As Christmas approaches, here are some holiday-themed books, including several picture books, to help celebrate the season.
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“12 GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS: Traditions, Activities and Devotionals for a Christ-Centered Christmas,” by Merrilee Boyack, Deseret Book, $11.99, 99 pages (nf)
To help her family remember Jesus Christ at Christmas, Merrillee Boyack hung up a stocking year-round and had them write down a gift they wanted to give Jesus. The stocking was a reminder and an idea she got from a friend.
Boyack outlines 12 gifts for Jesus Christ — personal knowledge, gratitude, remembrance, repentance, obedience, emulation, charity, forgiveness, faithfulness, love, healing balm and joy — along with stories, ways to adapt to a family, whether through a devotional, family home evening ideas and tips to implement it at Christmas.
It’s a resource to help change little things about Christmas to make it more centered on the birth and example of the Savior.
“WITH WONDERING AWE: Inspiring True Christmas Stories, Covenant Communications, $8.99, 53 pages (nf)
This collection of 10 short stories shares Christmas experiences from 11 authors. They take readers to a family’s modern-day Christmas Eve experience in Bethlehem, childhood Christmas memories and significant gifts, the challenges of celebrating the season without a loved one and why one author won’t replace a 1962 Baldwin piano that usually needs tuning.
Authors of these heartwarming stories include Brent and Wendy Top, Jack Weyland, Jennie Hansen, N.C. Allen, Kerry Blair, Margot Hovley, Erin Klinger, Jodi Marie Robinson, Julie Daines and Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen.
“CHARLES DICKENS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL: Illustrated edition,” abridged and illustrated by J. Kirk Richards, Deseret Book, $24.99 (f)
The classic tale of Scrooge and his three visitors has been illustrated by figurative artist J. Kirk Richards.
Richards’ art includes the three different spirits who visit, glimpses from Scrooge’s past and the miser’s change of heart in this table-top-style book that helps share the spirit of the holiday.
Picture books
“CHRISTMAS FROM HEAVEN: The True Story of the Berlin Candy Bomber,” read by Tom Brokaw, illustrated by Robert T. Barrett, Shadow Mountain, $21.99
A young pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Lt. Gail Halvorsen was part of the Berlin Airlift. After seeing a need, he started collecting chewing gum and “bombing” Berlin with tiny parachutes and wiggling his C-54’s wings as a signal.
In addition to Robert T. Barrett’s illustrations, there are inset photos of Halvorsen and that era. It also includes a DVD of television journalist Tom Brokaw sharing the story at the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s Christmas concert last year and a template to make “Candy Bomber” parachutes.
“THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN: A True Story,” by Thomas S. Monson, illustrated by Dan Burr, Shadow Mountain, $16.99
This story of how a train set helped young Tommy Monson learn the lesson of giving is better than receiving with comes with an online code to hear President Thomas S. Monson share the story.
“A FAMILY CHRISTMAS EVE: Celebrating Christ’s Birth Through Scripture and Song,” Covenant Communications, $14.99
This compilation of scriptures, art and music shares the story of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus that can be adapted to share with a family or a larger group.
It includes Christmas songs and music at appropriate places throughout the narrative, from “O Little Town of Bethlehem” to “What Child is This.”
“SING TO BABY JESUS: A Christmas Counting Book,” by Rachelle Pace Castor, illustrated by Dean Kleven and music by Janice Kapp Perry, Covenant Communications, $14.99
From “One newborn baby yawns in the night” to “Ten squeaking mice join as angel voices sing,” this book counts from one to 10 of possible sights and animals of the first Nativity and has adorable illustrations that can help young readers learn.
The counting and chorus are put to music by Janice Kapp Perry and the song is included in the back of the picture book.
“THE POPCORN WREATH: A Circle of Christmas Love,” by Shirlee Hurst Shields, illustrated by Melit A. Less, Zion Book Works, $8.99
Based on the experiences of a young Mormon family in the 1930s in Utah, author Shirlee Hurst Shields shares how Christmas popcorn wreaths helped two children deal with the loss of a younger sibling and share their faith. Black and white drawings help illustrate Shields’ childhood memory.
Because of the amount of text, this one may be better for those young readers who are almost to middle grade reading level.
Email: rappleye@deseretnews.com Twitter: CTRappleye