I had a large number of boys in my class & even they, when I pulled out the book at story time would say "Yes! It's Alice again!" - I enjoyed reading them too! It is cleverly written in rhyme, keeping the story simple.
Alice is an everyday little girl who likes to read her Bible. While she is reading an airmail bird flies in and drops a letter in her lap that tells her reading is the magic key to take her where she wants to be. Her Bible becomes big enough for her to walk through & she enters the scene she has been reading about. In this book Alice sees the resurrection morning unfold.
I think these are so popular with children because they get transported to Bibleland with Alice and the story becomes alive for them.
Highly recommended!!!

these stories are great for children of all kinds but especially for littler ones because it holds their attention.

I read this book at Easter time for many years to my Brownie/Girl Scout troup. The girls never got tired of hearing the story, and actually looked forward to it every year, even as they got older. It is a wonderful story about compassion, respect, and overcoming odds to achieve something wonderful. A very fitting story for this time of year...it is full of simple truths about the power of having faith.

This is a touching, gentle story of how a simple, over-looked bunny with a deformed paw gets to be the new Easter Bunny. The bunnies of Rabbit Hill are "tested" by a stranger who comes to them mysteriously in the night during a cold winter's storm. All the other bunnies reject him, but Early treats him kindly and earns the right to be the new Easter Bunny. Not only is the story wonderfully written, but the illustrations are beautifully drawn with lots of details. I'm a first grade teacher and have read thousands of books in my long career. This one rates in my top 10 for all time. I'm saddened to hear that it's out of print at this time. Barbara Martinez