1 comments about Christmas Cookies!: A Holiday Cookbook.

1. These recipes are FANTASTIC! I made a batch together with my kids and we had a great time, the instructions are easy and we loved the Christmas stories that go along with them. Now they want to bake a batch every weekend!

2 comments about Henry And Mudge In The Sparkle Days.

1. Henry and Mudge in the Sparkle Days

   Henry and Mudge enjoy the winter season in this delightful collection of three short stories. The words are easy and the type is large enough for the beginning reader to feel comfortable. This book is filled with humorous illustrations that extend the text. In one illustration Henry is sliding a reluctant Mudge across an icy pond. In another picture Mudge messes up Henry's snow angel. This is a good book for the younger set.




2. My kids love the Henry and Mudge Books. Each Story is Wonderful and worth reading over and over again.

2 comments about Texas Night Before Christmas (Night Before Christmas Series).

1. This book has beautiful illustrations that really bring the story to life. The classic tale of the night before Christmas told with a Texas twang, it will delight adults, too. James Rice replaces Santa's reindeer with a team of Longhorns, and the winter snow with the Texas dust. It's even more fun if you can find a Texan to read it out loud!



2. I was hoping for a story line with a little more zip, something more like the Irish Night Before Christmas or the Cajun Night Before Christmas. The illustrations are wonderful, the story is nothing special. Same old Night Before Christmas with a mild twist.

3 comments about Shrek the Halls Lift the Flap Book (Shrek).

1. My son loves the Shrek movies and enjoys the pictures and lift-the-flaps in this book. He likes to take it out of his bookcase often and look at it. But to me, the story isn't well written, is not an easy read for bedtime, no flow to the words. Perhaps it is written for the early reader.



2. I gave this to my grand-daughter for Christmas. She loved the TV show, and she loved the book.



3. I got this book for my 2 1/2 year old who loved the tv show and I accidentally deleted it off of our DVR!! This book follows pretty well with the show and the pop-ups are great. I recommend this book to anyone whose kids enjoyed the tv show and need something until next winter when it runs again.

4 comments about The Bears' Christmas.

1. My two and a half year old son loves this book. It is all about the Berenstains bear dad giving and teaching his son to use skis, skates and a sled. Its a great father/son book. Its hilarious because the dad is so smug about teaching these things but everytime he tries to teach, he has a calamity. Basically its the Tim Taylor of Berenstain Bears books. Its also a great book for getting your child interested in winter outdoor activities.



2. When brother bear gets a pair of skies, skates and a sled for Christmas Papa bear is sure that he will be bale to show his son how to use them. This book is full of laughs!



3. I loved this book because it reminds me of my dad and me, when we used to go through out the Manhattan Trails in Grand Rapids. I loved it and my dad taught me how to ski, and snowboard there just like papa bear did to his son. I just loved it the way that they spent time together. And I cant wait to go to see my dad in the winter and we can go do the same things that we do in the winter.



4. "The Bear's Christmas" by Stan and Jan Berenstain is a fun book both you and your child will enjoy. This is one of the Berenstain books that rhymes -- I like those best.
   
   Brother bear gets a sled, skis, and ice skates for Christmas. Papa bear takes Brother bear out to show him how to use his new equipment. Papa bear tries to show Brother bear how he used to sled, skate, and ski when he was a cub. Things don't go as Papa bear plans ...
   
   My daughter and I really enjoy reading this story.

No comments about The Night Before Christmas: A Classic Illustrated Edition (Classic Illustrated).

5 comments about The Very First Christmas.

1. I was a student of Dr. Maier's, and I found this book easy to understand and read. It's informative while keeping a level of humor and wit to it.



2. This book is about the birth of Jesus Christ and more. The book breaks apart each section of the story from the gospel of Luke. It's actually a story within a story of a mom teaching her son about the real meaning of Christmas. Your kids will learn about the naming of the months of July and August and the greek word for Carpenter, etc. It's a great book but for older kids. The illustrations are so life like. Well worth the money and it will be a book that can be read for years.



3. WARNING: Look carefully at the title listed above before ordering. Amazon is listing the same reviews for both Maier's "The First Christmas" and his children's book "The Very First Christmas." "The First Christmas" is NOT the children's book "The Very First Christmas" as suggested in most of the reviews and Amazon's own description. It is actually a book for adults. It is an interesting archaeological study of the story of Christmas, but it is NOT a children's book.



4. The author puts story of Christ's birth into realistic words to help a parent explain the historical questions surrounding Jesus' birth.



5. The Very First Christmas is a Gold Medallion Book Award winner. This award recognizes "excellence in evangelical Christian literature." In other words, it guarantees a great book! Written by Paul L. Maier, Ph.D. (professor of ancient history at Western Michigan University), this picture book is more than your typical account of Mary and Joseph. It is geared toward kids who really want to know the story, down to the details.
   
   Chris, a boy of about eight years old, is filled with questions and wants to know the truth. He tells his mother: "I want you to tell me stories about real people and real things that really happened." She starts with the story of the very first Christmas. Chris thinks he already knows it, but when they pull out the Bible and begin to read, he realizes the story he knows is just the beginning. As they read the actual accounts, their dialog reveals an accurate portrayal of what really happened. Who was Caesar Augustus? Why was Mary pregnant if she and Joseph weren't married yet? Who was the father of Mary's baby? How old was Mary? Was Joseph really a carpenter? What year was Jesus born? Were the wise men at the stable? These are just some of the questions Chris asks. His mother lovingly offers answers when she can and estimated guesses when the Bible doesn't give specific answers.
   
   Francisco Ordaz illustrated this book with life-like paintings filled with detail and color. His illustrating credits include contributions to films such as E.T. and Return of the Jedi.
   
   What I Like: The accuracy! This book is filled with facts. It's wonderful! The illustrations are great, too. They're colorful and filled with detail. I also like the tone of the book. Chris's mother makes it comfortable to ask questions. She encourages it which helps kids want to ask more questions and get to the truth of this and other stories.
   
   What I Dislike: Nothing.
   
   Overall Rating: Excellent!
   
   Tanya -- Christian Children's Book Review

5 comments about Hilary Knight's Twelve Days of Christmas.

1. This is a definte must for the Holiday Season. Wonderful details of a courtship between two bears using the song the Twelve Days of Christmas. Each page is a treasure trove!



2. I've loved Hilary Knight's work since I was a child feasting on his *Hilary Knight's ABC.* In his *Twelve Days of Christmas," Knight provides an original and meaningful interpretation of the traditional carol. I especially love the way Bedelia returns the "true love" of her beloved gift-bringer by making a fair for him to enjoy--love is reciprocal in this book! The second thing I love about this book is the subplot, in which the raccoon struggles to open the mysterious can, only to find a true love of his own. Finally, the concept of each day as a "pick-up," in which Benjamin brings a partridge and a pear tree (and ensuing gifts) on *each* day, adds a new dimension to the story. Well-planned, beautifully executed, and the finest children's picture book version of "The 12 Days of Christmas" that I've seen.



3. It's Christmastime, and Benjamin Bear looks out his window, and down the path to his beloved, Bedelia Bear's little cottage, and you can almost see the gift ideas popping into his furry head. So, on the first day of Christmas, he arrives with a partridge in a pear tree, and the fun begins..... Hilary Knight, author of Where's Wallace and The Owl And The Pussy-Cat, and illustrator of Kay Thompson's Eloise books, takes this old familiar holiday song, and turns it into a joyous and engaging picture book. His marvelous artwork, full of bold, bright color, and expressive detail, grows busier, and more intricate with each page turn, until it almost spills off the paper. Young and old alike will be mesmerized as they pore over the pictures, finding something new and fun each time they open the book. With a delightful and creative surprise at the end to get everyone in the holiday spirit, Hilary Knight's The Twelve Days Of Christmas is a wonderful read-aloud book the whole family can share together, and is sure to become a "must have" classic to help usher in the Christmas season, year after year.



4. Hilary Knight's Twelve Days Of Christmas tells of a bear who struggles with an overabundance of holiday gifts from her sweetheart. Whimsical animals parade in each scene as poor Bedelia struggles with a house increasingly filled with odd gifts. The illustrations are especially whimsical.



5. I have four children, ages 8 through 3, and this is their hands-down favorite Christmas book. Well, possibly, all-time book. Each page has tons of details for the kids to notice and find -- even as an adult, I seem to find new things in it each time we read it. And thanks to this book, they are learning all the words to the song.

3 comments about Mistletoe.

1. WORKING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND (Aimee Friedman) - Maxine "Max" Silver, is your typical New York City gal, who loves shopping during the holiday season, trying on dresses that she'll never be able to afford, and scarfing down hot chocolate and cookies in Rockefeller Center. The strange part is that she doesn't celebrate Christmas, and feels that there is a serious lack of Hanukkah songs available to all of those dreidel-spinning masses. However, her thoughts regarding holiday music instantly go out the window when this college freshman runs into her high school crush, the scrumptious Heath Barton, whose father happens to own Barton's Department Store. Before Max knows what's happening, she's working in the Christmas Corner at Barton's, dressed as a holiday elf, singing Christmas Carols with a Nutcracker Prince, Sugar Plum Fairy, and Santa Claus, while making goo-goo eyes at Heath. But on Christmas Eve, this New York City fashionista finds true love with someone she least expected. 5/5 stars.
   
   HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE BREAKUP (Hailey Abbott) - Aria, Emily, Marcus, and Jason have been best friends for years. Double dating at the dingy diner known as Matthew's, and sharing heaping plates of greasy chili-cheese fries for as long as they can remember. But when Emily leaves for college, waving goodbye to Aria, Marcus, and Jason, who are all seniors, the foursome splits up. That is, until Christmas rolls around, and Aria believes that everything will go back to normal. But Emily returns home with a new personality. Gone is the funny Emily who left, and in her place is a more mature, composed Emily, who has no time for football games, and high school drama. She also has no time for her boyfriend, Marcus, who seems to be getting a little too cozy with Aria lately, leaving the two wondering, on New Year's Eve, who, exactly, they'll be kissing when the clock strikes twelve. 5/5 stars.
   
   SCENES FROM A CINEMATIC NEW YEAR'S (Nina Malkin) - Connor Moline doesn't have stars in his eyes, but just about every girl who looks in his direction does. For he plays Danny Stiles on TV's "Pinot's Point," and he's hanging out in the middle of a Hollywood mall, as faux snow falls from the ceilings. But all he can think about is the great time he'll be having when he and his buddies get to Lake Tahoe, where they'll be ringing in the New Year with some really gorgeous girls in a couple of hot tubs. 4/5 stars.
   
   THE CHRISTMAS CHOOS (Melissa de la Cruz) - Kelsey Cooper is considered one of the beautiful people at Parker High School, but it's not because she has fancy clothes, or an expensive car. And it's certainly not because she lives in the rich part of town - because she doesn't. No, the only reason why she's accepted into Gigi McClusky's uber-trendy group is because Kelsey is the prettiest girl in school, and no group of Beautiful People can be complete without the prettiest girl in school. But when Kelsey begins searching for the perfect gift for her longtime boyfriend, and best friend, Brenden Molloy, she realizes that the forty-five dollars burning a hole in her pocket is certainly not enough to purchase something that will show him how much he truly means to her. Brenden feels the same way. So the happy couple do something drastic to afford gifts for one another. Gifts that will bring a smile to the others face, while forcing them to make the ultimate sacrifice. 5/5 stars.
   
   I have been waiting for the release of MISTLETOE for months, and was ecstatic when it finally arrived earlier this week. Each story brought a sense of holiday warmth into my heart, even though it's only October, and there are still Halloween decorations dotting people's front doors. Hailey Abbott's HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE BREAKUP presented amazing character development, and fabulous dialogue that truly made you interested in what would happen next in the story; while Melissa de la Cruz's THE CHRISTMAS CHOO's managed to mix a bit of MTV's MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEEN and THE GIFT OF THE MAGI together to create a beautiful, heartwarming holiday story that contained two lovable characters, whose chemistry between one another was impeccable. Nina Malkin's SCENES FROM A CINEMATIC NEW YEAR'S confused me a bit, as the various scenes seemed to zap the characters from location to location without a moment's notice, and the content seemed a little less holiday-ish than some of the other tales, but it was still enjoyable. However, it was Aimee Friedman's WORKING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND that I enjoyed the absolute most. Max was your typical New Yorker with a sarcastic personality, hip lingo, and a flair for the dramatics. The fact that she had the job of working as a department store elf - something I've wanted to do for years - was hilarious, and the romantic interludes shared between her and her surprising love interest were absolutely adorable, sending warmth through the reader's entire body. Flannel pajamas and hot cocoa are a necessity while reading these toe-tingling tales of holiday romance.
   
   Erika Sorocco
   Freelance Reviewer



2. Mistletoe means kissing, and four favorite authors each create a story about love and relationships during the holiday season in this anthology.
   
   New Year's Eve equals a time for new beginnings, and Maxine can't wait for her high school BFF's famous Christmas party. However, being at home during her college break and pining away for the perfect but pricey party dress in the window leaves her feeling a little depressed. Her old crush just might have all the answers she's looking for, including a job, so all her New Year's Eve dreams just might come true. There is, of course, just one little catch--she's working as an elf in a Winter Wonderland, but she's Jewish. (WORKING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND by Aimee Friedman)
   
   A broken up foursome reunites in Hailey Abbott's tale, HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE BREAKUP, with Emily's return home from college. But things aren't really what they seem to be. Her boyfriend, with the help of her best friend, buys her a last minute gift; she doesn't know what to talk to her best friend about; and no one seems to remember that she has a whole new life...or do they?
   
   One Hollywood superstar's New Year's turns out very different than the one he's expecting. Instead of skiing, a JLo cancellation changes his departure plans. Instead of flying, he drives towards his destination, breaking down about halfway there in a ghost town. From that point on, something shifts. He falls hard for a girl and takes a deep look at himself and sees that the world may be more than just his plaything. (SCENES FROM A CINEMATIC NEW YEAR'S by Nina Malkin)
   
   Finally, Melissa de la Cruz spins a modern twist on an old Christmas tale from the heart in THE CHRISTMAS CHOOS. Kelsey's determination to find her boyfriend a perfect gift for the holidays leads her down a path she'd never thought she'd take. On top of present stress, she's invited to her friend's Sweet Sixteen party in the gated community in town. Will she wear the same boring dress she's worn three times in a year again and have the snobs humiliate her, or will she finally wear her inheritance?
   
   Four unique tales from favorite authors will help readers feel the iciness of winter, yet also leave them full of warmth. Hailey Abbott, Aimee Friedman, Nina Malkin, and Melissa de la Cruz bring festival treats filled with relationships and their concerns during the holiday season.
   
   Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel



3. I could not put this book down. It was so good it added just the right touch to my holiday.

5 comments about Mary's Treasure Box.

1. This is a wonderful story of Jesus that can be read to children. It describes, in terms that are familiar to them, the story of Christ's birth and his life. The relationship between Mary and her granddaughter Sarah is one that most mothers and grandmothers can appreciate. Most mothers have a tresure box--even if it is only a picture album. Everyone has past memories that are cherished. Certain to become a classic.



2. Carolyn Kramlich creates a wonderful tapestry which brings the story of Christ's birth alive to anyone. The concept is applicable to today in that we all need to pass on those things that are dear to our hearts, mainly our faith. My church had a short drama wherein a mother read this story to her child on Christmas Eve. It brought tears to everyone's eyes because this same love that Mary felt for her Son is the same emotion that Christians feel for their Savior. After having personally met the author myself, I must say that her faith and love show through in her writing. I highly recommend this book! (It's a great Christmas present for anyone with children!)



3. There is one huge problem with the premise of this book and that is that MARY DOES NOT HAVE GRANDCHILDREN. She is ever-virgin and has only birthed Jesus, God's son. Jesus never married or had children, so how could Mary have a grandchild? When I see books like this that get past publishers (Christian ones, to boot!), I have to wonder where this world headed.



4. If you are Catholic and believe in Mary's perpetual virginity you will not want to expose your children to this book. The premise is lovely if Mary was maybe showing these treasures to another cousin or relative, but her GRANDDAUGHTER? IMPOSSIBLE! This is heresy.



5. I thoroughly enjoyed this book as did the elementary age sunday school class. We plan to use this idea in our Candlelight service this year.