The Christmas Alphabet – Robert Sabuda

Today I want to share a special Christmas book. I love pop-up books, this book though is more like a work of art. The Christmas Alphabet by Robert Sabuda has twenty-six miniature pop-ups, one for each letter of the alphabet. Each double page spread has four different color flaps to open. Inside the flaps are elaborate three dimensional white cut-outs. The white-only paper against colored backdrops is elegant and timeless. The only cutouts that have color are “W” which shows a Madonna and Child stained glass window, and “X” which is for “Xmas” that shows two red and white stripped … Continue reading

Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree – Robert Barry

How can one Christmas tree bring joy to seven households? Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree is an old favorite that children love. Mr. Willowby is a millionaire. His Christmas tree arrives by special delivery. It’s the biggest tree he’s ever seen. In fact, it’s so big that the tree bends at the top. The butler solves the problem by chopping off the top. Instead of throwing it out he gives it to the upstairs maid. The small tree top is actually too big for the maid’s room and she snips off the very top. She sets it out in the trash. … Continue reading

Arthur’s Christmas Cookies – Lillian Hoban

Arthur’s Christmas Cookies by Lillian Hoban is a fun Christmas story for beginning readers. Our family has enjoyed this story for years. There’s a lot of humor and the characters in the story are very much like children at Christmastime. Arthur is a monkey who is discouraged. He wanted to make Christmas presents for his family. He made a wooden lamp for his father but it wouldn’t stand right. He sawed off one side to get it even but he sawed off too much and then it wouldn’t stand up at all. His sister suggests that he buy presents. He’s … Continue reading

Week in Review: December 3rd-9th

We had a great week in Media Reviews. In case you missed out on this week’s blogs, here’s a rundown of everything we did. In “By Man Least Understood,” Tristi reviewed an LDS doctrinal book about forgiveness, repentance, and the need we all have for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. She then took a closer look at Barbara Kingsolver’s blockbuster hit, “The Poisonwood Bible,” the story of a preacher who took his wife and daughters to the Belgian Congo and the experiences they had when the Congolese decided to proclaim their independence from Belgium in the 1960s. We reviewed some … Continue reading