Christmas Books

My daughter and I have read tons and tons of books. This one is going on the "great list". BTW, not many go on that list. The story is absolutley perfect for Christmastime or anytime. Written in a diary format starting Dec. 21 through Christmas Day, a young girl, in 1845, tells of her life and wonderful small community and a Christmas miracle. Absolutely wonderful character names include Fliberty Jibbert, Valentine McGinty and Aunt Heddy Peggler. If you are trying to keep plenty of innocent and great literature around for your children to read, this is one to keep around. You CAN judge a children's book by its cover.

I am a 9-year-old boy (mom is typing) and I thought this book was excellent. It's about a little girl who meets a guy named Fritz Klingle, who is looking for his dog named jingle. It's a very good Christmas book.

A great granddaughter discovers a family diary from 1845. The story of a special Christmas in Cobtown unfolds. Art is a cartoon-like character with excellent illustrations in lively colors. A great read - includes receipes for dog soup! I highly recommend this family type, holiday book for students from K through 5 grades.

The Van Nutts bring us instantly back to a lost era full of magic. Somehow they have mastered the art of historical accuracy without boredom or cheesiness- something so few artists can do. The drawings have all the skill of Van Allsburg but more warmth and depth for their genuineness, while the text makes you long to search through your grandmother's closet in search of hidden treasures. It's an instant classic and a must-have for someone who takes kid's books seriously.

I read this book with my children (ages 13, 11, 7). They were more than enthusiastic about the book! They enjoyed the story content and thought that it would make a nice addition to our Church's library.

I felt that the book addresses not only diversity issues, but makes it clear that other people's beliefs are ok, and that we should respect this. It was well written and easy to understand. I give it a 5 star!

This is the most outstanding book that teaches children acceptance of different cultures. It is much more than a Christmas story. My children loved this book!

Ann has taken the American dream of writing a book to the finish line. In accomplishing this she has also addressed a dream for many of us. That is blurring the lines between race and opening the door to acceptance. This book is a must for young and old alike. It took me back to a simpler time...a happier time. Let her touch your heart with this book as she has touched mine both with the book and being a great friend.

I read this story as I was typing it to send to the publisher. I thought it was a wonderful story for parents or older siblings to read to "little ones" at Christmas time. I also found it thought provoking, and a helpful story to help children with issues about diversity.

... and own a bit of magic too. Evyind Earle's artwork is singularly unique and just as divinely beautiful. If you are a follower of his work, this book, despite the hefty price is a must-have. It's filled with page after glossy page of many of his finest works in paint and seriograph. The beauty of the artwork, which ranges from blissful snow-covered landscapes and mystical trees to graceful human figures and deep shadows with vibrant colors, is heightened by the sheer elegance of this huge cloth-bound book, decorated with gold detailing on the cover.

Although the artwork in this book was primarily published as holiday cards, this is not a book to pull out only once a year! The images range from decidedly Christmasy to natural landscapes and flowers. Unlike some of the other published books about Evyind Earle, this volume contains a broader scope of his work, and literally every page is a full color glossy print.

This book is also the closest you'll come to owning some of the priceless pieces this man has created over the years. Display it proudly on your coffee table, or curl up with it every once in a while and escape into the lands of light and texture that Evyind Earle has so exquisitely painted...

The most extraordinary book of art I have ever seen - everything, from the case, the cover, the Christmas cards, all of it are wonderful. I never tire of looking through.

Even though I am fortunate to own several of Mr. Earle's prints and one original (hence am clearly a fan), I was not prepared for this book. The amazing variety of styles, the celebrations of color, the technical perfection - this book surpasses all superlatives. I had no idea that Mr. Earle could DO some of the things which he did! I can only look at a few pages at a time, as the work is overwhelming. Bravo for publishing this collection. Thank you Amazon.com for making it available.

This book is so thick and big that you may need to position yourself first before lifting it.

It is housed in a gold slip case, with a vermillion book cover profusely foiled in gold and calligraphic letterings.

There is a brief commentary and the card illustrations are presented in a chronological order.

The art work is just breathtaking & beautiful. From the simple designs of doves to grand sweeping snowscapes & forests. Each evokes the magic & spirit of Christmas.

It's a MUST for those who like Eyvind Earle's style & artistry, and appreciate the simplicity of Christmas card illustrations.

Excellent book. I've had it a few weeks and tried about ten recipes and they've all been delicious. This is definately a keeper.

This is a GREAT book! It has many, many different and interesting recipes that are not the same-old, same-old holiday fare. The suggested menus and wine pairings make it simple and undaunting to throw together a small or large party. And I love that a lot of the recipes list make-ahead components. The recipes included in this book are ones you can enjoy all year round. Don't wait for a holiday to try them!

This book has many different takes on traditional holiday food plus many unique recipes that one might not usually consider when preparing their holiday feast. There is even a section that includes ideas for edible holiday gifts. I am a subscriber to Cooking Light magazine and own many of their other books, and the recipes never dissapoint. Everything I have made has been delicious. There are so many good recipes I had trouble narrowing down what recipes to make for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

One of my favorite recipes from this book is the Marbled-Chocolate Banana Bread. I plan on using this book year-round.

Lushly photographed and filled with stunning winter holiday recipes from breakfast and cocktail parties to the Big Events themselves, this cookbook features lighter versions of many old favorites and some great ideas for reducing the fat in your own recipes. Ingredient substitutions, decorating tips, make ahead meals, and even wine and food pairings are included, as the editors make the holidays a joyful time, foodwise, even for those on special diets. Clearly printed nutritional information appears with each recipe so that those on special diets, such as cardiac patients, can choose among the many selections.

Many appetizer recipes feature veggie-based dips and salsas--Tomato Crostini, Tex-Mex Black Bean Dip, and Warm Mushroom Spread all feature less than 1 g. of saturated fat per serving. "Creamy" dips use lower fat cream cheese to keep these appetizers at about 1 g. of fat per serving. One appetizer made with phyllo dough, usually a no-no for those on diets, uses butter-flavored cooking spray between the layers, instead of butter, to save fat and calories. Vietnamese spring rolls and Chicken/Lemon Pot-Stickers, use rice paper and won ton wrappers, lighter than pastry.

"Light" does not mean "dull" here. Pistachio-Crusted Rack of Lamb, Individual Beef Wellingtons (using phyllo sprayed with cooking spray, instead of puff pastry), or Ultimate Roasted Turkey, with gravy, are all on the menu. A wide assortment of side dishes--soufflés, Caramelized Onions, Potato-Gorgonzola Gratin, Pumpkin-Sage Polenta, and even Leek, Potato, and Caraway Latkes with Spiced Sour Cream--perk up the plate and the palate. The Salad section is outstanding, with unusual combinations of ingredients--Pear, Walnut, and Blue Cheese Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette is a knockout. Fruit relishes, chutneys, salsas, and even candied cranberries are used as garnishes.

The editors have gone "all out" in the dessert section. The traditional pecan pie is here--regular pecan filling inside a lowfat, cookie-like crust--along with Vanilla or Pumpkin Cheesecake (made with 2 ½ pounds of reduced fat and non-fat cream cheese), gorgeous cakes made with less fat and fewer egg yolks, and pies with lowfat gingersnap, graham cracker, or vanilla wafer crusts. Over forty recipes are included for use as gifts--Apricot Amaretto Bread, Cranberry-Hazelnut Coffee Cake, Orange-Pistachio Baklava.

With over 500 tasty recipes offering a huge selection of elegant and even exotic recipes, this is a cookbook useful to everyone who is health-conscious, including vegetarians. Twenty pages of meatless main dishes and a vegetarian Hanukkah menu are included. A terrific compilation of healthier preparations for traditional holiday foods, this is a cookbook that has it all--and that will be used long past the holidays. n Mary Whipple

I really enjoyed this book. I have purchased copies to share with family and friends. I enjoyed the relationships that took place between the men and women. This book contained no sex, so my 13 year old daughter could read this book. I can't give enough praise to the authors of this book but, I will read this book every Christmas and it will remain on my shelf as one of my favorites.

I really enjoyed this book. I have purchased copies to share with family and friends. I enjoyed the relationships that took place between the men and women. This book contained no sex, so my 13 year old daughter could read this book. I can't give enough praise to the authors of this book but, I will read this book every Christmas and it will remain on my shelf as one of my favorites.

From the back cover:

An American Country Christmas
These heartwarming, all-American stories from five beloved authors capture all the passion, joy, and rich rural tradition of the holiday season across the nation. Patricia Rice spins a dramatic tale of romance lost and found in the bluegrass country of Kentucky. Jodi Thomas tells of a Texas tomboy who gets more than she bargained for under the mistletoe. Upstate New York is the setting of Raine Cantrell's moving Civil War story. Emily Bradshaw fills us with the spirit of the season--Western style--in her wonderful tale of a woman who melts the frostbitten heart of the man who rescues her from a Christmas blizzard, and Karen Harper paints a chaming picture of old-fashioned love from America's heartland. Filled with hope and heartbreak, touching reunion and tender devotion, this exquisite collection proves that love burns so much brighter when the heart comes home for Christmas.

And my review:

This is one of the very few Christmas romance anthologies that I bought brand-new, but it was well worth the money. While some stories were better than others (as is always the case with these collections) there were no "stinkers" in this book. And no sex scenes either, so you could let your teenage daughter read this.

1) A Husband for Holly by Jodi Thomas
This was my first sampling of her work, and I was quite impressed. She does an excellent job of weaving in historical detail without detracting from the story. Four stars.

2) Friends are Forever by Patricia Rice
Not the best one of the bunch, but still enjoyable. I liked the author's portrayal of mountain life. The romance was not quite as intense as it could have been, but it was an entertaining read. Three stars.

3) The Gift by Emily Bradshaw
Hands down, the best novella of the bunch, and one of my favorite Christmas stories. This is one that I read every single year without fail. I've read some of this author's full-length work since this story, but this one is still the best thing she's written, in my humble opinion. Not many authors can do a good job of balancing romance, Christmas, a touch of the paranormal, and an amnesia plot (which never felt contrived) but this author did it. If you read no other romance at Christmastime, read this one! (More than) five stars.

4) A Time for Giving by Raine Cantrell
Another sweet story. I've tried one of this author's other full-length novels, but my interest fizzled out halfway through. But this story was very touching, and worth a re-read. Four stars.

5) O Christmas Tree by Karen Harper
Another good story. Not as good as some of her other works, but still enjoyable. If you want a really good Christmas story by Karen Harper, check out "Promises to Keep", which is a Civil war Christmas romance. I liked her portrayal of the emmigrated German family, and the heroine's struggles to balance her heritage with her need to fit in as an American. Four stars.

For once, an anthology where every single story was worth reading (and some for re-reading!). Very rare these days. This is one that I'll never get rid of. I won't even lend it out, because I know I won't get it back. (Smile) Highly recommended!

I really enjoyed every one of the stories in this collection. I kept reading and re-reading "The Gift" by Emily Bradshaw. Another pregnant woman in a blizzard, but this time our heroine can't remember who she is or where she's from (and it's better off forgotten, anyway). But she changes the lives of the father and son who find her and she and her daughter charm their ways into a whole new life. I just loved it! "A Husband for Holly" by Jodi Thomas was enchanting! And Raine Cantrell's "A Time for Giving" was also a delight I read more than once.

I thought this was very cute like all the dr seuss books and relatively easy to understand ( for beginners), how ever I didn't like that for translating the book doesn't ryme very well.

I bought it for my three year old son, and I can't express how much joy my little one has every night when he goes to bed, he immediately runs to bed and literally ask my wife or me to start reading. I highly recommend it for all the little ones!! ! !, you won't regret it.

This translation of How the Grinch Stole Christmas loses none of the rhythm and fun of the English version. Spanish-speaking kids (and English-speaking kids who are learning Spanish) need more Dr. Suess books translated.

This story by the famous author DR. seuss has become a favorite among chilren of all ages. The Grinch, a green monster, doesn't like Christmas, so he steals children's presents and takes wreths from houses. This book is so good it is now a movie starring Jim Carrie. I believe this is Dr. Seuss's best book.

Our family is already a big Marc Brown fan, so we thought we probably had a good bet in this new D.W. book. We were right! While most kids spend a lot of time thinking about what they are going to get for Christmas, so does D.W. However, this book gets D.W. (and your child) thinking about what they can get for others! I loved that D.W. took initiative and made the gifts herself, rather than going to the mall!

The illustrations are great and this is another winner from Marc Brown!

"D.W.'s Perfect Present" is a story fit for the holidays. This story is part of a newer set of Arthur / D.W. books aimed at slightly younger readers. It is both fully written and illustrated by Marc Brown.

This book is about D.W., who is searching for Christmas gifts all over and outside the Read household. She looks everywhere, but everyone seems to be making a gift for someone else. As D.W. sees all these gifts, she comes to realization that changes her outlook on the holidays.

D.W. is as cute as ever in this story. The story is fairly simple to follow, but quite enjoyable. Most of the pages are fully illustrated with bright, lush color. This is a wonderful book that will make just about anyone happy for the holidays.

D.W. is excited about Christmas and she begins snooping around the house looking for her gifts. She asks her Dad if a gift he is wrapping is a present for her. But no, it's a fruitcake for Grandma Thora. D.W's Mom is making something in the basement. "Is that for me?" D.W. exclaims. No, it's a ladder for Arthur's tree house.

Featuring Arthur, Mom, Dad, baby Kate, Pal the dog, and Grandma Thora, D.W.'s Perfect Present is a colorful and delightful holiday book that shows the good feelings that come from giving. Not only is this a great story, but it also features gorgeously rich illustrations by author Marc Brown.

On the back of the book is a fun Holiday Hunt where your child can help D.W. find 13 holiday gifts hidden throughout the house

There are only a few more days until Christmas, and D.W. is ecstatic. Unfortunately, she's also extremely nosy, and believes that there are more presents hidden around the house, other than the ones sitting under the Christmas tree. So D.W. sets out searching, looking high and low. However, she soon realizes that due to her selfishness, she never purchased presents for her family, so she begins creating masterpieces for everyone, including Pal, Arthur's puppy.

Fans of the ARTHUR TV show will be enthralled to find a holiday book perfect for young readers and their parents. While it shows how young children truly act when the holidays roll around, it also depicts how great it feels to give presents to the ones you love. This is a wonderful holiday story that will be cherished for years to come, especially by those who love D.W.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

The format of this book is "just right" for grievers. Short sections allow the reader to read as little or as much as they can handle at one sitting. This is an excellent gift for the seasons of Fall and Winter when society inundates us with holiday celebrations and togetherness. Since September 11, 2001, this book ought to become a best-seller. I've given out at least a dozen copies to family and friends.

This book is one of the best on the market for grieving. It covers how to handle the process, gives tips on how to handle Holiday celebrations, birthdays, when people say stupid things.

It is written in 3-4 page chapters---easy to read and very effective. I have given this for about 5 years to people ---especially in the case of a sudden death, and or the death of a young person.

Think it is one of the best available.

When I first picked up this book, I thought, "Is it going to be good?," and I was pleasantly surprised. It helped me reach a horizon of encouragement to continue on after I lost a loved one. It sought to gently answer the questions and anger many people have in a state of mourning. I highly reccommend this book to anyone who is looking for comfort on a page.

This book can heal the wounded soul. It is an eloquent reminder that when we suffer we do not suffer alone.

If you're interested in this kind of book, I'd highly recommend Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices, by John Allen.

Have the series of the Delaney's and this was the missing book. Pleased to find it and enjoyed it very much.

This is the first story that I came across about the Delaneys. I absolutely love Iris Johansen's books and I was thrilled to read this! It is one of the best and it has made me interested in finding all of the books that cover the Delaneys. An awesome read, I couldn't put it down for a second and when it ended, I wanted more. I recommend this to anyone!

This is a lovely 3 in 1 book of the Delaney's: "Christmas Past", "Christmas Present" and "Christmas Future." A lovely mirror carved with holly was supposedly given to Shamus Delaney by the gypsies. Succeeding generations have discovered that it is a magical mirror enabling only Delaneys to see past, present and future. Don't miss Dominic and Elspeth's story in "This Fierce Splendor"--the one that started it all!

I loved Iris Johansen's "Christmas Past" because here we get a glimpse of how Silver Savron is doing, as well as the love story of Rising Star's son. Zara St. Cloud is outcast even among her fellow gypsies. She is desperate to prove she has Delaney blood in her by searching for the mirror. Kevin Delaney is bored. When he finds a housebreaker at Killara, he is determined that she will be his Christmas amusement. Hot!

This book tells the story of a mirror that brings love to those who look into it. It can drive people away, bring them home, prevent events from happening, and help events occur. No matter what a person sees in this mysterious mirror, the mirror brings love to many of the people who have looked into it.

My toddler class loved this book. They would always giggle and make all the animal sounds. I loved that it showed that even if we don't think we are good enough...we are. A sweet story and a great addition to any preschooler's collection!

I liked the idea of the book- the underdog/ shy donkey finding that he too had something to give the baby Jesus .I was hoping for a book that highlighted some aspects of the nativity- something that would reinforce what I am teaching my children about the birth of Christ. I nice book but not an historical teaching tool.

My 1-year-old really enjoys this book. It's the real Christmas story told from the animal's perspective. My son LOVES animals so he enjoys hearing what each animal says to baby Jesus. Almost all the kids I know would love this book!!

No offense to the reviewer disappointed that this is not a "historical teaching tool", but this book is not intended to be that! Nancy Tafuri is one of the most gifted picture book authors for the very young, and she has used her talents here to make the Nativity story accessible to the very youngest readers. The gentle text and expressive pictures draw young children into the stable along with the animals to see the newborn baby, and to greet him.

I read this at storyhours for two and three year olds. The children love joining in on the animals' songs, and when the donkey sings his noisy "hee-haw" song, they laugh along with the baby. No, they don't get the deeper message, but we are talking about very little children and their first introduction to the story--and this works!

There are plenty of good books out there for older children about the Nativity. But if you want something to gently introduce your child to the wonder of Christmas--here it is.