The Secret of St. Nicholas

There are many legends about the man who inspired the modern day Santa Claus - but almost all we know for certain was St. Nicholas was a man who loved God. In The Secret of St. Nicholas, Ellen Nibali explores one of the legends about St. Nick - one most historians think is true.

The author focuses on what Nicholas may have been like as boy, during a time when "most people had never even heard of Christmas." Nicholas' parents, who are wealthy, love telling their son the Christmas story. Whenever Nicholas hears the part where baby Jesus is placed in the feed trough, he exclaims, "God suprrised everyone!" Nick decides God likes surprises - especially since he tells us to "do good deeds in secret."

One day, after Nicholas' parents die, he learns a nobleman who lives abundantly at the cost of everything else, including his crumbling house and his three daughters, is about to sell his eldest daughter as a slave because he cannot afford to keep her, nor can he afford to pay a dowry for her to marry. Moved by the girl's tears, he runs home to grab a bag of gold coins to save her from the slave ship. Then he remembers Jesus' words to do good deeds in secret. So he waits until nightfall, then throws the bag of coins into the nobleman's house. The next morning, the daughters discover the coins in one of their stockings, hung up to dry. Soon after, the daughter is wed.

The nobleman doesn't learn his lesson, however, and Nicholas must repeat his good deed two more times, using up all the gold coins he possesses. At first, Nicholas can't imagine parting with the last of his money; how will he survive? Then he sees a bright, shiny star; it reminds him of the Christmas story. With renewed faith, he tosses his last bag of gold into the nobleman's house - but this time, the nobleman catches him. The nobleman admits his foolishness. Nicholas makes him promise not to reveal Nicholas' good deeds. The nobleman keeps Nicholas' secret - until he's on his death bed. Once his daughters know the truth, it's not long before everyone in the area knows all about Nicholas.

"As for Nicholas, he grew to be a great and holy man. So beloved was he that he was given a special name; Saint Nicholas. Stories say that with God's help St. Nicholas did many brave and marvelous deeds...Perhaps best of all were the three good deeds he did in secret. For on Christmas, the birthday of Jesus, boys and girls all over the world rush to see what new good deeds were done in the night. And that began with a boy named Nicholas and his three bags of gold."

What I Like: As a history buff, I love picture books about the true story of Nicholas. This one tells a Nicholas story not unfamiliar to children's picture books, but it does so in a fine fashion, nicely tying in the story to both the biblical Christmas and modern day Christmas. The illustrations by Lon Eric Craven are also attractive, realistic, and muted.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Very good.
Age Appeal: 4 - 8
Publishing Info: Fairland Books, 2010; ISBN: 978-0981815411; hardback, 32 pgs., $16.95.

Buy Now at Amazon.com for $11.53

The Story of the Nativity

Designed as a simple countdown to Christmas day, The Story of Nativity by Tracy Harrast also offers a variety of re-usable stickers and a background so kids can have their own Christmas playset.

The playset is really just a piece of cardboard designed to fold at the sides so it can stand up. An attractive stable is printed on it. The stickers - of all the usual nativity characters - are also made of cardboard.

The book itself features bright illustrations by Estele Corke, showing the familiar biblical Christmas story. Each day before Christmas, one of the 24 pages offers part of the Christmas story, told in one short paragraph. Each page also has a Bible verse and a suggestion on how to "celebrate Christmas today." For example, the first page shows Mary feeding chickens outside her home. The text reads:

"Mary was a young woman who lived long ago in Nazareth. She loved God with all of her heart. Mary was willing to do whatever God asked."

The Bible verse is Luke 1:38: "'I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered." And the suggestion is: "Tell God how much you love Him and want to serve Him."

What I Like: My kids love Advent books that count down to Christmas. This one is short and simple and easy enough for my two year old to enjoy, yet my 5 year old is still interested, too. The illustrations are sweet, and I love the many suggestions on how to "celebrate Christmas today." My 5 year old also likes the play scene.

What I Dislike: Despite liking the play scene, my 5 year old also gets a little frustrated with it. She doesn't like the fact that all the stickers don't fit easily on the play board. In order to get them all on, they must overlap; this sometimes means the stickers don't stay in place. Also, she found it difficult to get all the stickers on the board and still have the board bend so it could stand up.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: According to the publisher, 4 to 8, but I'd say toddler to first grade.

Publishing Info: Kregel, 2010; ISBN: 978-0825455490; hardback, 24 pgs., $14.99.

Buy Now at Amazon.com for $11.69

OR buy at Christianbook.com for $11.99

Tabitha's Travels: A Family Story for Advent

When Tabitha's shepherd family rescues Jotham, a lost boy, little does she know this simple act of kindness will lead her on a whirl-wind adventure all the way to the stable where Jesus is born. Tabitha's Travels: A Family Story for Advent is written by Arnold Ytreeide and is designed to be a family story and devotional time during Advent.

Tabitha is the daughter of Eliakim, a shepherd in ancient Israel. She disdains her place in Jewish society. Because she's a girl, she's thought of as less worthy than her male peers. She looks for opportunities to prove that she's every bit as good as a boy. When Jotham shows up, lost and wounded, she has compassion on the young boy and befriends him. He seeks his family, from whom he became separated some time before. Despite Tabitha's uncle's insistence the boy is trouble, her father allows Jotham to remain with their caravan, but won't allow him to search for his family in the direction Jotham believes them to be.

When another caravan passes by, heading the way Jotham thinks his family went, the young boy leaves, believing he will soon be reunited with those he loves. However, within a day or so, Eliakim learns the caravan belonged to Decha of Megiddo, a thief and murderer. When this is discovered, Eliakim and his brothers vow to rescue the boy. Tabitha begs to go along to help find her friend.

Over the course of the book, Tabitha runs into, and is aided by, familiar Biblical men and women, including Elizabeth, Zechariah, and Anna. She even runs into Mary and Joseph, who are on their way to Bethlehem. Through many trials, including her father being arrested by Roman soldiers, being kidnapped herself, and having to disguise herself as a boy to go into Qumran, Tabitha eventually rescues her father and sees Jotham reunited with his family. The story ends with the angel delivering the news of Jesus' birth to the shepherd families, and the families visit the stable and Jesus' family.

What I Like: Tabitha's Travels is meant to be used as a family devotional time during the Christmas season. Every story has an accompanying reflection statement or question, often with supporting scripture, covering topics such as kindness, courage, and accepting Christ into your life. The stories are short, probably a ten or fifteen minute read. They're engaging not just to kids, but to the adults who will be reading along with them.

In the back of the book is a table that tells you for the next few decades when Advent begins so you can begin the book at the proper time to correlate with the end coming on Christmas day.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 9 - 12, but I feel kids both older and younger would enjoy the story.

Publisher Info: Kregel Publications, 2010; ISBN: 978-0-8254-4172-1; Paperback, 159 pages, $13.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $7.99

OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $10.07.

Special Info: The companion books to Tabitha's Travels have been reviewed here. Also, while I think younger children may enjoy this story, parents should preview each day's chapter(s) for suitability for their own children. Some scenes may be a little scary, so you may want or need to gloss over some aspects to lessen the intensity.

Celebrate Advent: 25 Legends and Ornaments

Author Judith Vicary Swisher has collected stories and legends from around the world that pertain to Advent and the Christmas season. Celebrate Advent: 25 Legends and Ornaments contains 25 of these legends and stories.

In addition to the Biblical account of the birth of Christ, there are stories from Holland, St. Lucia, Russia and many other places, some you’ve probably heard before, others may be new to you. For instance, I had heard of the legend of the poinsettia, but I had never read about the holy thorn.

Twenty-five punch-out ornaments are included in the back of the book. The author encourages readers to share the stories, one a day, starting on the first day of December, either reading them randomly or in chronological order, saving the last two stories for Christmas Eve (about Santa Claus) and Christmas Day (about Jesus’ birth). Each day, after you’ve read the story, you are told to punch out the corresponding ornament and hang it on your tree.

The illustrations by Nancy Middlebrook Baay are bright and expressive.

What I Like: I like having a book of Christmas and Advent stories from around the world. It’s good for kids, and adults, to learn about the customs of other cultures. I also like the ornaments included in the back of the book.

What I Dislike: Although this is a book about Advent, and Christ’s birth is mentioned in most of the stories, with the exception of the Biblical stories, the rest of the stories are not particularly “Christian” in nature. After all, the title defines the contents as “25 Legends,” which to me means that even the stories about Christ’s birth are meant to be “legends.”

However, one can look at the book as a whole more positively if you read what the illustrator says, “The more I focused on the visual images in each story the more I saw a common thread emerging: God using ordinary people, even plants, birds and animals, to announce the Coming of His Son. The underlying message of each story is clear: ‘Whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.’”

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: 4-8.

Publisher Info: Rogers Press, 2008; ISBN: 9780615217956; Hardcover, $21.00.

Buy now at Amazon.com $14.28!

Special Info: Read about the author and the illustrator at this website.

What Happened to Merry Christmas?

“’Merry Christmas is lost!’ Sam shouted as he burst through the door.

‘What’s wrong, Sam?’” Mother wanted to know.

Sam explained he got an invitation to a party, a holiday party, not a Christmas party. He went on to say, “’Teacher says there won’t be any Christmas….what about Christmas?’”

His mother said, “Maybe Christmas really isn’t lost, Sam. Just because something isn’t easy to find does not mean it is lost. Maybe we will just have to look a little harder for it.”

Sam’s mother told him about the Advent wreath on their table. She said it’s to help remind them that Christmas is coming. “The candles remind us that Jesus is the light of the world.”

When Sam asked about the Christmas tree, she said evergreen trees are used for Christmas trees because they are always green and alive. They symbolize Jesus’ birth. The presents under the tree symbolize the gifts the Three Wise Men gave Baby Jesus.

She even pointed out that the word holiday means holy day.

Then Sam understood that Merry Christmas wasn’t really lost. You could find it if you looked for it because “Merry Christmas is everywhere.”

Robert C. Baker, the author of What Happened to Merry Christmas?, weaves Bible verses into the text. For instance, when Sam’s mother talks about the Advent wreath, she says, “The Candles remind us that Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12). He came to take away the darkness of our sins by dying on the cross.” She quotes a scripture verse every time she points out something that relates to Christmas.

The bright, expressive illustrations by Dave Hill are truly delightful and add much to the text.

What I Like: Everything.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 5-9.

Publisher Info: Concordia Publishing House, 2007; ISBN: 9780758613462; Hardcover, $13.99.

Buy now at ChristianBook $10.99!

Or buy at Amazon.com $11.89.

Special Info: Read our reviews of other books illustrated by Dave Hill.

Jotham's Journey: A Storybook for Advent

Jotham, a shepherd boy, gets angry with his father for not letting him go to Hebron with his older brothers. He gets so angry, he runs away. He keeps running until he can’t run anymore. He finds himself in a cold, lonely spot, and he’s tired and hungry, but he won’t go home. He hears his father and brothers calling his name as they go looking for him, but he still won’t budge. His pride has been hurt.

The next morning, after spending the night alone, he heads back to where his father has left their caravan. Only problem is, when he gets there, everyone has gone. There’s no trace of anyone’s having been there, except for a pile of rocks with his name on it, signifying that his family thinks he’s dead.

Now, Jotham sets on a journey, his quest to find his family and make things right. Jotham’s Journey: A Storybook for Advent, written by Arnold Ytreeide, is set back in Biblical times, just a few days before Jesus’ birth. Jotham is eventually reunited with his family, but not before he encounters many characters, some good, some bad, with one in particular who wants to kill him and tries doing so on several occasions. Before he discovers his family, he learns things about his family: He finds he not only has a family connection to the man who wants him dead, he also is related to Mary and Joseph.

Like other Advent stories written by this author, this one is meant to be read and shared during the Advent season. It is broken down into chapters, one for each day of Advent. At the end of each chapter, the author has included discussion questions and ideas about that particular chapter. Most of them include Bible reference verses; some do not. The author also included, at the beginning of the book, an introduction about Advent, how it started and some modern-day customs.

What I Like: Everything.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 9-12.

Publisher Info: Kregel Publications, 2008; ISBN: 9780825441745; Paperback, 165 pages,
$13.99.

Buy now at ChristianBook $7.99!
Or buy at Amazon.com $10.07.
Special Info: Read our reviews of other books by Arnold Ytreeide.

The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving

The Bible reference for The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving, written and illustrated by Jan and Mike Berenstain, is, “It is more blessed to give than to receive [Acts: 20:35], and aptly so, as the story is about giving.

It’s Christmastime in Bear Country. A few days before the big day, brother and Sister are each given $10 to spend on Christmas presents for others. They buy just one gift each: Brother buys for Sister and visa versa. Neither gift costs $10 so each cub has money left over for their selves. Although they bought gifts for each other, they made sure they had money left over they could keep. That’s not what Christmas is about, but Mama and Papa don’t say anything to the cubs about it.

On Christmas Eve, Brother and Sister take part in their church’s Christmas play, dressed as one of the Wise Men’s camels, Sister as the front end, Brother in the rear. During the play, when the Wise Men give their presents to the Baby Jesus, Brother and Sister realize the reason for giving Christmas presents: The presents we give to each other on Christmas are to symbolize the gifts the Wise Men gave to Baby Jesus.

From that moment on, they have a change of heart in relation to gifts. On Christmas morning, instead of rushing to open their own gifts, they take pleasure in exchanging gifts with each other first. Later that day, on the way to church, they stop to donate their leftover money to a charitable organization.

The illustrations throughout the book are bright and colorful and a bit cartoon-like as are most books in the series.

What I Like: I enjoy reading any and all books in the Berenstain Bears series. It’s fun to see what the Bear family is up to in each episode and how we can relate the lessons they learn to our own lives.

What I Dislike: However, having said that, I must add that this book fell a bit short on the story end. Although it was good that the cubs discovered the joy of giving, I think it’s unrealistic to think they would both have the exact same thought at the exact same moment. And, it seems unlikely they would come to such a life-changing conclusion simply by performing a play they had rehearsed many times. I think a more realistic storyline would have had them helping at a local homeless shelter or food panty, or organizing a toy drive for needy families to illustrate that there are those in this world that have very little and those of us who have more should be willing, and happy, to give of what we have. That’s the joy of giving.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: 4-8.

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2010; ISBN: 9780310712558; Paperback, $3.99.

Buy now at ChristianBook $2.99!

Or buy at Amazon.com $3.99.

Special Info: This book is part of the publisher’s Living Lights series. Read our reviews of other books in the series. Read our reviews of other Berenstain Bear books. Visit the Berenstain Bears website.