Mailbox Monday

by Carol13 Comments
Marcia at The Printed Page hosts Mailbox Monday every week. Everyone at our house got some great books this week for Christmas. First, we have Amber's gifts. Percy Jackson and the Olympians (The Complete Series) by Rick Riordan The Unusual Suspects (The Sisters Grimm, Book 2) by Michael Buckley The Problem Child (The Sisters Grimm, Book 3) by Michael Buckley Mythology by Lady Hestia Evans The Ugly Guide to Being Alive and Staying That Way by David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim The Gospel of Luke (The Illustrated ICB Bible) David got two books. Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton The Real Wood Bible by Nick Gibbs And I got a few gifts and one for review. The Autobiography of Santa Claus as told to Jeff Guin (Received as a gift.) The Total Brain Workout by Marcel Danesi (Thanks to Harlequin Ambassadors.) The Cowboy's Christmas Miracle by Raeanne Thayne (Thanks to Harlequin Ambassadors.) Hearing from God Each Morning by Joyce Meyer (Received from the publisher for review.) Did you get any good books over this week?...
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Brigid’s Cloak by Bryce Milligan

by Carol2 Comments
Brigid's Cloak by Bryce Milligan, illustrated by Helen Cann (Suggested reading level: According to Amazon, ages 9-12. I think it should be closer to ages 6-9.) This story based on an ancient tale about on of Ireland's most beloved saints. On the day she is born Brigid receives a brilliant blue cloak from a mysterious Druid. Years later, the young girl still wears the now tattered cloak while she tends sheep.Then one night in December, when she is ten, after saying a prayer of thans at the end of the day, Brigid is transported to Bethlehem in time to help Mary and Joseph find the stable and make it comfortable. After she returns home, she is asked what happened. Brigid pulled the old blue cloth from her shoulders only to find it changed. It was a deep rich blue again, blue like the easter sky at twilight, and on it were dozens of tiny glowing start. "I was in Bethlehem...," she began I had never...
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What’s Cooking, Jamela? by Niki Daly

by Carol1 Comment
What's Cooking, Jamela? by Niki Daly (Suggested reading level: Ages 4-8) Usually, when I think of Christmas stories, I think of re-tellings of the first Christmas.  Or I think of snow and pine trees, cold weather and hot chocolate. Basically, I tend to read Christmas stories that are similar to my Christmases. What's Cooking, Jamela? however, takes place in modern South Africa—no snow for sure, but lots of love. Jamela's mama and grandmother make plans for Christmas, including buying a chicken to fatten up for dinner.  Jamela feeds the chicken, who she names Christmas, water and corn everyday. It even eats food from her hand. As Christmas gets closer, Jamela and the other kids put on a nativity play at school, complete with traditional clothing and instruments. On the day before Christmas, before the chicken can be killed, Jamela tries to help it escape, but it ends up running through town, causing havoc. "Christmas in not a chicken," cried Jamela. "Christmas is my friend....
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