Family Christmas Favourites

With the beginning of Advent only days away I thought I’d treat you to a peek on our shelves.  Despite having shared some Christmas book reviews previously, I have only shared our town library, Tomie de Paola and St Nicholas books.
*More to come.

Jacob’s Gift – Max Lucado
Jacob a young carpenter’s apprentice is keen to build the best project to win the contest.  HIs teacher, Rabbi Simeon also impresses upon Jacob that when you give a gift to others you give a gift to God, he challenges Jacob as to why God has given him the gift of woodworking skills?  Jacob plans hard and begins his project, working long into the night, he falls asleep and is woken by a gleaming light, there he faces a dilemma tomorrow the selection takes place but this night a newborn has no place to sleep.
Absolute favourite, gorgeous pictures. 5 Star

The Crippled Lamb – Max Lucado
Josh, the lamb, has black spots and a limp, he feels sad and left out as he can’t run and jump with the other lambs. He is left behind with Abigail the cow, when the other lambs are taken to the next valley.  However Josh has a very special role to play in the stable with a newborn.
Another sweet favourite, warm pictures. 4.5 Star

The Candle in the Window – Grace Johnson
A lonely, unhappy cobbler encounters preparations for the Christ Child’s visit.  Based on a legend that the Christ Child is invited into homes where a candle glows in the window, the cobbler gives his gifts to the needy.  A young girl helps him to see these were gifts given for Christ.
To be honest, I want to love this book as the pictures are beautiful, but.. it is long and boring. 3 Star

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey – Susan Wojciechowski
Jonathon Toomey is a marvellous woodcarver but he never smiles, unbeknown to his neighbours he has lost his wife and child. Just prior to Christmas his life is transformed when a young widow and her son  approach him and ask if he could carve a nativity set for them.
Warm, inviting illustrations. A Christmas classic, the text is lengthy  comes with a CD.  5 Star

Gemma’s Christmas Eve – Colin Thiele(OOP)
Written by prolific Australian author Colin Thiele, this book claims place on our shelves due to its ‘Australian focus’.  Christmas Eve and Emma helps her mother bake and cook in preparation, feeding the insects and birds as a Christmas present with the leftovers.  Having a book set on a farm in the Southern Hemisphere is most appreciated, a welcome relief from snow backgrounds which are not our experience.  However it tends to miss the Christmas message mostly.  3 Star

Angela and the Baby Jesus – Franck McCourt
Highly captivating, a true story about the author’s mother.
Six year old Angela feels sorry for the Baby Jesus in the Church, he looks cold, she decided to take him home to warm in her bed.  We followed her in tenterhooks, gasping for the safety of the Child Jesus in the hands of a six year old, one particular scene in her neighbour’s yard is highly amusing!!
Very Irish, captivating to all ages, illustrations appealing. 4 Star

A Happy Christmas for Mr Mole – Peggy Burton
Mr Mole and his family move to a new home and interact with all the villagers in this tale leading up to Christmas.  The story culminates with the village gathering together to celebrate Christmas.
Meant to be cutesy but not appealing to me as I’m not keen on series of English animal(with people character) books. 2 Star