Countdown to Christmas
Amy Puetz
Paperback
(A to Z Designs, Jan. 2, 2010)
Countdown to Christmas: Memory Making Stories and Activities for Every Day from December 1st to the 25th. Do you long to make this holiday season the best ever? Do you wish to escape from the commercialism that hounds us from every corner? Do you wish to slow down this Christmas and enjoy the holiday as they did in the good old days? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you are holding the answer in your hands. Countdown to Christmas has family friendly stories and activities for every day from December 1st to the 25th. Imagine your family gathering each day to read a Christmas story and then participating in a fun activity. This can become a reality with Countdown to Christmas. This book is broken up into daily sections. Each day has a story and an activity that should take about 30 to 45 minutes. Some of the stories included are: "Becky's Christmas Dream" by Louisa May Alcott; "The Fir-Tree" by Hans Christian Andersen; "The Star" by Florence M. Kingsley; "The Conscience-Pudding" by E. Nesbit; "Why the Chimes Rang" by Raymond MacDonald Alden; "Christmas Every Day" by W.D. Howells; and "Christmas Storms and Sunshine" by Elizabeth Gaskell. Nearly all the stories in this book were written in the 1800s and early 1900s so some of the language may seem old fashioned, but this only adds to their charm. Many of these stories have not been reprinted since their first publication and they are just waiting to be rediscovered by a whole new generation. Countdown to Christmas will appeal to any age group but children ages 6-14 will probably enjoy it the most. The activities include: games, crafts, cooking, riddles, quizzes, singing carols, etc. This book will help families grow closer together. Make this Christmas truly memorable with Countdown to Christmas!