The Only Gift

The Only Gift put out by the Children's Bible Hour is a very reflective story reminding us and our children that the only gift Jesus wants from us is ourselves.

The Sunday school children are putting on a short Christmas play for their parents. Rather than going with the usual "Nativity scene" skit, the class chooses to do a skit where they bring gifts to Jesus- trophies they have earned in sports, music they have written, foods they enjoy eating, and a television they enjoy spending time watching. However, none of these gifts are what Jesus wants. Then one little boy stands before Jesus and offers himself to Jesus because it is all he has. This is the gift Jesus wants.

What I Like: This book offered a lot of opportunity for my 8 year old and I to talk about what we have to offer Jesus, how often we make other things in our lives idols, and how we need to make our lives a gift for Him.

I also love that this book comes with a CD. It gives children a chance to listen to the story as a radio show the way this story was originally intended.

The illustrations by Joel Spector were perfectly done. They certainly add to the story and do not take away from it in any way.

What I Dislike: I loved everything about this book.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 5-12 years old.

Publisher Info: CBH Ministries, 2012; ISBN: 978-0-9855560-1-3; paperback, 32 pgs., $10.00

Available through Keys for Kids Ministries $10.00

It's Not About You, Mr. Santa Claus

Where did gift giving begin? Christmas is one of the most important holidays celebrated in most countries around the world, yet the true origin of this special day is often missed. Almost everyone equates Santa Claus and the giving of gifts with Christmas, but what event was the catalyst behind this centuries-old tradition? This delightfully illustrated children's story is sure to become a tradition for you and your family as the holiday rolls around each year. Christmas is a special time of celebration and one in which we have time to reflect on what is most important.

What I Like: Author Soraya Diase Coffelt wrote the book from the perspective of a child writing a letter to Santa Claus. Throughout the book we see the child tell Santa of the Nativity story in a way a child reading the story could understand and relate to. In the book Coffelt doesn't dismiss Santa but simply informs him of the true meaning of Christmas. It is a good book for children to learn to appreciate Jesus without having to choose between Him and Santa.

What I Dislike: It's a little wordy for the younger children its written for.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 5-10 years old

Publisher Info: Morgan James, 2014; ISBN: 978-1630472610; Paperback, 34 pgs., $8.99

Buy it at Amazon.com for $7.14

Goodnight Manger

Goodnight, Manger, written by Laura Sassi and illustrated by New York Times bestselling artist Jane Chapman, tells the story of Mary and Joseph as they try to lull Jesus to sleep in the noisy stable after his birth. It's bedtime for Baby Jesus, but who knew a manger could be so loud? Mama, Papa, and all of the animals try to lull the baby to sleep, but between itchy hay, angels' joyful hosannas, and three kings bearing noisy gifts, it's just too loud. Until Mama finds a way for everyone to work together to shepherd Baby into peaceful dreams under the twinkling stars. With sweet, rhyming text in the style of Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site, Goodnight, Manger offers a unique twist on the classic manger tale, deftly weaving together the comforting and familiar routines of bedtime with the special magic and wonder of the manger story.

What I Like: A cleverly written rhyming book, Goodnight Manger, by Laura Sassi, is such a cute book. Have you ever wondered what life was really like for Mary and Joseph in the manger with non-stop visitors and animals everywhere? Goodnight Manger paints a wonderful picture that will make you smile. The illustrations by Jane Chapman are adorable and are a nice compliment to the book. This is definitely a new family favorite for my household.

What I Dislike: Nothing

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 4-8 yrs

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2015; ISBN: 978-0310745563; Hardcover; 32 pgs., $16.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $9.49

OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $10.16

The Gift Giver

On Christmas Eve a boy stirs from sleep to find an old man, in the living room, dressed in red with a bag full of gifts. Excitement soon gives way to disappointment as he finds he has received fewer gifts than expected. The old man sees the young boy's protest and tells the story of his origins and his motives. As the boy becomes privy to this mystery, a question comes to his mind: is it by magic that the old man accomplishes his task, or is it something else... The lesson he learns will change the way he views Christmas forever!

What I Like: The Gift Giver, by Jacob Haslem and Nick Allen, tells of Santa's humble beginnings and how he came to become Santa. It is centered around his love for Jesus and following God's will for his life to bless the less fortunate. The illustrations, by Elissa Weaver, are lovely and so life like.

What I Dislike: While the book does credit Jesus as the reason for the season, the story still leads a reader to believe that Santa exists in a supernatural way. In the story he explains how he has lived through centuries and will continue to do so until God says otherwise. His sack of toys that contained the gifts he handmade continued to refill itself (like the bread and the fish that fed the masses) and time was suspended while he delivered those gifts. The mix of the story of St. Nicholas, The Nativity Story and the modern tales of Santa Claus is sure to confuse my children between what is biblical, historically accurate and myth.

The price for a hardcover copy is extravagant at $23.95. The outside cover is very dark.

Overall Rating: Ho-Hum

Age Appeal: 4-8 yrs

Publisher Info: CreateSpace Independent Publishing, 2015; ISBN: 978-1515273110; Hardcover, 40 pgs., $23.95

Buy it at Amazon.com for $23.95

Jesus Is Born: The Bethlehem Story

Jesus is Born! The Bethlehem Story, by Rev. Jim Reimann, tells the story of Jesus’ birth. The author starts with Gabriel’s visit to Mary and ends with the shepherds finding baby Jesus in Bethlehem.

The story is told in rhyme, in six short verses. The cartoon-like illustrations, by Julia Filipone Erez, are colorful and expressive.

The author used Acts 9:1-20 as a reference for his story.

What I Like: I like the colors used in the illustrations, as well as the details of the drawings.

What I Dislike: However, having said that, I don’t think the illustrations work well with the story. They way they are done makes the whole thing look like simply a cartoon, or a fairy tale.

As many of you know, I’m not a big fan of rhyming picture books as they are difficult to write well. Although the verses rhyme, the rhyme is forced in most instances, making for awkward sentence structures.

Overall Rating: Ho hum.

Age Appeal: I’d say 4-8 would be the appropriate age group for this book, as the story is quite short. However, some of the vocabulary is over and above that normally used for this age group.

Publisher Info: Intelecty LTD, 2014; ISBN: 9789657607008; Paperback, $6.99.

Buy now at ChristianBook $5.99!

Or buy at Amazon $6.99.

 

Special Info: Visit the author’s website. Read our reviews of other books written by Jim Reimann. Visit the illustrator’s website .

The Nativity Story - Magnetic Adventures

A unique interactive Bible storybook, by Juliet David, that enables children to create their own scenes as they follow Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem. With the shepherds and the sheep, the wise men and the stable, it brings the nativity story to life. Magnetic pages and magnetized figures of people and animals give children everything they need for hours and hours of fun.

What I Like: The interactive board is entertaining. With lots of magnets, children can load the magnetic pages with various and adorably illustrated magnets.  The board book is a very simplistic version of The Nativity story from Gabriel appearing to Mary until the Wise Man visit baby Jesus all within a few pages. Lots of the other pages are text free and designed for the use of the magnets. The illustrations are charming. My 20 month loves the magnets and book set.

What I Dislike: Not all of the inner pages are magnetic.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 3-5

Publisher Info: Candle Books, 2015; ISBN:978-1781282267; Board Book, 12 pgs., $16.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $12.99

OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $15.19

Grandma's Christmas Wish

For Grandmas looking for a meaningful gift to give a grandchild that just oozes with love, check out Grandma’s Christmas Wish by Helen Foster James.

The story features interactions between a gray-haired grandma bunny and her copper-haired grandchild. Over and over, the doting grandma reassures her little one that baby bunny’s love is the best gift Grandma could receive. She says, “But you with your grin/ and all of your charms,/ you’re my best present,/ just wrapped in my arms.” Throughout the book, Grandma and Bunny frolic, snuggle, and play in the wintery landscape.

Each two-page spread holds four lines of the large lettered rhyming text surrounded by what looks to be watercolor and ink illustrations. And what beautiful illustrations they are!  Created by Petra Brown, these pictures are laced with memorable Christmas time images, including a starry, moonlit night, powdery snow, pine trees and holly, charming woodland creatures, and earthy decorations.

The last two-page spread of the book allows Grandmas to personalize the gift. Branches border the left side and frame a page of blank lines. It’s entitled “A Special Letter to My Grandchild”. The right hand side is likewise framed  but is open for pasting pictures of Grandma (or perhaps Grandma and Grandchild).

What I Like: Oftentimes it is difficult to write lyrical lines well. Thankfully, this author is able to make the meter and rhyme in this story work! It’s crafted in a singsong manner that makes it easy to read. Even so, the illustrations are what I LOOOOVVVEE most. WOW! They are whimsical and endearing. The pictures alone make this book worth its asking price.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: Preschool- grade 1.

Publisher Info: Sleeping Bear Press, 2015; ISBN: 978-1585369188; Hardback and Kindle, 32 pgs., $15.99
This book is currently not offered by Christianbook.com.

Buy it at Amazon.com for $14.39 or buy the Kindle version for $13.67.

Special Info: Grandmas might also enjoy another book by James starring the same two bunnies called Grandma Loves You! It's $11.45 for the hardcover version, or it's $9.99 for the Kindle version. Grandpas, you don't have to miss out on the fun! James offers a book just for you called Grandpa Loves You! It's $12.89 for the hardcover version, and it's $12.25 for the Kindle Version.

The Innkeeper's Dog

There are several Christmas stories told from an animal’s perspective. The Innkeeper’s Dog, written by Deborah Bence Boerema, is a little different; it tells about a dog’s viewpoint Christ’s birth a year later.

The star of the book is a pup named Thaniel the Spaniel. He lives in a stable but feels downhearted as the other animals constantly recall the events of that fateful night Jesus was born. Since Thaniel didn’t see the baby, he doesn’t feel special. Sure, he carries food for the family, helps guard the sheep, and protects the family, but to Thaniel, that doesn’t seem extraordinary.

One day, the innkeeper’s son decides to throw a celebration in honor of what happened. Only then does Thaniel learn the truth: that he was born on the same night as the Christ child and was given as a gift to Jesus. However, Mary leaves Thaniel behind, asking the innkeeper’s son to care for the pup and telling him, “Each time the pup does something for you, it will be as if he is doing it for my son. Remember that God wants all creatures to use our talents and skills to serve him. And one way we can serve God is by serving others.”

Upon hearing this, Thaniel realizes that he is special after all!

The layout of the book is a series of two-page spreads with an illustration on one side and a full page of text on the other. The pictures are best described as simple line drawings that are reminiscent of a coloring-book style.

What I Like: The message is a good one. We can’t all be superstars; we don’t always possess obvious talents. But if we can use the skills we have with a humble attitude, we can still serve God. The book also offers a free audio book download. That’s always a plus in my world! Children who like dogs will likely enjoy this book.

What I Dislike: There is a lot of text for the target audience, and not a lot of action in the story. In addition, it is a little pricey for a small paperback.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: None is given, but it would work for the grades K-2 crowd.

Publisher Info: Tate Publishing, 2013; ISBN: 978-1625103239; Paperback or Kindle, 24 pgs., $8.99
This book is NOT available at Christianbook.com.
Buy it at Amazon.com for $8.99 OR Buy the Kindle version for $7.99.

Animals of the New Testament

Animals of the New Testament, written by Janet K. Warren, is a picture book featuring an animal’s viewpoint on various Biblical events. The book tells six separate stories. Each story starts with a Scripture verse (written out with the reference provided) and  starts with a similar phrase:“A very long time ago, in fact it was well over 2000 years ago; there lived an (animal) whose name was (NAME). “

Most stories consist of one large coloring-book style illustration done by Beth Zyglowicz and then three to four solid pages of text.

This book is the second in a series of animal books by Janet K. Warren.

What I Like: It’s nice that the author includes Scripture with each story. And I believe the author has the best intentions at heart, wanting to present the familiar Christmas story from a different perspective.

What I Dislike: I had major issues with this book, which prevent me from recommending it. They are:

* Some stories contain information outside the Biblical text, but it is presented as fact.
* Other stories may stick somewhat close to the Scriptural facts, but the author has (almost arbitrarily) added a creature to the story.

The issue is further confused since the author cites a verse of Scripture before each story and uses real Biblical people and situations, which lends the book legitimacy.  However, it is a work of fiction. These animals aren’t singled out (or don't even exist) in the Biblical text.

To be more specific, the author tells about the baby Jesus miraculously and intentionally healing a dead baby mouse while He lies in the manger. A horse and an angel carry on a conversation while wise men visit Jesus in the manger. (Here is another inaccuracy. Most Bible scholars will convincingly argue the wise men did not come on the night of Jesus’ birth.) Then Zacharias and Elizabeth have a little white goose while devout prayer warrior Simeon has a monkey. The goose somehow gets into the Holy of Holies area to witness the verbal exchange between Zacharias and an angel. The monkey apparently hangs out in the temple all the time and entertains Simeon while he waits for the messiah to arrive.

That's stretching things a little bit too much for me. While these may have been animals that were around during New Testament times, the Bible doesn’t include them in Scripture. Because of those problems, I think this book can be quite misleading or confusing for children to read.

There are also some minor issues that make me hesitate to recommend this book. First, the price of the book is rather steep. Second, the pictures were too far too few and the amount of text per page far too much for the target audience, making it not very visually appealing.

Overall Rating: Ho-hum.

Age Appeal: Suggested 4-8.

Publisher Info: Author House, 2014; ISBN: 978-1491873243; Hardcover/ Paperback/ Kindle, 30 pgs., HC $26.99, PB $19.99, Kindle $3.99.

This book is not available  at Christianbook.com.
Buy it at Amazon.com for  HC $26.99 OR PB $19.99 OR Buy the Kindle version for $3.99.

Felix Navidad!

Nope, that's not a typo. Janet Denison's recent Christmas book really is titled !Felix Navidad! not feliz Navidad (Spanish for "Merry Christmas") - because the story revolves around a donkey named Felix.

Felix is the beloved pet to twins Natalia and Hector, who live in Puerto Rico. Natalia's just been cast as Mary in the school Christmas play, which will be filmed and aired live by a local news crew. Hector, the more reserved of the two, is disappointed to "only" be cast as a shepherd, but proud that his prized donkey will also be featured in the play. Felix is a miniature Sicilian donkey - the type with a dark cross on his back. Legend has it that this is the type of donkey Jesus rode on Palm Sunday - and when it couldn't bear to see Christ on the cross, it turned away, the shadow of the cross falling across its back, where it remains to this day. Hector grooms Felix carefully, but doesn't neglect his neighbor, Dona Maria, who's baby will be born any day. He helps her bring her groceries home.

On the day of the play, it storms. Hector must walk Felix to the play, and he's disappointed his beautiful donkey becomes wet and muddy in the blustery rain. When they approach the location of the play, Hector hears a woman shouting to him. It's Dona Maria. She's about to have her baby, but the pouring rain has washed out the bridge that would get her to the hospital. Hector helps her onto Felix and he leads the pair to the school where the play will be performed.

Practically the whole town has turned out for the Christmas play - including a doctor. The doctor leads Dona Maria into another room. The film crew says they must start the play - it must go on the air right in a few minutes. And so the children - and a rather bedraggled Felix - get into positions and begin the play.

When the play ends, there is great applause - then silence, as the crowd hears a baby's cry coming from another room. The doctor appears and lets everyone know the baby's name: Jesus Hector Gonzales - named for Christ, and the young man who helped Maria. The cameras turn onto Hector and Felix, and the reporters call them heroes. Then one reporter says they should give the donkey a new name: Felix Navidad. Everyone laughs.

That night, Hector confesses to his mother that he wanted to play Joseph so he might be noticed by the crowd. He feels badly now that he was so selfish. His mother replies, "Today God chose you to play the most important part. He wanted you to be a friend to our neighbor and her new baby." Hector replies, "I am glad I was chosen to be a shepherd. God chose the shepherds to see the Baby Jesus before anyone else and I am happy God chose me to help today."

What I Like: This is a sweet, well written story that reminds us of God's great command to love and help others. My children and I enjoyed learning about the legend of the Sicilian donkey, and throughout, Rachel Everett's illustrations brought to life the vibrant Puerto Rican location. 

What I Dislike: For those of us who didn't take Spanish in high school, it would have been nice to have in-text pronunciation guides for the Spanish words sprinkled here and there. (There is, however, such a guide on the last page of the book.)

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: I'd say about 4 - 10.

Publishing Info: Kings Time Printing Press, 2012; ASIN: B00AMNKGZO; digital, 30 pgs., $2.99

Buy at Amazon for just $2.99

Mia's Night Adventure

I would call Mia’s Night Adventure: An Animals of the Bible Book, written and illustrated by Marilyn Schuler, is a cross between the story of the Good Shepherd and the Nativity.

Mia is a little lamb that has a tendency to get lost. When she wanders away, the Shepherd always comes and finds her.

One night, when the shepherds are in the field tending their sheep, angels appear to them telling them about a miraculous birth in Bethlehem.

The Shepherd wants to travel to Bethlehem to witness the miracle. Mia is told to stay behind, but she tags along anyway (staying back where she can’t be seen). She gets lost and an angel guides her the rest of the way.

The illustrations done in muted tones with lots of expression, truly enhance the story.

What I Like: Just about everything.

What I Dislike: I don’t really have any complaints, just an observation. The King James version of the story says Jesus was born in a stable, with the animals. However, the author depicts Jesus’ birthplace as a cave. I did a little research and discovered there is some debate on whether the birthplace was a stable or a cave.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: 4-8.

Publisher Info: Tate Publishing, 2014; ISBN: 9781629940694; Paperback, $8.99

Buy at Amazon.com for $8.99!

 

Amazon Kindle Edition - $6.39.

Special Info: Read our reviews of other books by Marilyn Schuler. Visit the author’s website.

The Christmas Hippo

Does God care about the little things in our lives? The Christmas Hippo, written by Lisa E. Williams and based upon a true story, attempts to answer to this question.

It's time for the school Christmas party. Two grade school-aged girls ask their moms if they can have a sleep over; since one of the girls, Kay, will soon be moving away, the moms readily agree. The girls play together, and the author ("I") digs up some sheet music so they can go caroling that evening.

In the meantime, a bus driver is ending his day and picking up miscellaneous things left behind in his bus. Among them is a stuffed purple hippo, which he recognizes as belonging to Kay's little sister's. He's concerned, because he'd like to get the toy back to the girl before she moves. But when he drives to Kay's house, it's dark and empty, with a "Sold" sign out front. He calls the school, but everyone is away on Christmas break. So he brings the toy home and tells his wife about it. She suggests they pray, asking God to help them reunite the toy with it's young owner.

Later that evening, the driver is surprised to find Kay on his front porch, caroling.

"He quick grabbed the hippo,
embraced her with love,
wished her a blessed Christmas
and looked up above.

'God you care 'bout our hippos.
My mind cannot conceive
how much more you'll provide
if we'd only believe.'"

What I Like: This is a cute story that reminds children God cares about everything in our lives. We should never worry about praying on "the little things." A great message, told in a way that's very kid-friendly.

What I Dislike: This book was self published with help from Thomas Nelson, a well known Christian publisher. Unfortunately, Thomas Nelson did little to ensure this book didn't suffer from the many plights of self published children's books. One of these is the illustrations by Staci B. Desautels. They are cute and fun, but they don't look professional. There are also some punctuation and grammar errors - although none so egregious that it's difficult to read the story. Finally, the book is written in rhyme - and while the author does a better job at this than most newbies, I believe the story would be much stronger if it didn't rhyme.

However, I think The Christmas Hippo is a worthwhile story, despite its flaws.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: I'd say about 4 - 8


Publishing Info: Westbow Press, 2012; ISBN 978-1449724740; paperback, 28 pgs., $16.95

Buy at Amazon for $15.26
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The Legend of Saint Nicholas

The true story of St. Nicholas - a real man who served God well on earth - is a favorite in my home. My children love hearing about "the real Santa Claus" and why he's remembered today. Anselm Grun's The Legend of Saint Nicholas, then, ought to be a welcomed addition to our family bookshelf...

The book recounts the major stories surrounding Nicholas, who lived in the 4th century A.D. It begins with his birth, which the author says happened only after his parents prayed for a child. Nicholas becomes a priest, and his parents die, leaving him quite an inheritance. This Nicholas uses to help the needy.

There is one father in Nicholas' town who is so poor, he considers selling his three daughters in order to help support the rest of his family. Hearing this, Nicholas secretly drops a bags full of money into the man's home. The family rejoices; now the daughter's can marry. (The author neglects to mention that in those days, women needed a dowry of money in order to wed.)

Nicholas becomes bishop, and some time later, some sailors are caught in a terrible storm. They call out for Nicholas, and soon Nicholas appears, walking on water. He helps the sailors get their ship under control, then disappears.

Now there is a famine, and Nicholas prays for the people. God tells Nicholas to go to the harbor the next morning - there is a ship there that will feed everyone. But the captain of the ship is worried; the emperor will punish him if the grain is underweight. Nicholas promises the grain will measure out perfectly, even if he shares the grain with the people. Miraculously, there is enough grain for two whole years - plus the grain the emperor ordered.

Nicholas dies, and a nobleman asks St. Nicholas for help; he wants a son, and promises to make a golden cup for the saint if he gets one. His wife gives birth to a son and the nobleman has a cup made - but it's so beautiful, he decides to keep it for himself. He has another cup made for the saint, and he and his son travel by water to deliver it to the church of St. Nicholas. The son falls into the water and drowns, but the nobleman takes the second cup to the church anyway. He tried to put the second cup on the alter, but it keeps falling off. Then his son, whom he thought was dead, runs in and places the first cup on the alter, saying St. Nicholas saved him from drowning.

Finally, the book mentions Nicholas' kindness to children and St. Nicholas' Eve, where children traditionally leave their shoe by the door with the hope that Nicholas will leave them a gift.

What I Like: The illustrations, by Giuliano Ferri, are rich in color - and while they have a sort of primitive look about them, do a good job of telling the story and showing the emotions of the characters.

What I Dislike: Almost everything.

This book is historically inaccurate, which is a real shame. For example, Nicholas' parents died when he was still a boy. He was raised by his uncle and certainly wasn't a priest at the time. Grun's writing is also really dry, making what could be a interesting story ho-hum. The legends the author includes offer some details I've never heard before; for example, I'd never heard that Nicholas supposedly walked on water or that the father was considering selling his daughters as slaves. I don't know whether this is because the legends in this book are inaccurate or if these are just aspects of the legends that aren't commonly told.

Protestants will probably be uncomfortable with the last legend in the book, where the nobleman seems to pray to St. Nicholas. And the ending seems really tacked on - telling us about the less familiar St. Nicholas' Eve, but not about Nicholas' connection to Christmas.

And since this book is written in such a straight-forward manner, with no hesitation to talk about some of the more difficult legends surrounding St. Nicholas, I'm surprised it doesn't even mention that he was persecuted because of his faith.

For those looking for a better, more kid-friendly picture book about St. Nicholas, I recommend The Legend of Saint Nicholas by Dandi Daley Mackall or Saint Nicholas by Julie Stiegemeyer.

Overall Rating: Ho-hum.

Age Appeal: I'd say about 6 - 12.


Publishing Info: Eerdmans, 2014; ISBN 978-0802854346; hardback, 26 pgs., $16.00

Buy at Amazon for $12.97

The Littlest Christmas Kitten

Over the years, there have been many children's picture books that try to tell the story of Christmas by focusing on the animals in the barn where Jesus was born. The Littlest Christmas Kitten by Leona Novy Jackson is one of the more recent examples.

The story begins by showing a mother cat looking for her littlest kitten. Then suddenly a waft of cold air enters the stable and a man and woman enter. The mother cat is startled and leaps into a manger - where she discovers her missing kitten. She grabs the kitten and scurries out of the manger as the people draw closer.

Before the night ends, a baby is crying and the mother places the child in the manger - the same one where the littlest kitten had slept. Angels sing "holy, holy, holy," and the animals "bow down before the child. They knew in their hearts this was a very special baby."

The book ends: "Now, down through the history of cat kingdom, Mother and Father cats tell this story to their kittens...So, whenever you hear a kitten purring on Christmas Eve, you know it is remembering that Holy Night, long long ago."

At the back of the book, there is a list of Christmas symbols - including "Christmas Cats." Here, the author suggests cats have long been associated with Christmas.

What I Like: Kelly Dupre's illustrations remind me of old woodcuts; they aren't colorful, but they are interesting and fun. I also appreciate the desire to draw children into the story through the use of animals. Indeed, if you have a child who is disinterested in most Christmas books because they are "boring," this book may be a good way to introduce your child to the Christmas story.

What I Dislike: I feel this book focuses too much on the cats, and not enough on Jesus. The first five pages of text are all about the mother cat and her kittens, and the ending, about cats telling each other the Christmas story and about kittens purring, emphasizes a totally false story. On the other hand, we never learn who Jesus is or why his birth is so important. The Christmas symbols at the end of the book seem tacked on, and the author never explains why cats are associated with Christmas - an idea that was totally new to me.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: about toddler - kindergarten


Publishing Info: Snaptail Press, 2005; ISBN 978-0930643188; hardback, 32 pgs., $16.00

Buy at Amazon for $12.90

Yuletide Ice Cube Fair

Sometimes books featuring famous characters can be a bit...well, thin in substance. But Yuletide Ice Cube Fair, featuring the VeggieTales characters, is really worth sharing with a child.

Author Karen Poth sets the tale in rhyme, telling us about an annual Yuletide Ice Cube Fair where kids eat snow cones and skate in root beer flavored ice rinks, where an Ice Cube Queen is chosen, and the most anticipated event of the year - the ice cube carving contest - is held.

Mayor Bob tells the participants they should "sculpt in seven hours or less/what Christmas means to you." Jerry decides to create Santa and his reindeer,  Mr. Lunt, a Christmas tree. Jimmy sculpts a Christmas feast; Laurie, a shopping mall; and Larry creates a huge carving of trumpeting angels. But it's Junior's sculpture that really catches the judges' eyes:

"Now, Junior's word was tiny.
They had to quint to see.
He'd carved a little stable
and a shepherd on one knee.

'This,' declared the judges,
'is the one that wins the prize!
It really shows what Christmas means,
despite the tiny size.'

Christmas isn't all about the big, the bright, the new.
Christmas time means Jesus - and the love he brought for you."

The book ends by quoting Luke 2:10-12.

What I Like: This is a very simple story, but it's message is clear (without being obnoxious): Christmas is about Jesus. Pure and simple. It's a perfect, inexpensive addition to a young child's library.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: about 3 - 7

Publishing Info: Zonderkidz, 2014; ISBN 978-0310746232; paperback, 23 pgs., $3.99

Buy at Amazon for $3.21
or buy at ChristianBook.com for $2.99

If He Had Not Come

A young boy named Bobby goes to bed on Christmas Eve thinking about the Bible passage (John 15) his father just read to him. Five words, spoken by Jesus, stick in the boy's mind: "If I had not come..." The boy drifts off to sleep, excited for Christmas morning. But when he wakes up, he's in a world where Jesus never came to earth. This is the premise for If He Had Not Come, originally written by Nan F. Weeks in the 1930s and updated by David Nicholson for this new book.

When Bobby hears his father call him in the morning, he dresses eagerly, expecting an exciting morning of opening Christmas gifts. But when he gets downstairs, there is no Christmas tree. There are no gifts. In fact, there's nothing at all that looks like Christmas. Shocked, Bobby runs outside and to the nearest business - a factory. Bobby asks a man he sees there why they are working on Christmas. The man gruffly says he doesn't know what the boy is talking about. As Bobby hurries about town, he sees all the other businesses are open, too. No one knows what Christmas is, even when Bobby explains it's a celebration of Jesus birth.

Confused, Bobby decides to go to church...but when he gets to his church's location, there's nothing but an empty lot - and a sign reading "If I had not come." Bobby wants to celebrate Christmas, even if no one else is going to, so he decides to head for the Children's Home. His class has gathered gifts for the children there; he will go watch them open their presents. But when he arrives at the location, there is nothing there but a gate with the words "If I had no come" on it.

Bobby now sees an elderly man who is clearly ill. Bobby takes his hand and tries to lead him to the hospital. But where the hospital should be, there is nothing but a busy intersection with a sign that reads "If I had not come." So Bobby runs to the homeless shelter, sure the people there can help the elderly man. But instead of the shelter, he finds a sign that reads "If I had not come," along with several gruff men gambling, with no interest in helping the elderly or sick. "I'll run home! Dad and Mother will know what to do for my sick friend!" Bobby says.

When he runs into his house, Bobby sees the Bible his Dad read from the night before. He picks it up, but once he gets past the Old Testament, the remaining pages of the Bible are blank, save for the words "If I had not come."

Bobby sits down, "stunned at the thought of a world without Jesus. 'No Christmas, no churches...no places to help people who are sick, homeless, or in need...'"

He suddenly hears the sound of bells - and Bobby jumps up out of bed. He's been dreaming! Or was it more than just a dream? he wonders. He kneels beside his bed and prays: "Lord Jesus, I'm so glad You did come. You are the very best Christmas present anyone can have. I'll show you my thanks by doing everything I can to please You today and every day. Help me to be the kind of boy You want me to be."

The book ends with lots of questions and ideas to explore the premise behind the book in Sunday school classes or at home.

What I Like: Just about everything! This book is an excellent way to explore the importance of Jesus' time on earth, and is sure to lead to many important discussions with your children. Nicholson's writing is clear and kid-friendly, and Charles Jaskiewicz' illustrations are brilliant; when Bobby is awake, the illustrations are full of rich color and light, but when Bobby dreams about a world without Jesus' birth, the illustrations are dim and gray.

What I Dislike: My only criticism of the book is really more a criticism of the Church. When this story was originally written in the 1930s, it made more sense. Hospitals were mostly run by religious organizations. Orphanages, too. But today, most hospitals are secular and for profit and organizations for orphaned children are run by the state, not Christians. Nonetheless, this fact can lead to a little research about how these important organizations were once run by Christians and why they no longer are - and may lead to thought, prayer, and action that compels your family to be more active in helping the needy.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: I'd say about 4 - 12.

Publishing Info: Westbow Press, 2014; ISBN B00JJOKDPU; hardback, 36 pgs., $18.95

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The Girl Who Saved Christmas

On Christmas Eve, when Santa checks his list of who’s “naughty” and who’s “nice,” he discovers that all the children in the world have been “naughty,” so none of them will get toys this year. Instead of toys, he loads his sleigh with lumps of coal.

It is a cold, windy, stormy, dreary night and the people around the world have shuttered their windows and doors and sealed up their chimneys with boulders and boards to keep out the cold. Santa, of course, can’t get down the chimneys.

But, there is one chimney open, so Santa lands on the roof and slides down the chimney where he lands in Molly’s fireplace. Molly greets him with a plate full of cookies. Santa rechecks his list and discovers Molly is the only child who has been good the past year. Somehow he had missed her name the first time around.

When Santa asks her what she wants for Christmas, she asks Santa to forgive all the naughty boys and girls and give them presents, as usual.

The Girl Who Saved Christmas, written by William Thomas Thach, isn’t exactly a Christian book, but it is a book about forgiveness. Jesus is referred to as “a glorious child” who told us “it’s best if we learn to forgive.”

The text is written in rhyme, using the style and opening line from “Twas the night before Christmas…” Rhyming text is difficult to do and do well, but in this case, the author does a pretty good job of it with only a couple of places that could use a little extra work.

The illustrations by Richard Bernal are fabulous. They are bright and bold and simply beautiful. Some cover a two-page spread, with the text printed throughout; others cover a full page with the text at the bottom, and the rest have an illustration at the top of the page with the text at the bottom.

What I Like: Besides the fact I obviously LOVE the illustrations, the book itself is a treat for the senses. To start with, the book is covered in red velveteen, with the title and author’s name printed on it, along with a full-color picture of Molly. The book is held shut with a snap fastener, giving the impression of a photo album or a diary.

The end papers are covered with a beautiful gold print with snowflakes. There is even an attached gold ribbon to use as a bookmark. There is a place at the front for a child to write their name (This book belongs to…). And, on the back papers are a Glossary of terms used in the text (like “abode” and “nigh”), along with a place for a child to write a letter to Santa (Dear Santa, I’ve tried MY VERY BEST to be good all year long! For Christmas, may I please have:…).

If you take the time to read the copyright page, here’s a sample of what you will see there:

“You may savor this book, but you must not eat it. Consuming this book, in whole or in part, may lead to stomach ache, grumpiness, and other problems….Why in the world are you still reading the copyright page? Molly and Mr. Nibbles are waiting for you!”

As my husband said, the attention to detail throughout is amazing!

What I Dislike: Having said all that, there are a couple of things in the book that aren’t completely explained. First of all, it seems a bit convenient that none of the “naughty” children will be visited by Santa and get their lumps of coal because their fireplaces have been sealed up against the cold.

And  second [SPOILER ALERT], when Santa grants Molly’s wish and forgives the rest of the children, he lets Molly ride in the sleigh with him to deliver the presents. But, the sled is supposed to be loaded with lumps of coal, not presents, and no mention is made of Santa ever going back to the North Pole to get them. These aren’t major issues, but I thought I would point them out.

Also, the book is a bit pricey with a cost of $24.00. Granted, it’s a beautiful book, but that’s a lot to pay for a picture book.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: The author recommends 2-10.

Publisher Info: Global PSD; ISBN: 9780982566312; Hardcover, $24.00.

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The Perfect Christmas Pageant

The Perfect Christmas Pageant by Joyce Meyer is a delightful and humorous story that deals with the issue of perfectionism.  Hayley Hippo has been asked to direct the annual Christmas pageant for the Everyday Zoo. Determined to make it perfect, she strives and strives to get everything just right. But the more she strives, the worse things get. One thing after another goes wrong until Hayley finally learns that Christmas isn't about getting things perfect. It's about Jesus in whose perfection we can rest.

What I Like:  This book is another in the Everyday Zoo series of books by Joyce Meyer. I like that it deals with perfectionism, a problem that besets young and old alike and that causes Christians to live in bondage. This book will help children learn early on that BEING precedes DOING, and that there is a huge difference between perfectionism and excellence. This book will bless not only children but their caregivers as well. The illustrations by Mary Sullivan are outstanding. They superbly convey the humorous points in the story and will delight the hearts of child--and childlike--readers.  I also liked that on some pages, the illustrations carried the story so that readers must study the illustrations to "read" the story.  This activity not only causes the reader to appreciate the illustrations more fully, but it also sharpens both visual and aural skills.

What I Dislike: The book's larger size may be a bit cumbersome for little hands, but certainly not a deterrent to purchasing it.
 
Overall Rating: Recommended

Age Appeal: 4-7

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2013; ISBN: 031072354X; Hardcover, 40 pgs., $15.99.

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My Secret Angel and Me

If you're looking for an alternative to the popular Elf on the Shelf, look no further than My Secret Angel and Me by Ashley Adorno and Rachel Hernandez.

With an angel as a guide, your child learns the story of the first Christmas, everything from Gabriel telling Mary she would be the mother of Jesus, to the shepherds visiting Him in the stable. After telling your child all of this, an angel transitions:

"Each night as you sleep, I return to the stars in the sky
I meet with other angels to tell them how hard you try."

From there, the angel asks your child to be the best he can so she can give a good report to the other angels each night. And she warns your child that when she returns to your house, she'll be in a different place - and she likes the game of Hide and Seek.

What I Like: While I haven't personally done the Elf on the Shelf thing with my children, I've heard about it a lot from friends. The second I opened this book up and started reading, I knew it would be a solid alternative for parents reluctant to embrace a more secular tradition.

The artwork is great. Ashley Adorno is truly a gifted artist, and the illustrations are impressive. I really felt they helped convey the story in a very visual manner for non-readers.

Before you even get started, your kids get to name your angel (a blonde-haired angel is included in the gift box.) That part is fun. What's even better is at the end, there are instructions to go to MySecretAngelAndMe.com, where you can register your child's angel doll, and the angel will send periodic e-mails to your child. I know my kids will enjoy getting e-mails!

At the end of the book, there's a "Child's Prayer," which, while it stops short of being a sinner's prayer, comes right up to that line. Definitely a nice touch, and could open things up to more discussion.

What I Dislike: There's a section of the book where Santa is brought in, and the whole theology behind it kind of lost me. Santa was presented in an "okay" manner - he receives instructions and acknowledges Jesus as our Savior - but I honestly thought that for families who try to de-emphasize Santa (like mine), this is a turnoff. The section is four pages (most of it pictures) so it would be possible to skip it if you so chose.

Additionally, there were a couple of formatting errors that caused me to stumble when reading the book aloud, as well as some phrasing that was difficult to get right.

Overall Rating: Good, hedging on Very Good after having an opportunity to compare it directly to Elf on the Shelf

Age Appeal: 3 - 8, perhaps broader depending on the child.

Publisher Info: For the King Press, 2011; ISBN: 978-0-615-49480; Gift Box + Hardback, 36 pgs., $34.95

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Why We Give Gifts at Christmas Time

As Christmastime approaches, the idea of receiving gifts tends to push its way to the forefront of our children's minds - and push out the real reason for Christmas.

In Why We Give Gifts at Christmas Time, Corine Hyman, Ph.D. takes the focus off receiving gifts. Instead, she gives a wonderful, biblically based explanation for our gift giving and leads us to the most wonderful Gift we could ever receive.

Throughout the story, we are introduced to different children of different races. Each child explains one reason why they give gifts at Christmas, and the page ends with a Bible verse relating to the reason the child gave for giving gifts. At the end of the story, it's explained that even though it's Jesus' birthday, these are the reasons we give gifts to each other.

The illustrations are very child-like and reminded me of the illustrations used in many of the Little Golden Books I read growing up. My 5 year old daughter was intrigued by the simplicity of the illustrations and noticed things I had overlooked - such as the letters on each of the gifts throughout the story and how they spell out a final message on the last page.

What I Like: I like how Scripture is used to explain to children why we give gifts at Christmas time. Each reason has a biblical basis to it.

I also liked that children of every nationality are portrayed in the illustrations. This book can be read to any child and they will find someone who looks like them somewhere in the story.

What I Dislike: Each two page spread begins with a very similar pattern. "This is my friend ______. Why do you give gifts at Christmas time?" It is not an exact repeat on each page, but it is very close. As a parent reading it to my child, the first couple of sentences on each two-page spread seemed a bit repetitive.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: 5-9 years old

Publisher Info: Teaching Christ's Children, 2012; ISBN:978-0-9855423-0-6 ; hardcover, 32 pgs., $16.95

Buy it at Amazon.com for  $14.99 (hardcover), Kindle, $4.99