1 comments about Christmas Moccasins.

1. Quite simply beautiful. A story for all ages that gives hope to human kind.

5 comments about A Christmas Memory.

1. I read "Children on their Birthdays" twenty years ago. I found so many peculiar characters in the story, but they were all innocent. Also I felt a small dusty town in the south. Peculiar, innocent, and dustythey still impress on me. Three stories of literary calendartwo Christmas stories and one Thanksgiving in this book also take on peculiarity and innocence. Old cousins, dogs, and bullies they are all innocent. And so was Capote. However, I never found "dusty", but "breezy" in these stories. Capote is one of Haruki Murakami's favorite authors, and he translated some Capote's stories into Japanese. He translated them so good that we sometimes notice his original stories and his translation indistinguishable from one another.



2. There is a sadness that colors all of Capote's writing. And there's also a sweetness and innocence. Capote set high standards for himself and it shows in his virtually flawless writing. "A Christmas Memory" is a classic holiday story written in the distinctive Capote style. And like all of his writing it is sweet and sad and superb!
   
   Also recommended: Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices--an excellent Capote-like tale of enduring and prevailing.



3. Beautifully bound and covered. Wonderfully written; an understatement. Got it as a present for my son's English teacher. Perfect.



4. We shared this book at our Christmas book club and were touched by Capote's writing.



5. This was my first taste of Truman Capote away from Breakfast at Tiffany's, and I have to admit that I was blown away by these stories. Rarely does a story pull at my heart strings anymore, but these stories practically left me in tears. Incredibly moving.

1 comments about The Case of the Christmas Snowman (Jigsaw Jones Mystery #2).

1. Jigsaw Jones is a modern detective. He talks like children talk today, he is "cool", and children can identify with him. It would be unfair to say that "The case of the Christmas Snowman" is his best case ever because all of Jigsaw's cases are good. My children love him and collect all his books, this one is no exception.

5 comments about Christmas in the Big Woods (Little House).

1. I really love the "official" Little House books. My four year-old likes me to read them a little at a time, but the illustrations are black and white, and she likes seeing the color illustrations. These books are a very good way to introduce little ones to Laura's world, get them interested, and THEN start reading the original Little House books. The people who are fussing over the books need to chill a little - these are meant to be an intro to Laura;s world, not the end-all and be-all. Y'all know that Laura Wilder would be laughing uproariously at all this fussing, btw.



2. The whole entire "My First Little House Books" series is a wonderful way to introduce little ones to the Little House series! The pictures are absolute feasts for little and big eyes alike!
   This story in particular is a great illustration of how Christmases used to be. It tells and illustrates the simple joys the children would experience at Christmas time - like candy canes, mittens, and for Laura - her own precious rag doll, Charlotte!
   Definately a book you will want to add to your little ones collection!



3. My favorite character is Laura. These are all great books. I have read almost all of them. I just need one more. I really REALLY like the books.
   --Elora



4. I have to laugh at those reviewers who seem so offended by these books! Have you actually read the originals?! These books simply take small exerpts from the originals and simplify them for a younger audience. I too absolutely loved the original books and still do. But I'm not going to be able to read them to my 3 year old without her losing interest. Therefore, I share these shorter versions with her and she loves them. When she's older (the originals are recommended for 8-12 year olds) I'll give her the originals. In the meantime these are fabulous and I very much doubt Laura Ingalls Wilder would take offense to them. Seriously, calm down!!



5. This is a great book for reminding children of simpler times. Laura and her family celebrate Christmas with the bare minimum available to them, but with such joy, it can make even children wish for that kind of life.

5 comments about Fisher Price Christmastime is Here! Lift the Flap (Fisher-Price Little People).

1. My daughter LOVES the Little People lift the flap board books. She can sit with each of them for a half hour at a time. They are well-illustrated and they have a lot of little details that she never fails to notice. When I saw this Christmas edition, I knew we had to have it. She loved the pictures of the children playing in the snow (and I especially liked Freddie the Frog and his Snow Frog) and she thought the gingerbread man rug in Santa's house was hilarious! The last page is an advent calendar of sorts---she has to wait 'til tomorrow before she starts to "open" the presents around the tree.
   
   This is a must-have for any fan of the Little People or lift the flap books---it's adorable, fun, and well worth the price!



2. I highly recommend this book for babies who are just beginning to hold and play with books on their own. My daughter was 7 months old when I bought her this book and she absolutely loves to pull up all the tabs. This book is one of her favorites and she'll specifically seek it out and sit and turn the pages and play with all the tabs. Unlike a lot of other books with flaps or moving parts, these can't be easily torn off and have been sturdy enough to hold up repeated lifting and occasional chewing and drooling. The pictures are well-drawn and the quality of the book is good.
   
   Just FYI, this book avoids the religious aspects of Christmas and focuses on things like decorating, Santa, and activities such as sledding and caroling. That may be a plus for some people and a minus for others!



3. I bought this book for my daughter who is almost 3. She has all of the other Fisher Price flap books and adores them all, so when I spotted this one I knew we had to get it. She loves this one also. I recommend all of the "Little People" flap books for boys and girls alike.



4. I bought this for my two year old granddaughter after she enjoyed other books with flaps to peek beneath. She loved this one too and wanted to read it at least 2 or 3 times a visit. Not much of a plot but she loved looking at and talking about the pictures.



5. I just love Fisher Price. They have so many fun things to pick from. One of my favorite things is the 'lift the flap' books. My grandchildren and I have so much fun reading them. We put the Christmas Time book with all of my other special Christmas books and I think it was used more than any of the others. We have put them away now and will get it back out next Christmas and once again it will be a favorite to be shared by all.

5 comments about Merry Christmas, Strega Nona (Voyager Books).

1. I love this book. My family always reads this book when christmas is coming up. This book is about Strega Nona getting ready for christmas. She has everything ready, but then something happens. To find out read this book. If you like this book also read another christmas book called The Poinsetta by Tomie De Paola.



2. "Merry Christmas, Strega Nona" is an amazing book! Written and illustrated by Tomie de Paola, it's exciting and will keep you curious as to what happens next! Strega Nona is throwing a feast for all the people in her town, but will she have all the things she needs and have them ready by Christmas Eve? Read this book to find out!



3. Strega Nona (Grandma Witch) is getting her house ready for the Christmas Eve feast, she gives every year to the people of Calabria. In fact she not the only busy that she needs help, Bamblolona helps her father the baker out at his bakery, because the people of Calabria has been asking for special cakes and cookies. That the baker can't find time to sit in the square with his friends. And Strega Nona doesn't have time to cure headaches, make love potions and get rid of warts. Every day she sends out her dishonest helper Big Anthony to get something for her. And every day he has to change the water to be nice and soft and not too salty for the Christmas stew. And Big Anthony keeps asking Strega Nona to use her magic to do it. And she keeps answering him, "No Magic at Christmas Time". Read the book to see if Strega Nona gets the food ready in time for the feast.



4. This is another wonderful book by Tomie de Paola - simple but powerful message, beautiful illustrations, great story. As usual, wise Strega Nona teaches Big Anthony (and us) an important lesson.

   For Italian-American families (and anyone interested in other cultures), there is the added bonus of having a number of Italian words and Christmas traditions included in the story - from baccala to zampognari. It is great to be able to share these things with our children. And hey, if Strega Nona likes it, can baccala (dried codfish) be all that bad?

   I highly recommend other Tomie de Paola Christmas books: The Legend of Old Befana, Jingle the Christmas Clown, and The Clown of God.




5. This is a great Christmas story from Tomie dePaola, author of the Strega Nona series. If you have not read Strega Nona yet, I would recommend that you start with that book, so that you are familiar with the characters and all the personality traits that they possess--especially Big Anthony. But, even of you have not read the original book, you will still enjoy the heartwarming Christmas story that focuses more on the meaning of Christmas than your typical Christmas stories that focus on gifts, Santa, and reindeer.
   
   Strega Nona always hosts the entire town at her home for a Christmas celebration, and refuses to use her "magic" to get her work done during the holiday season, because she just does not think it is the right thing to do. As the season progresses throughout the Advent, Big Anthony is supposed to be going to town to buy things to help prepare for another Christmas celebration. But, along the way he gets "sidetracked" and Strega Nona fears that Christmas will be ruined because he has failed to get the items she needs to prepare for her dinner. I don't want to give away the rest of the story, but rest assured, that the true meaning of giving is told, and children will learn a gentle lesson about the true meaning of the spirit of Christmas.
   
   I got this book from my local library whiloe searching through the Tomie dePaola section, but plan to buy my own copy so that we have it to ready every year during the Christmas eason. You and your children will thoroughly enjoy this book.

5 comments about Christmas After All: The Great Depression Diary of Minnie Swift, Indianapolis, Indiana 1932 (Dear America Series).

1. I did not care for this book. At first I thought it looked good because I used to find the depression interesting and I couldn't wait to tell my grandmother about I was reading about the depression. I didn't like it that much. It was very boring and Minnie writes so many entries in one day, she can't even write a full month's worth of diary entries. We all know about how hard it is during the depression and WHO CARES that she saw a bird at 11 PM or 12 AM!



2. The depression diary of Minnie Swift is about a girl trying to live during the Great Depression of 1930.It is cold, snowy, and miserable November right after Thanksgiving.Minnie and her family is trying to live through the troubles of the Great Depression. The biggest trouble is that her father lost his job and there is no more money coming into the family fortune.I really liked this book because it gives you an idea of what people faced during the Great Depression.The book reminds you of how fortunite that you have all that you need in life and that you don't have to worry about anything.



3. The "Dear America" books are something I can take or leave. MY SECRET WAR was pretty good, as was WHEN CHRISTMAS COMES AGAIN (not really a Christmas book, but about the "Hello girls" in World War I), and the story of the Italian girl crossing the great plains. The Titanic book was average and the Pearl Harbor book was pretty bad. I've heard some pretty scathing criticisms about the two books involving Native American characters.
   
   But in CHRISTMAS AFTER ALL, Kathryn Lasky has created a masterpiece within the diary format of the books.
   
   It is the story of Minnie Swift, youngest of four sisters, her precocious genius younger brother Ozzie, and her parents during the days of the Great Depression. Dad's job is going badly and the family is reduced to shutting down rooms in their home to cut down on coal bills. They rarely have meat for supper, but eat a succession of aspics and "O'Grotons," as Minnie calls them. Then, as December begins, Willie Faye Darling comes into their lives. Willie Faye is the only daughter of cousins of Minnie's mother. Her parents, from a small town called Heart's Bend, Texas, have died after losing a battle with life in the Dust Bowl. Willie Faye is Minnie's age (11), but looks two years younger due to malnutrition and hardships. She arrives at the Swift home covered in dust and with a kitten named Tumbleweed whose nose she had to suction out morning, noon and night to keep him from smothering. Willie Faye has never seen an indoor bathroom, gone to a movie, read a Buck Rogers comic, or listened to the radio, so Minnie thinks that Willie Faye will have a lot to learn from them.
   
   She never dreams what she--and the entire family--will learn from the fragile-looking but tough little girl from the Dust Bowl when the ravages of the Depression begin leaching away the family's security.
   
   I have many of Lasky's other books and love them as well including PRANK, which takes place in East Boston, and her adult mysteries starring Calista Jacobs. But this story has a special magic to it, perhaps because it is based on Lasky's mother's experiences as well as her own and the characters ring true. Highly recommended.



4. Imagine you have to live with an orphanage girl that doesn't know what an adjective is. This is what Kathryn Lasky in the book Christmas After All talks about. It's a masterpiece of love ness. The love ness of the main character, Minnie is that she helps an orphanage girl that goes to live with them.
   Minnie Swift is a young girl who is in 4th grade she is 11 years old. Minnie Swift lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.
   One day an orphanage girl name Willie Faye got to their house she didn't know anything, so Minnie's parents put her in school and Minnie couldn't believe that they put Willie Faye in fourth grade, Minnie was so embarrassed. Minnie's fingers were tired from poking cloves into oranges.
   Do people always help orphanages? Can we break our friendship with a person?
   Minnie faces these issues in the book Christmas After All. Is four dollars a lot of money for you, well I don't think so, but in the book Christmas After All they think it's a lot of money. Would you use a fancy dress like a curtain? Well Minnie's sister wanted to do that, she wanted to put it in their room because they didn't have a lot of money to buy a curtain. Minnie didn't like that idea, and she didn't say anything because if she says that she doesn't like that idea lady her sister will get mad at her.
   Jackie is Minnie's maid house. Jackie is kind of the color cinnamon, and Minnie wishes she could be that color of skin. In school Minnie was bored in Geography.
   When they got back from school Willie Faye went to her room and start getting stuff so she could make earrings for lady that goes with her dress.
   Christmas After All is a book of how people of the past help orphanage people. This book shows honesty for a lot of people. Christmas After All is for these who love a heart felt story and for those who have read this book before. For those people who help people will be a really, really good book.
   I felt a good affection for this book, and you will too. " We have had Christmas after all."- Christmas After All.



5. Another wonderful addition to the Dear America Series this one is about the Great Depression told through Minnie Swift diary about how the depression is effecting her family and those around her. The changes they have to make. Like only living out of the few rooms in their house their family can keep heated. As they prepare for what Minnie expects to be a joyless Thanksgiving and Christmas her cousin Willie Faye arrives from Texas and the Dust Bowl having an even harder life then Minnie. This book goes to show how far love in a family can go.

4 comments about Froggy's Best Christmas.

1. Poor Froggy, he sleeps all winter and has never been able to celebrate Christmas. But this year, his friend Max the beaver has other plans. He wakes Froggy up from his long winter nap to not only wish him a Merry Christmas, but to give him his first Christmas present ever...a Christmas tree. Froggy and Max hurry to wake up Matthew, the turtle and Travis, the bear from their winter hibernations (because Christmas is about friends) and all four head out to find the perfect tree. They carry it back to Froggy's house, decorate it, make home-made presents for Froggy's family (because Christmas is about family too) and then it's time for Froggy to put the star on top of the tree. Over goes the tree as Max shouts "timber"! This wakes Froggy's mom and dad and they have a wonderful celebration, doing everything...opening presents, roasting chestnuts, singing, eating and even having a snowball fight. And as the day ends, Froggy wishes "Merry Christmas to All" Jonathan London has written a funny, happy, gentle story about the real meaning of Christmas...spending time with friends and family. His easy to read text, full of cheerful animal dialogue and wonderful sound effects is complimented by Frank Remkiewicz's colorful, busy, detailed illustrations. Together they've created a wonderful holiday story that's just perfect for pre-schoolers and that's sure to become an instant favorite in your house.



2. Another great Jonathon London book! My daughter has all of his books and just absolutely loves reading these fantastic books over and over again! And the illustrations by Frank Remkiewicz are just marvelous!

   All I can say is if you want a good book for your child that is enjoyable and pleasant and has a wonderful character then you need to invest in the Froggy series of books!




3. My class loves the Froggy Series. I know they'll love this book too. Great condition. Prompt service.



4. I personally like this series because Froggy has two good friends, Max and Travis. Both are my son's names. It's nice to see their names in books. The story lines are genuine and teach good lessons too.
   
   They also use fun sounds "Zap, Zup, Zoom" etc.

2 comments about Mr. Christmas (Mr. Men and Little Miss).

1. This book is really good and brings the christmas to our home. It is highly recommended to have.



2. Roger Hargreaves, the original author of the Mr Men books, died in 1988, and now his son continues to write Mr Men books under his father's name. "Mr Christmas" does not live up to the standard set by the "real" Mr Men books originally written by Roger Hargreaves.
   
   In this story, Mr Christmas, Father Christmas's nephew who lives at the South Pole, has to deliver Christmas presents to many of the Mr Men because Father Christmas is too busy. Unfortunately, the story is too complicated, convoluted, and wordy for young kids to follow or enjoy as easily as the earlier Mr Men books.
   
   It's still an enjoyable book for kids who love the other Mr Men books, and it's nice to see some of the other Mr Men in this story, but this book is nothing special.

4 comments about Christmas Wish (Little Einsteins).

1. With a sheet of 23 stickers stapled into its spine, this ought to be a sure-fire hit for any "Little Einsteins" fan. Unfortunately, the story is weak. It doesn't teach much of anything, and its plot doesn't make much sense.
   
   It's Christmas Eve, and when Santa arrives with gifts, he leaves one for each of the kids except Annie. Hers must have fallen off his sleigh! So off they go -- finding the gift on top of Mount Everest, where it's guarded by a mountain goat. Annie's present? An empty box. But she's happy, because she's with her friends.
   
   Say it with me: "Huh?"
   
   Better choices are, for Little Einsteins books, Leo's Baton, or for a Christmas book, The Night Before Christmas Pop-up.



2. Another reviewer wrote "huh?" about the book's ending, but it makes perfect sense: The reason Annie's wish box was empty was because HER WISH ALREADY CAME TRUE! Her wish was to spend Christmas with her best friends--it's that simple (even my preschooler got it!).



3. This is a very cute book with a good lesson about what's important -- friendship! It's a little more advanced than I expected -- a bit over the 2- and 3-year-old mindset, but still a great book.



4. We just received this book yesterday, and have already read it twice! My one year old son especially loves drumming the beat to move the toy soldiers. I like the fact that each child is unselfish, and uses their wish to help Annie.
   
   I think this is a wonderful little Christmas story, that has the potential to teach your child to be unselfish with their Christmas Wishes.