We Believe In Christmas by Karen Kingsbury
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Zonderkidz (October 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310712122
ISBN-13: 978-0310712121
From the inside cover:
On Christmas we give and get presents, we sing songs, and we decorate our homes. But what is Christmas really about? Is our happy holiday a Holy Day?
Find out why we place the star on the Christmas tree. Imagine Christmas guests as travelers of long ago. And let the beautiful song “Silent Night” fill your mind with pictures of the night Jesus was born. Because Chrstmas is God’s gift to us – and we look around and remember, we’ll learn to see the real Christmas.
This endearing story by bestselling novelist Karen Kingsbury will capture the hearts of children, and parents and grandparents will appreciate the applications they can share.
This was a nice story which showed different aspects of the commercialism of Christmas, and then contrasted those aspects to the religious meaning of Christmas. It’s a nice, fun read to enjoy with your children over the holidays, especially as you discuss different Christmas traditions like placing the star on top of the Christmas tree.
The Gift Of The Christmas Cookie by Dandi Daley Mackall
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Zonderkidz (October 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310713285
ISBN-13: 978-0310713289
From Amazon.com:
Review
It’s the Depression, and Jack and his mother struggle to get by in their small town. When Jack’s mother begins to bake cookies to give away to others, she explains the history behind the family’s wooden cookie molds and draws Jack into her baking. As they work together, she tells him the story of European woodcarvers and their families in the Middle Ages making cookies in shapes that could be used to tell the story of Christ’s birth. Jack’s only Christmas gift that year is a large angel cookie, which he then gives away to a stranger who arrives on Christmas morning. Jack offers the angel cookie to the man with a few concluding sentences that convey his beliefs, neatly echoing the Biblical concept that any stranger might be an angel and must be given hospitality. The tale is told in an understated way, complemented by Chabrian’s sensitive watercolor illustrations, which convey Jack’s range of emotions.
This was a good story which teaches kids not to be selfish during the holiday season, or any season for that matter. It’s the Depression, and Jack is ecstatic to return home to find his mother baking Christmas cookies. He’s saddened to find out that the cookies are for needy families. His mother then explains how the tradition of giving Christmas cookies started, using the example of Jack’s woodcarving ancestors.
Jack is delighted to awaken and find the large angel cookie as a Christmas present from his mother. However, when a hungry stranger comes to their door, Jack learns the meaning of giving what he cherishes to others.
I enjoyed reading this story, and I’d recommend it as a nice read for youngsters.
I’m giving both of these books away. If you’d like these children’s books, please leave a comment, along with your email address. I will be drawing the names later this week. Also, I will mail out these books quickly so that the winner can enjoy these heartwarming stories with their child(ren) over the holiday season!
If you don’t win, then you can always find these titles at your local bookstore! I’m sure they’d make great early Christmas presents for your little ones!