4 comments about Holly Claus: The Christmas Princess (Julie Andrews Collection).

1. For centuries upon centuries Santa Claus has traveled the world every Christmas Eve upon a sleigh pulled by reindeers, a sack of toys perched by his side. Over the course of these years, Santa Claus has never asked for anything in return, and, amongst all of the letters he receives each and every day, no one has ever asked him if he, himself possessed a Christmas wish. Until one year - in December of 1878, to be exact - when Santa Claus opens a letter from a young boy named Christopher W.C. Christopher is kind enough to put his own wants aside, and asks Santa Claus what he desires for Christmas. And so, Santa Claus's wish is granted - he receives the child he has always longed for.
   
   Holly Claus - the Christmas Princess - is brought into the Land of Forever, along with shouts of joy, and celebration. Unfortunately, the splendor of her arrival quickly turns to sadness when the festivities are cut short thanks to the arrival of the evil Herrikhan, an individual who was banished from the Land of the Immortals many years ago for wrongdoing. Herrikhan leaves a curse upon Holly Claus, one that encases her heart in ice, forcing her to stay in a frosty climate for all eternity, or her beautiful heart will melt. But there is an ultimatum. If Holly Claus manages to find the strength to marry Herrikhan, she may live forever - just like her parents. Santa Claus is horrified by the curse, and quickly locks the gates to the Land of Forever, vowing never to open them again. This, in turn, causes Christmas to be put on hold. Suddenly, children of all ages are not experiencing the wonder of Christmas, all because of Herrikhan and Holly. So, when Holly becomes of age, she escapes from the Land of Forever along with her animal friends - Tundra the wolf; Euphemia the owl; Empy the penguin; and Lexy the fox. Holly Claus is determined to change the ways of the Land of Forever, and bring Christmas back to the masses. But when she arrives in New York City, she realizes that her quest may be harder than she originally thought - especially with Herrikhan on the loose to demolish her plans.
   
   Years ago I fell in love with Brittney Ryan's THE LEGEND OF HOLLY CLAUS. The exuberant story, accompanied by an irresistible, compassionate heroine, and Laurel Long's breathtaking illustrations took me to another world, and kept me on the edge of my seat as I experienced the Land of the Immortals and 1800 New York City alongside Holly. Now, with the release of HOLLY CLAUS: THE CHRISTMAS PRINCESS those memories have been brought back to me quite vividly. HOLLY CLAUS: THE CHRISTMAS PRINCESS is basically an abbreviated, picture book-esque version of Ryan's 500+ page THE LEGEND OF HOLLY CLAUS. While the story is shortened quite a bit, it still holds every bit of the magic that THE LEGEND OF HOLLY CLAUS dispersed. And, with the illustrations of Laurel Long, along with Jeffrey K. Bedrick, readers of all ages will find it hard not to fall in love with Holly Claus; and, will, most likely, find themselves drawn into the story in an instant - much like myself. Once more, Ryan has outdone herself, as have Long and Bedrick. Ryan's enchanting words, located side-by-side with Long and Bedrick's magical illustrations are absolutely irresistible, and will keep you occupied for hours upon hours as you pore over the beauty of this book. A magical way to spend the holidays with the ones you love!
   
   Erika Sorocco
   Freelance Reviewer



2. I own the novel version of The Legend of Holly Claus, and I fell in love with it. I have now been re-reading it every December, to re-experience the magic and to get into that Christmas feeling.
   
   Brittney Ryan's narrative is compelling and heart-warming, and it is simple enough for most children to read, though many adults will adore this story as well.
   
   I have yet to purchase this book, but I feel it is simply the condensed version of the novel, along with gorgeous accompanying illustrations. I greatly admire Laurel's artwork, in its detail, delicacy, and the ability to let the viewer sit for long periods of time just taking in the nuances within the art.
   
   They have gone further with this novel, adding full, vibrant colour to each work of art (since the original illustrations in the novel are black and white), which further enhances the reading experience for children and grown-ups alike.
   
   Lovely story, lovely art.. and brimming with Christmas spirit. What more can be said? I highly recommend this for every parent, book fanatic, and Christmas lover alike!



3. This book has the most lovely illustrations.Each page is a feast for the eyes with many tiny,wonderful details to discuss with your child as you read it. But the story itself falls flat. Miss Ryan's style of storytelling is just matter of fact,boring, no lovely descriptions to match the wonderful artwork. I am a children's librarian and the book keeps being checked out and returned in a day or so because each and every child has told me they didn't like the story or they couldn't even finish it because it was too long or not interesting enough. With the name of Julie Andrews attached, I really expected more.



4. This is a very nice Christmas story for your little ones that is beautifully illustrated. My kids really enjoy listening to it, and it is a pleasure to the eye as well.

5 comments about A Small Miracle.

1. Anyone who has looked thru my precious book always gives it back to me with tears in their eyes.
   
   What a heartwarming story -- a fairy tale that could almost come true; and you kind of wish it would!!
   
   The illustrations in this book come alive with a powerful simplicity.
   
   The artwork is the kind that leads your eye into all its multi-faceted (yet simply rendered) details, and each time I look at it, I am rewarded with more details that I had missed before.
   
   I can almost hear the anticipatory almost-sacred hush on that village's cold, snowy, almost deserted streets on this very special, last day before Christmas.
   
   A VERY special book!!



2. What a wonderful way to "read" a book with a young child.....sharing the pictures and thoughts together is a great way to fire up their young minds, by putting their own thoughts into each picture. Love the story's moral as well.



3. This book is outstanding. A clearly defines the true meaning of Christmas and the holiday spirit.



4. Amazing...Stocked full of pictures that spell out a beautiful story. Little people can "read" on their own or discuss with a parent.
   My children love it...OK... I love looking at it too. You don't even realize that you aren't actually reading because the feelings portrayed are so strong.
   A great gift!



5. One of our family's all-time favorites. Sweet, simple, profound story of the essence of Christmas as shown in drawings of figures of the nativity story giving real love and service. Perfect gift for children and adults.

5 comments about Claude the Dog: A Christmas Story.

1. What a lovely way to teach children `tis better to give than receive.' With few words and no rhymes - except for the author/illustrator's name, of course, and delightful black/white/aqua pictures of Claude the Basset and his homeless friend Bummer, all ages can delight in the spirit of kindness and compassion at Christmastime. But am I the only one bummed because Bummer didn't get a home for Christmas?
   
   /TundraVision, Amazon reviewer.



2. The message is fantastic, especially for a Christmas book. Claude the Dog shares his gifts with a less fortunate dog. But the writing is a bit short and the pictures aren't as colourful as they could be. All in all I'm glad I bought it but I would probably choose a different book to give away as a gift.



3. Our copy of Claude was torn and so well worn.
   We were happy to have a new version! Even though my kids are 10 and 13, we still love this short story every year!



4. Loved the book. It's a very sweet story about a basset hound and his friend and sends a great message of sharing no matter what age you are.
   I received the book in perfect condition and it was sent promptly by the vendor.



5. I bought this book because it has a basset hound as the main character. I love bassets and this book is really cute (even if you are not a basset hound fan). The nice tale of one generous dog sharing his gifts with a less fortunate dog sends a good message about sharing. If you like dogs or need a book to help encourage sharing, this is the one for you! Cute pictures also!

5 comments about A Holiday Memory (Heartland Special Edition).

1. I am absolutely in love with the Heartland series, however, this particular book was a bit of a rude awakening. Not much time was spent in explaining the horses and Amy's time with them, and it was by far the most melodramatic and confusing story yet. I am sure this one is simply one glitch in the Heartland's numerous fascinating stories. I love the rest of 'em, just not quite this one!
   
   
   Keep readin', writin' and learnin' about horses! They teach us everything!
   
   P.S. Rescue Remedy (r) works on humans and dogs, too, not just horses! I use the Natural Remedy methods at my barn in Duvall, WA.
   
   Love,
   Anna



2. This one was really really good! It gives you an idea of what Amy's mom was really like. It is sad when Sundance gets the colic, but it is really sad knowing amy's mom didn't live that much longer after when the story is based. You can really see how much Amy has improved with the horses since her moms death. A must for Heartland and horse fans.



3. Hi! I wanted to tell the people that haven't read this book yet that I found it kind of disapointing and boring. I think the only part I really liked was at the end when she got something. I can't tell what it was, though! I also want to say that the whole book was kind of sad. I hated the part were Sundance got colic. My horse got colic, and he was almost about to die, but he just made it! Whenever I read this, that part makes me cry. I like the other books better. But Lauren Brooke, WRITE MORE!!!



4. Heartland is sssssssssoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo boring i just couldnt read ANY of it! Thats why i gave it one star thought i should of put none...but oh well



5. Very good and sad because Amy's moteher dies and Amy is left to carry on her mothers gift

5 comments about You Are My Miracle.

1. Wonderful book at the chirstmas season, to help parents take a moment and read with their children. It is such a sweet book.



2. !!!!!!Wonderful "lyrics" and beautiful message- reads like a song. This is a beautiful gift from any parent to a child who brightens your life. This would also be a lovely gift to a new parent.



3. What a sweet, sweet message this book has...describes in a unique way just how much a child is loved.



4. an outstanding children's book - nice price break on it - arrived on time and in perfect shape



5. My in-laws got this book for all of their grandkids one year at Christmas. My son is only two and a half, but I've read it to him the past two Christmas seasons and it always makes me cry. It is a beautifully written book, with words that speak to the heart. It's nearly impossible to express in words the love that parents have for their children, but this book does a great job at doing just that. I will definitely be buying "You are My I Love You" as well.

5 comments about The Christmas Tree.

1. Do you like adventure? If so, read Julie Salamon's The Christmas Tree.
   In this book Julie puts a man in charge of finding the perfect tree for Rockefeller Center. This book is an adventure book because the main character has to find the perfect tree before Christmas.
   The main character's name is Jesse. Jesse leaves Rockefeller Center a few days before Christmas to find the perfect Christmas tree that everyone at Rockefeller Center would enjoy. On the way to upstate New York. Jesse saw the perfect tree, but this tree wasn't an ordinary tree because it belonged to a nun named Sister Anthony, known as Anna.
   Jesse talked to Anna about the tree. This tree was the only friend that Anna had while growing up in the convent. Anna told Jesse a story about her and the tree. Jesse told Anna about why he needed the tree and Anna said that he could take the tree for Rockefeller Center.
   The Christmas tree is a symbol enjoyed by all the people at Rockefeller Center, by the crowd, Jesse, and Anna. Anna was glad to see that everyone was enjoying tree.
   If you like Christmas, or you just need some time to rest from working, or you just need to read something around a fire on a cold winter's night, this is the right book for you. This book is about sharing and caring at the same time. You should read this book because it is exciting and you can feel what is happening in this story.



2. I have this book and love it! I saw a movie on TV about 10 years ago about this book. I have not been able to find the movie on DVD or VHS. I would love to have a copy of the DVD if anyone knows where I can obtain one.



3. This book is fantastic!! I have had it for many years and never tire of it. It is a great feel good at Chritmas story!!



4. I saw the 2006 Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center and felt compelled to read this little book that packs a huge punch. As a New Yorker, I delighted in the setting. The author writes with such visual details, personifying nature, amd the scenes came vividly alive in my mind as I was reading along. And this lovely story provides a gentle reminder of the lessons life has to offer and of the little joys we miss seeing or listening to thoughout the pressures and fast pace of our daily lives.



5. This is a tidy story that is very deep. Taken at it's word it is a beautiful story. Yet, it whispers of much more. What I really loved about this book is how it affirmed my own love and appreciation of trees. That each tree is unique and that there are some that are very special.
   "He was only a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But I have made him my friend, and now he is unique in all the world."
   From: The Little Prince

5 comments about A Child's Christmas in Wales (New York Times Best Illustrated Books (Awards)).

1. If you have read A Child's Christmas in Wales, you know that it has to be a classic. But you can't fully appreciate it until you have heard Dylan Thomas read it. What a deep, expressive, poetic voice. For years, I have listened to the recording on a Caedman record. It is wonderful to have it on a CD.



2. I love this story, as do all my children, who, from their earliest years, have not much struggled with the density of the language nor the scatteredness of the story. 5 of my 8 great-grandparents are from Wales, and the remaining 3 have the blood in them as well, so maybe it is like drinking water for us.:-D Our minds are all scattered, and words, even English words ;-D, fall on us in clumps....which makes it doubly hard to keep a clean house. LOL
   
   The sort of prose-poetry imaginative way of seeing and describing the world unique to Welshwomen and Welshmen and Welshchildren, which does not seek to keep up the pretense that history can be separated from myth, story and desire, and which requires loving with eyes wide open to [and eventually embracing] one's own and others' bumps, bruises and idiosyncracies included, is extraordinarily well represented here. So, by the way, is speaking and listening to the close and Holy darkness!
   
   My favorite version isthe one illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman. To me she has captured the complexity of the Welsh personality best, though i have nothing to say against the other illustrators praised in these reviews. I DO have a warning for you: there are some skinny versions flying about which do not have the poem-story complete and correct. This sort of work cannot suffer removal or modification, IMHO.
   
   gbg



3. This reading of A Child's Christmas in Wales is tops! It wouldn't be Christmas for us without hearing Dylan Thomas tell his story. He recounts a holiday of simple, family and neighborhood doings, and paints a picture of snowy, seaside Wales of the 1920's.



4. My goodness, these illustrations are ugly. They completely detract from the beauty of the language. Either read it out loud to a blind person or stick with the version illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman.



5. A Child's Christmas In Wales CD: And Five Poems
   Hurrah! Now I won't have to wait for the radio to play Dylan Thomas reading his wonderful Child's Christmas every Christmas. Truly a beautiful recording of the other poems as well.

2 comments about The Visit.

1. Written by a relative of Clement Clarke Moore, the author shares the history of the famous Christmas story. Done all in rhyming poetry with explanations of phrases used throughout like "threw open the shutters". Beautiful illustrations as well. Makes you want to crawl into a warm bed and read it again. My 8th grade students enjoyed hearing it very much! Worth the purchase.



2. I came upon this book after the holidays were over and regret that I didn't find it before Christmas. This book was so enchanting that I went back to purchase more as gifts for next Christmas and was disappointed when they were sold out. This story is written in poem form as recalled by Dinghy Sharp, the great-great-grandaughter of Clement C. Moore, author of the famous poem, The Night Before Christmas, written on Christmas Eve of 1822. The story captures the history and origin of his poem that was passed down from generation to generation in their family. Many verses from the poem are explained in the story to help readers understand the poem's meaning. The story ends with a copy of The Night Before Christmas, handwritten by Clement C. Moore along with his signature, dated 1862. This story will become a new family tradition in my home for many years to come. It will be read on Christmas Eve, among other stories that are currently read as tradition in our home. I intend to pass this wonderful version of Moore's poem on to my children with the hope that it will be passed on from generation to generation as it was told in the Moore family.

3 comments about Old-Fashioned Santa Claus Cards: 24 Cards.

1. I was under the impression that these cards were regular Christmas cards and not postcards. Hence the 3 stars, otherwise I like them alot.



2. This is a very beautiful way to share Christmas with others. The old fashioned pictures in a high gloss finish are so bright and cheerful and very Christmasy. Everyone who received one of these cards really appreciated them.



3. Nice Clipart...some good old classic generic clipart.
   I scan it in...wish it was already scanned in.
   
   Great price...
   You should be happy.

5 comments about Dick and Jane: A Christmas Story (Dick and Jane).

1. As a pre-school teacher in my home for over 20 yrs., I am so happy to see the Dick and Jane books revived! They are the best tool for teaching upcoming young readers. I remember how much I looked forward to reading when I was first introduced to the family of Dick and Jane. If you didn't grow up with them, you don't know what you missed! The kids love the stories, and the pictures encourage them to use their imaginations. The pictures are beautifully done, too. Once they learn to read the simpler versions, your child will graduate to the harder and harder stories. One thing I would add: They make excellent birthday and Christmas gifts to any 4 or 5 year old!!!!



2. This is an absolutely wonderful book for now or the holidays. Would make a great gift for anyone who grew up with Dick and Jane and Spot....what a great memory from the past!



3. But did anyone else notice that the father was plucked completely out of the story? He appears on the very first page reading the newspaper, but that's it! He plays no role in the family's activities. hmmm. These aren't the Dick and Jane stories that I grew up with. In those stories the father was present and the family was complete. But that wasn't very PC was it?



4. 
   I purchased five Dick & Jane books for my six year old grand daughter. She was able to read them with ease. I know this will help her improve her current reading ability. They will also be a keepsake for years to come.
   RAB Sullivan County NY



5. I grew up on Dick and Jane. What better way to make my little ones love reading as much as I do!!! Dick and Jane is the way to go!!! All four of my children grew up on Dick and Jane as I did and they love to read.