Festivals Books

I thought this book was a great book.I think its a great book because of it helps explain how santa came to be.Ialso think its a good book because it helps to feed litle kids imanginations. I thought that giving toys away willingly was a generous thing to do. That's why I think The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus is a good book

This truly magnificent book has been a family tradition for over 50 years. I have the most fondest memories of my siblings and I sitting in our living room as children listening to our parents read 1 or 2 chapters per night. They would time it perfectly to have the last chapter read on Christmas Eve year after year. More than 30 years later, I continue the tradition with my own children. Although they find the first chapter sad and difficult to understand, my children have learned that the obstacles we encounter in life help shape us into who we are, with Nicholas being the perfect example.

My mother gave me my very own copy of The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus when I got married. She wrote on the inside cover, "Dear Patty, I hope you enjoy this book for as many years as I have. May it always remind you of all the Merry Christmas' that we all shared. The years pass so quickly and we are fortunate to have so many happy memories. Love, As Always, Mother" This book will always be one of the most cherished parts of my life. Begin the tradition...

This is the most loving, gentle story of the Santa Claus legend I have ever read. A wonderful telling of the tale, good for children who still believe in Santa Claus, their older siblings who have learned their elders are the givers, and parents who are looking for a way to explain the transition and to focus on the real meaning of Christmas giving.

I have had the 1923 Norwood Press (Norwood, Massachusetts) edition since I was a little girl, and I raised my children on it. I was sharing it with a friend who has grandchildren, and she wanted a copy for them -- we assumed it would be out of print, but I checked on line to see if it was still in copyright before making a photocopy. I'm so grateful it's still in print -- I've just ordered 4 copies to share!

When my adult children were in elementary school, every year during the Christmas season their principal (Mr. Houghton) would read this story over the p.a. system. They would come home and tell me all about it. They were so enchanted with the story I decieded to buy the book and read it myself. When I finished the book I believed in Santa again. It has become a tradition in our home to read every year. I have since bought the book as gifts and everyone who reads it loves it. I have bought copies for when my children become parents so they will have it for their children. I hope it lives on throught the ages. Thank you Mr. Houghton for introducing this wonderful book to my children.

What a beautiful story of how Santa Claus came into being . . it will let you believe! When my son was young, we would read it as a chapter book, we would start on the 8th of the month and read a chapter every day. As he got older, we would take turns reading it to each other. I give credit to Julie Lane for prolonging my sons belief in Santa Claus and he now carries the spirit of Santa Claus in his heart. I strongly recommend it for your bookshlf, no matter how old you are!!!!

The book arrived in a timely manner and in excellent condition as promised. Thank you.

Hardcover edition. My mom bought this book for me after I wouldn't stop raving about it after checking it out of our local library. Chinese culture has always fascinated me and this book gave me an overall idea of the culture. Great recipes of traditional food, a variety of craft projects for kids of all ages, and tales of how the traditions started. It also includes an overview of Chinese holidays such as the Chinese New Year, the Dragonboat Festival, and the Festival of Lights. *Mom's footnote - My daughter was born in the year of the Dragon.

We are in the long wait for an adopted sister from China and this book has been invaluable for communicating to our son what his soon-to-be sister's culture is like. It is beautifully illustrated and great for teaching him and preparing him for the holidays we will be celebrating. Very informative with great crafts and recipes. The festival introductions are great as well. We have actually made a few of the crafts. The puppet show was a huge hit!

This book is full of activities; stories and recipes--we will be using this book a lot in keeping the some of the traditions of China alive for our adopted daughter.

A nice book full of pictures and stories about the various festivals. There are craft items to make and food to cook. A good idea for those who are trying to incorporate chinese culture into their family life.

My mother had this book when I was a little girl and I always wanted her to read it to us every Christmas time. I just love the illustrations! And even at a very young age, I would want her to read the authors note at the end that talks about all the symbolism in the pictures. When I got older I would read it to myself on Christmas Eve before going to bed. It is such a beautiful book! I was very excited to be able to buy it this year, so that next year when my baby girl is here for Christmas, I can read it to her and it can be a family keepsake.

Me and my son love all the books Ms Berger writes, This is a re-telling of the first christmass, but with a very soft tone to it, my son asked me to read this book several times the day it arrive, read it, it's a must.


also read other books by Ms Berger,

1. Grandfather twilight 2.When the sun Rose 3. Gwinna 4.Angels on a pin 5.All the way to Lasa & 6. A lot of Otters.

My Godmother got me this book for christmas of 1985, and I still love to curl up on the couch on christmas and read it. It tell's a beautiful story with beautiful pictures to help tell the story. This is a great gift for the younger children.

This is one of our very favorite Christmas books. The pictures are beautiful and dream-like. It's just a wonderful book.

What a beautiful story. It is very moving. I highly recommend it.

Halcyon Daze is an engaging account of a young woman's adventure from her fairly naive and sheltered life in Kansas to her more exotic, exciting, and erotic life in San Francisco. Her new friends include a whacky set of characters that join her in exploring sex and sexuality and, along the way, discover new aspects of themselves. She emerges from her experiences still not completely clear on life's exact purpose and her role in it-who ever is?-but undoubtedly more open to and aware of all that it has to offer. It is an interesting book that may make you blush at times and will definitely make you laugh at loud with its wit and sarcasm. It will captivate you with its characters and their exploits and keep you turning the pages out of curiosity and enjoyment.

I found this book to be funny and fun and very interesting. Loved the poems before each chapter. Colorful characters and some very interesting places. Very creative mind. All in all the book is great.

Halcyon Daze by Palmer Owyoung is a debut novel that "marches to a different drummer", -- just as its twenty-something protagonists do as they seek to find themselves. Halcyon Daze tells of Kalani Smith's adventures as she and those she encounters strive to find meaning in their lives. Halcyon Daze is commended as a superbly written, surreal vision quest, offering paths for future travel and mind-expanding perspectives on life itself along the way.

Kalani Smith struggles to find release from her cocoon-like
existence. Born in Hawaii, of Chinese, Native American and
English descent, she lived briefly in California, and for the
last 23 years has hibernated in Hiawatha, Kansas. Kalani has
always felt displaced in Hiawatha, and has never felt a
connection with the people or the city.

On a day in June, a perfect setting for a wedding, Kalani is
realizing that on her next birthday she will be 30 years old,
that she is bored with her life, and that she has yet to
experience her first orgasm. As she listens to the minister,
she has a surreal moment, a turning point, and she knows it's
time to spread her wings.

Juxtaposed against her tumultuous past, Kalani is bold and
timid as she leaves her groom at the altar and embarks on a
journey she hopes will exploit her dream of becoming a writer.
Searching for stability and a place that feels like home, she
leaves Kansas with no destination in mind. In Arizona she
encounters a Native American woman who shares a Navajo ritual
with her that promises to clear her mind, light her path, and
show her how to find her own truths in the world. Kalani
arrives in San Francisco and joins an eclectic group of
characters; All searching for themselves and trying to make
sense of the world that surrounds them. The author leads them
on a surrealistic adventure in the Nevada desert, hoping
they will find a new perspective on life.

HALCYON DAZE, the freshman novel by Palmer Owyoung is an
offbeat, witty story, told with vivid imagery as he artfully
lets readers wander through the visions in his character's
minds. This book has the freedom and flair reminiscent of the
flower children in the sixties. It is an interesting read.

Reviewed by aNN Brown
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

"At first I thought it was another Sex in the City type book, I was very wrong.It was a great book and I was looking for more even after I finished the last
page...encore!"

Barbara Cohen understands ESL students like no other author ever has! In "Molly's Pilgrim" she describes the pain of a Russian Jewish immigrant in her American school in Winter Hill. Molly is mocked and ridiculed by the most popular girl in Miss Stickley's class, and Molly's "limitations" are made even more evident because Molly and her mother don't understand Thanksgiving from the viewpoint of American culture. The assignment is to design a clothespin doll to look like a pilgrim woman, but Molly's mother designs the doll to look like a Russian immigrant girl. In the process, the class learns that pilgrims did not stop coming to America for religious freedom in the 1600s. Molly's family are pilgrims too!

Equally important to my ESL classes is Barbara Cohen's sequel: "Make a Wish, Molly", when Molly's Jewish culture conflicts with that of her classmates. Molly's parents are excited because in America they are finally free to celebrate Passover for the first time. Then Molly is invited to her first American birthday party during Passover week. That luscious pink birthday cake contains leaven! Should Molly keep the Passover, or should she enjoy her first American birthday party? The painful conflict between first and second cultures is one which every ESL student can understand. I recommend both books highly to ESL classes everywhere!

I really enjoyed reading Molly's Pilgrim. It was just the right reading level for me. It was not too hard and not too long, but it was interesting. It is about a girl who comes to a new school and is different from everyone else. It is hard for her to adjust. One of the parts that made an impression is when the teacher likes Molly's pilgrim doll best and appreciated it. I would recommend this book to girls who might get discouraged with books that are long, because even though it is not a hard book, it's really interesting. By HG.

The book "Molly's Pilgrim" by Barbara Cohen is about a girl named Molly. It is her first Thanksgiving and she founds out that she really doesn't have anything to be thankful for. Her classmates really make fun of her because of her unfamiliarity with American ways.
Then when it comes to doing a project Molly gets embarassed because her mom helps with the project. She helps by making a little doll that looked more like a Russian girl than a pilgrim. But she explains thatthe doll her mom did was because she tried to explain that her mom is a pilgrim because she came for freedom to worshiip god as her own way.

Molly is a young, Jewish immigrant from Russia, who moves to Winter Hill where she is a black sheep among the rest of her classmates. They tease her, and call her names, making fun of her voice, and her eyes, and anything else that they could possibly think of to make fun of her. When Miss Stickley, Molly's third-grade teacher, begins teaching the class about Thanksgiving, Molly is lost. That is, until she finds that Thanksgiving is an American holiday where everyone is grateful for what they have. The problem? Molly doesn't feel thankful. In fact, the only thing that would make her thankful is if her family could move back to New York City, and that won't be happening anytime soon. When Miss Stickley informs the class that they must make pilgrim dolls, Molly is excited to do the project. But when she finds that her mother has made the doll look more like a Russian immigrant, rather than a pilgrim, Molly knows that her troubles at school are about to get worse. But maybe...just maybe, the little Pilgrim is exactly what Molly needs...

It is rare that a book as short as Barbara Cohen's MOLLY'S PILGRIM could bring out such strong emotions in the reader, but that is exactly what it did. The character of Molly is sweet, and kind, and the way she is treated at school could bring tears to anyone's eyes, even if you aren't a crier by nature. The awful songs that Molly's classmates sing about her will choke everyone up, but, at the same time, let the reader feel exactly how people who are "different" are treated. This is a wonderful story that will warm everyone's heart, and teach the whole family about the first Thanksgiving.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

Molly's Pilgrim is the best book! Molly is a little Jewish girl from Russia. She doesn't like to go to school because the girls are teasing her. There are no other Jewish girls at Winter Hill and they think she looks and talks different. She wishes she could go back to Russia or even New York City. Molly had an assignment to make a clothespin Pilgrim doll. Her mom made it to look like herself-because mama sees herself as a Pilgrim from Russia. Molly thinks the doll is beautiful but is also ashamed of the doll because she doesn't think it is a real Pilgrim. She brings it to school and hides it in her desk. When Elizabeth and her friends see it, they make fun of it. Molly explains to Miss Stickly that her mother made the doll to look like her because she came from Russia for freedom just like the Pilgrims. Miss Stickly praises it and puts it in a special place on her desk. This makes Molly proud. We loved this book!!
By Mrs. Lee's 1st and 2nd Grade Red Group at Nike Elementary!

Ruth Bell Graham, the wife of Billy Graham wrote what I think is the most comprehensive Christmas book for children ever. It tells not just of the birth story of Christ, but the whole story of Christmas and Easter. It is a fairly long book for a parent to read in a single night, so I use it as part of my advent celebration and break it up into five nights...with the final night on Christmas Eve. It's been a tradition in our home for several years and it's something the kids look forward to. It's far better than reading "The Night Before Christmas" if you want your kids to know the true meaning of Christmas.

Excellent book for around the holidays. I know it is a kids book, but it is an all around family book.

This book is a wonderful keepsake. I feel it should be made a "classic". I want all my family to have it. I have started getting it for everyone special in my family as a keepsake for their children. It is a beautifully illustrated story about creation and will be loved by all ages. We display it in our home every year during the Christmas season. A must have for new babies!!!

I found my way to this book by accident in the form of a box of Christmas cards. I was shopping one Christmas season in a Christian bookstore I believe and came upon the most beautiful Christmas card I had ever seen in my life. The illustration was done by Richard Jesse Watson, and it happened to be of a shepherd boy bathed in the moonlight gazing at the sky. (entitled "O Holy Night") The detail was so realistic that it seemed as if I could reach out feel the roughness of his woven garments or pet the little lambs gathered around his bare feet. I felt as if I was there with him and all I had to do was look over my shoulder to actually see what he was looking at. It to this day takes my breath away. I bought the box with the intention of giving them to only the most special people in my life and saving a couple just to look at every Christmas.

After purchasing the cards and getting ready to send them out I noticed the caption on it saying that it was an illustration from this very book. I immediately headed back out the door to find it. I'm not sure what I expected the storyline to be of (not that it made a difference) because the cover art was so different from the card I'd bought, but once I saw it was written by Ruth Graham I knew I couldn't pass it up. The story about a boy who ended up having to stay at an elderly lady's home after getting stranded by a blizzard was sweet and endearing and I read most of it there in the store. The book, which depicts stories from the bible, meshes with the lush illustrations to turn out this highly acclaimed, award winning book.

I ended up purchasing at least 4 of them to give as Christmas gifts with strict orders to open immediately once the house is decorated for the season. All of the nativity (along with the other) illustrations make this book a pure slice of heaven. The richness and striking mood of every single picture is wondrous and fills me with more Christmas spirit than my heart can hold sometimes. I guess that's why I bought so many copies of it so I can share it with everyone I care about. Almost every Christmas I scan some of the illustrations to create my own Christmas cards for my friends making sure I tell them where the artwork comes from so they can pass this Christmas treasure on as well to their loved ones.

This is a great Christmas read that gives an overview of the gospel, from creation to Christ's resurrection. A boy is injured and must seek refuge with an older widow during a snowstorm. As he recuperates and waits for the storm to settle down, she tells him the story of man's fall and redemption through Christ Jesus.

This book does a good job of sticking to the true facts of the Bible without a lot of added fluff. I've read this aloud to my children a couple of times. It takes us a few sittings as it is fairly lengthy but it keeps them engaged.

The best part of the book is the illustrations. They are gorgeous! These are some of the most believable Biblical portrayals I have seen - not the stylized Italian sort or the comical characters which abound in Christian books for children. For instance, Adam and Eve are not lily white but look as if they could truly be the father and mother of us all. The portrait of Goliath is my favorite as he looks like a giant warrior might. His thighs are massive! And David is a young man, not a child, as Scripture would suppport.

I would only take issue with the picture of the angel guarding the garden of Eden. First, according to Genesis, there are angels (plural) placed at the gate. Secondly, although the American Indian woman is lovely, angels are only described as men and never as women in the Bible. Moreover, they always seem to invite dread (first words from angels are typically, "Don't be afraid") so I think a pretty angel lady is somewhat unlikely.

I highly recommend this book as a lavish picture book to be read at Christmas, or any time of the year. It helps children understand why the birth of Christ matters to them.

This is an absolutely brilliant piece of literature. Dot Jackson is a genious when it comes to translating the spoken "hill country" language into written form. As I read the words, I could hear the voices of my aunts and uncles, my grandparents and other older relatives. A good story line enhances the language. Dare we hope for another book from her? It would be a shame for this to be the only one.

"Refuge" has become one of my all-time favorite books. The story has remained with me long after reading the book. Jackson weaves a very poetic and heartbreaking tale of forbidden love and family prejudice. Yet "Refuge" is far more than just a love story; it is also a family saga, historical fiction, and mystery all rolled into one. And it is based on a true story from the author's own family history. Jackson evokes the beauty and isolation of the mountain setting so well that you feel transported there. Her characters are well-drawn, believable, and in some cases, larger than life. Their dialogue is authentic throughout. This is southern fiction at it's finest. I purchased my copy after I had already read the book from my library, but I loved it so much that I wanted to own it.

Most of the action in this book takes place one county over from the county in South Carolina where I grew up, so it really resonated with me. The dialect is flawless, the portrait of life on an desolate mountain estate utterly convincing. I am a half-generation behind Dot Jackson, old enough to rejoice in her accuracy, but too young to dream of writing something like that myself, in its early 20th century setting. The beauty, tragedy, emotion and masterful writing make me want to share this book with everyone. Oprah?

RefugeI sent this book, likewise from Amazon, to my closest cousin. I told her several of our long-gone relatives appear in the pages -- not literally, of course, but in spirit. I was hard put to finish reading it ... enjoying the visit. I finally forced myself to read the last chapter. My cousin's first response was the exact same. She, too, had delayed the ending not wanting it to be over. Masterful character creation drives this solid story. Faithful to our fading mountain vernacular won me over. At times I laughed out loud; other times I ached with empathetic loss. Dot Jackson is a treasure; not every author has that ability.

Once in a while you come across writing that resonates so clearly within your soul that you read and re-read passages just to savor the language. Dot Jackson's REFUGE is filled with that kind of luminous vernacular, pitch-perfect and insightful, carried along by a dark undercurrent of disquietude revealed through the voice of protagonist Mary Seneca Steele.

Like fellow Southern Appalachian author Charles Frazier, Jackson knows that storytelling should be unhurried, that for ultimate enjoyment the reader should experience the intertwined nuances of character and plot and language in smooth and satisfying sips, and she supplies that lingering enjoyment in spades.

All is not wisteria and mint juleps in Caney Fork, though, or poke sallet and white likker either. Whether in bustling Charleston or the secluded mountain cove where she seeks refuge, Mary Seneca knows that searching for her rightful place in the world is all a feeling person can do. Such an odyssey is her destiny, even if it leads to tragedy for herself and for the people she loves.

Mary Seneca is willing to pay the price, any price, to learn her family's hidden secrets and to find salvation and redemption for her own self. Throughout her long and eventful life, she learns that family matters, that blood runs true, and that a place to belong is at the heart of living and loving.

REFUGE is a wonderful, beautiful story. Highly recommended.

This is a great story of the magic that Christmas brings each year.

A dear teacher friend recommended this book and said she couldn't read it to her class without crying! I thought I would be able to read it to my grandson without tearing up, but alas...he had to finish the last few pages! (Much to his delight!) It is such a gentle, tender story. Even when you KNOW what the outcome will be, you can't help but FEEL the emotions the writer conveys so well! Outstanding illustrations put this book in a rare class!

This was a beautiful story written and illustrated. It allows one to discover how people can reach into the hearts of so many with a simple act of kindness. It also reassures children that one does not have to have a lot to change the lives of another. And that dreams do come true.

Karen

I like Chris Soentpiet's book called Silver Packages. The pictures he drew were OUT OF THIS WORLD!!! The book was outstanding! I like the part when the boy is holding his first one in front of the Christmas tree.

If you want to read a great book then read Silver Packages because it will just touch your heart. It all started when no one had anything so every Christmas a man came and threw silver packages out the back of the train. Chris Soentpiet's illustrations are colorful and interesting.

My family has used these beautiful advent storybook ornaments since it first came out in 1994. I was sad last year to see that it was out of print, because I wanted another copy. Soooo thrilled that it is once again in print! Received mine from amazon today. Exactly the same as it was 14 years ago. Love it!

This calendar is beautiful - would be such a great heirloom to hand down and use for generations. I was sad to see that Amazon didn't have them new any more - I wanted to purchase several for gifts. I was able to find them as christianbook.com for about $10. Get these back in amazon, please!

Yes, I would also like to find copies of this book. I actually ordered from Amazon a few weeks ago and then a week later was sent a message saying they no longer had any in stock. Imagine my surprise when the only one available on their site was listed for $1200+ !!!
This book has always been part of my children's Christmas. It is a very special part of our Christmas tradition. I was looking to give each of my sons one of their own to continue the tradition in their own homes when the time comes.
Does ANYONE know where to find this book?? I know some little old book store somewhere in the world has two copies sitting on the shelf ...

We had two of this set (the first one wore out!)for at least the past 10-15 years as our children were growing. The girls would gather round and read the little books to one another and then tuck them into the evergreen advent wreath for decoration each day as Christmas approached. Then last year, I reluctantly had to throw the set out since it had been fouled by rodents in storage, and was ruined. I never thought it would go out of print-I planned on getting a new set or two, since one daughter is married now, w/ her own home, this year. I can't tell you how disappointed I am to discover that they are out of print and only available used for $1200!!! Is there any way to get this title back in print? From the other reviews,it seems there is a lot of interest in it! M. Susan Sanders

I have a table top sized tree and this book beside of my Nativity. I use it every Chirstmas with my kids to help tell them the story of Christmas. Each day has a small book that tells a small part of the Christmas story...now they (10, 8, 6, and 5) gather each day in December to read the stories to each other. I love it so much, I bought one for each of my kids (yes now because you never know when they will be out of print) and for all of my siblings and in-laws.

This book is about a mother duck that cannot find one of her ducklings. She goes around asking the other denizens of the pond if they have seen it. The fun thing is that, if you look, you will find where the duckling is.

There are few words in this book, so be aware of the reading level (baby-preschool). However, the artwork is very well done, and the fun of having the little reader find the missing duckling on each page makes the whole thing worthwhile.

What a delightful work for the very young. A Mom Duck is searching for her one "lost" duckling and searches the pond, asking the other creatures "have you seen my duckling?" Of course the duckling is not actually lost, and if you and your child look close, the duckling can be found here and there, hidden (as little ducks should be) in various locations. The kids get quite a kick out of this one as it is interactive an they must search for the little "lost" duck. The art work in this one is great and quite appearling. The simple text is repetitive and fun for the child. This is simply a fun read for the small child and a fun read for the adult reader as they help the child find the duckling. Highly recommend.

My boys LOVE animals, especially ducks, so this is a big hit. If you like "Silly Little Goose" by the same author, this one's sure to be popular in your house.

At first I thought this book was going to bomb with my 13 month old. I thought the pictures were complicated and there was not much text. But I was wrong. She loves it. She has memorized where the lost duckling is on every page and she really can't get enough of it. So, surprisingly, I highly recommend this one!

I like Wheres my Duckling, it wass a great book.Children that are just learning to read will really enjo this book. They will be able to tell what is going on in the story by just looking at the pictures.The pictures in the story are very well illustrated. I would recommend this book to early childhood teachers.