Festivals Books

This is a wonderful book for not only the people of the northern states, but anyone interested in sharing the beauty and knowledge of the wilderness in winter. Good for classroom teachers and all children.

Children love this book. It's familiar and charming. Adults will enjoy reading it to little ones...especially as a bedtime story. Also, makes a great gift! It's the kind of book that stays in one's Christmas collection to be brought out every year.

A tremendous collection of Christmas poems, quotes, songs, traditions, recipes, and stories. It has changed the way we celebrate and helped us understand better why we celebrate. I can't recommend it highly enough. If we could only choose one Christmas book to own, this would probably be it.

Christmas is almost everyone's favorite time of the year. It certainly is mine. There are so many traditions assoicated with Christmas that most of us do not know where these traditions originated. This book tells us the origin of many of these.

St. Nicholas was actually a fourth century pastor who had a great love for children. He desired to make their lives better. This is where the tradition of Santa Claus began.

The book also includes some favorite recipes and the history behind some of our Christmas carols. I found all of this information to be quite interesing.
Jeanetta Bearden Pollard author of "Mrs. Claus Shares Stories From the Heart."

Setting the Christmas story in an Amish community is a wonderful idea and it really works with Mr. Stoltzfus' illustrations. This book is a wonderful addition to any library and will be enjoyed by all.

A work of art and caligraphy combined to tell "The Greatest Story Ever Told"

Whenever someone brings up this book in a discussion... it brings back SO many memories. my mom gave me this book as a kid... I read it over and over. I loved it. I can remember hiding from tornados in our basement with a copy of this book, doing over the neighbors houses when my older sister got hurt, and all the times in between. I proudly wrote my name on the inside cover to mark it as mine. I know some people wonder how Andy in Toy Story felt... But this book was my Woody doll. I would recommened this book to anyone who wants to teach their kids the value of learning from their mistakes.

This was a wonderful way to have lots of fun with the kids!
If your tired of all the Santa stuff, this is definately
refreshing. The kit includes a story, (laminated so dirty hands
don't hurt), all the cookie cutters for the Christmas story, and
a laminated stable. My kids loved decorating the cookies, and it
was a wonderful way to share again the wonderful story of the birth of Christ. Great gift idea as well!!

I'd recommend reading Charles Sheldon's "In His Steps" before reading this. Then you decide who is the better writer and has a real handle on the concept.

This is a great retelling - in a contemporary setting - of "In His Steps." This book helps you see the blessings and the sacrifices involved in truly following Jesus. This book challenges the reader to strive for a better walk with Christ - something all of us should hope for.

I have read this book in different settings a number of times in the past, but I am now going to have our church youth group read through it. I expect it will challenge each of them to not just be a Christian, but to "do" Christianity.

We are called to not just be hearers of the word, but doers. (James 1) This book helps challenge you to be a doer.

A re-write of his great-Grandfather's timeless classic, "In His Steps" first published In 1896, this story stands solidly beside one of the simplest, yet most life-changing works of fiction ever written.

I dragged my heels for months before reading this, because I had the very intense feeling that nobody should tamper with the original. Yet this has brought the original home to new generations of readers, losing almost nothing in the transition -- a task I would have thought impossible.

The question posed in the original book has launched several generations of reechoing "What Would Jesus Do?" In this re-write by great-grandson, Garrett Sheldon, the story remains true to the original and just as life-changing.

The very simplicity of the story has blinded some to the depth of the message, but after more than 107 years and 50,000,000 copies of the original and now with updated examples and characters it continues to rank among the best books ever written.

This is an interesting Christmas book for young children. The story is played against the backdrop of the Roosevelt White House (Teddy's), and an apparently true story involving the conservationist president's decision not to allow a cut tree into the White House because he want's to be a good example for Americans.

Of course TR's notoriously rebellious brood tries to outfox their dad by secretly procuring a pine tree and stashing it away, decorated, in a bedroom closet. When discovered, TR marches the boys down to speak with Gifford Pinchot, his head of the US Forestry service. Pinchot says that sometimes cutting small trees can actually be beneficial to forests as it gives room for other trees to thrive and grow.

With that OK, the live tree (although a small one in keeping with the chief of forestry's direction) is again welcome into the White House and is part of a festive christmas celebration.

This story interests my children. Besides the Christmas hook, it involes the president and the White House, concepts they are familiar with. It also teaches a conservation lesson. Good book for the 4-7 set.

This book was excellent for 4-8 year olds to personalize Christmas at their house and at the first family's house. It also introduced a real life president and how carrying out his duties affected his home life. My son saw this as his first 'history lesson' of sorts. As an extra bonus it just so happens that one of President Roosevelt's sons was named Quentin. My son will remember this fact because that's his name and my husband, his dad's name happens to be Theodore!

CHRISTMAS USA is more than just a book of facts. Although the author has broken up the United States into several parts--Northeast, Southeast, Great Lakes, Plains, Southwest, Mountain, and Pacific--this is a book perfect for children and adults alike, regardless of where in the USA you reside. Filled with such interesting facts as when Christmas trees became part of the US tradition, when Christmas was first declared a legal holiday, and which US President instituted an official tree in the White House, CHRISTMAS USA presents these facts in a fun, interesting way.

It's not just a book of facts, though. It's also filled with hands-on activities such as how to make a Christmas Journal, making your own Christmas cards, how to make cranberry or popcorn garland, easy directions for cookie Christmas tree ornaments, and creating a pomander and cascarones. It also includes some tasty, easy-to-follow recipes for aniseed cookies, nut crescents, and scripture cake, to name a few.

This is a great book to share with your children. Not only will they learn about different holiday customs and traditions around the US, but they'll be able to follow the easy instructions for the crafts and activities and, with adult supervision, might even be able to whip up some yummy holiday treats for the whole family!

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

You would think that, in the United States of America, Christmas would be celebrated the same way in each and every state, but the opposite is true. Within CHRISTMAS USA, Mary D. Lankford takes readers on a Christmas journey through the Northeast, Southeast, Great Lakes, Mountain States, Plains States, Southwest, and Pacific States, giving information on how our neighbors celebrate the holidays. To wrap things up, Lankford takes us inside the White House and the Post Office, providing readers with a sneak peek at how certain traditions were born; and giving readers ideas on different ways that they can celebrate the holidays, by incorporating some of these fun, and fairly unique traditions into your own.

But CHRISTMAS USA is not just a fact book, providing readers with information; Lankford has spiced things up a bit by including easy-to-follow instructions on making various holiday-related craft projects and recipes that will certainly assist in making your season bright. Instructions regarding making a Christmas journal, cascarones, Christmas tree decorations, and much more are present; but recipes for edible items, such as nut crescents, double peanut cookies, and aniseed cookies are easily explained.

Lankford, in association with Karen Dugan - whose illustrations truly bring CHRISTMAS USA to life - have compiled a delightful holiday addition to the literary world. The historical facts provide readers with a learning experience; while the recipes and craft projects add a sense of fun, creativity, and family-time that is difficult to ignore. A trip across the United States just in time for Christmas!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

I have been looking for a book that is inspiring and maybe will help me get in the Christmas mood. This book is it. It's a perfect size gift to put in someone's stocking ~~ and it's a perfect reminder of what Christmas is really about.

This little story starts off with six-year-old David finding his father dead on Christmas day. Understandably, he would never celebrate Christmas day for a long time till he has a little brother who came along and wanted to celebrate Christmas. Not only is this a story about Christmas, it is a story about life and death. It is about friendships and love, how even when loved ones pass on, they are still within our hearts.

It is a beautiful little reminder of joy and peace ~~ and a must-read for every reader, who longs to remember what Christmas is about.

12-5-07

Death came early that christmas morning...but the book, I never quite have forgotten. I loved it the first time I read it and each time since. Although small and, yes, perfect to get stuffed in a christmas stocking, it should not be forgotten or dismissed as a sad and sappy christmas novel.
In the holiday season we are supposed to remember that great things come in small packages, which is very true with The Christmas Wish.

This is a wonderful craft book that helps you make Christmas tree decorations that are really about Christmas: angel, Mary, Joseph, donkey, Bethlehem, baby Jesus in manger, lamb, shepherd, camel, wise men, star, and dove. There are excellent full-color pictures, step-by-step instructions, and patterns for each ornament. There are also hints for working with Sculpey Clay and basic instructions for how to work with the clay, mix colors, form shapes, etc. (I have made these ornaments and everyone loves them. They're easy to make... and they're really very cute.) This great book is out of print, so snap it up!

We have many of Glenda Palmer's highly inspirational books for children. Ms. Palmer has such a way to not, only to teach but to hold the children's interest. My granddaughter loves all of her books and begs to hear them over and over again. That over and over again is a true sign of a wonderful book. I recommend "any" of Mx. Palmer's books they are all delightful! Thank You for writing such wonderful books.

I really love this book! The pictures are so adorable---you want to reach right in and cuddle Teddy and his kitty friend. I also love the fact that each page has two levels of text---one is very simple, for example, just saying Singing Carols, and the other has more detail. Each text page also has a little detail from the facing picture page. Many of the pages have a kitty to find, which engages the very young, and the pictures have sweet details without being overwhelming. I am going to look for more by this author/artist!

Jacqueline McQuade did a superb job with this special book for the holidays. The canvas-like pictures of Teddy Bear caught my children's attention instantly. Each page consists of a beautiful illustration. a large-print description of Teddy Bear's holiday activity, and a few short sentences describing in detail what Teddy Bear is doing. I'm going to order the rest of her books right now.This book was a gift given to us for Christmas 1996, and it has been cherished every year.

Mark James' delightful picturebook Christopher's Little Airplane is the engaging story of a little boy who is given a balsa wood airplane for Christmas. But the little toy airplane gets left outside and soon finds himself flying over the countryside on a winter's night and seeing the world from high up in the air. Missing Christopher, and through a combination of luck and fancy flying is ultimately able to be reunited with his young owner. Mark James enduring story of friendship and loyalty is wonderfully enhanced on every page with the color and artistry of Harold Smelcer's illustrations. Christopher's Little Airplane is easily recommended for children ages 4 to 8, and would grace any school or library children's picturebook collection.

"Christopher's Little Airplane" is a charming child's tale about a little boy's toy airplane that takes flight on its own adventure in aviation. The story is cute and the illustrations are beautiful, filled with stunning perspectives, rich colors and deep shadows. A keeper.