Now considered a classic, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is C.S. Lewis’s second book of The Chronicles of Narnia, which has captured the imaginations of children for several generations.

In the first book of The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis shows us how it all began — the glorious birth of Narnia at the hand of its unforgettable King. It is followed by six more books that collectively tell the history of a world that has become as real as our own.

Amazon.com Review
This large, deluxe hardcover edition of the first title in the classic Chronicles of Narnia series, The Magician’s Nephew, is a gorgeous introduction to the magical land of Narnia. The many readers who discovered C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles through The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe will be delighted to find that the next volume in the series is actually the first in the sequence–and a step back in time. In this unforgettable story, British schoolchildren Polly and Digory inadvertently tumble into the Wood Between the Worlds, where they meet the evil Queen Jadis and, ultimately, the great, mysterious King Aslan. We witness the birth of Narnia and discover the legendary source of all the adventures that are to follow in the seven books that comprise the series.

Rich, heavy pages, a gold-embossed cover, and Pauline Baynes’s original illustrations (hand-colored by the illustrator herself 40 years later) make this special edition of a classic a bona fide treasure. (Ages 9 and older) –Emilie Coulter

Book five of The Chronicles of Narnia continues the saga of C.S. Lewis’s beloved land of fantastic creatures and unlikely heroes. Readers of any age will be entranced as the crew of the Dawn Treader approaches the “Worlds End.”

Amazon.com Review
The BBC Radio production of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is a delightful two-hour sail on the most fabulous ship in Narnia. Lucy and Edmund, with their dreadful cousin Eustace, get magically pulled into a painting of a ship at sea. That ship is the Dawn Treader, and on board is Caspian, King of Narnia. He and his companions, including Reepicheep, the valiant warrior mouse, are searching for seven lost lords of Narnia, and their voyage will take them to the edge of the world. Their adventures include being captured by slave traders, a much-too-close encounter with a dragon, and visits to many enchanted islands, including the place where dreams come true. The adaptation is faithful to its source, C.S. Lewis’s series of Narnia books, which have provided exciting and uplifting tales for generations of children. BBC Radio does wonders with sound effects–the ship creaks in the wind, the sorrowful dragon roars lugubriously–and musical cues and interludes that keep the pacing dynamic. There’s also a splendid cast of plummy British voices, making this far more than a book read onto cassette–it’s an audio drama, as enjoyable as a trip to the theater. Grownups who buy this tape for their children will want to borrow it for themselves. (Running time: two hours, two cassettes) –Blaise Selby

Story Behind the Book

With the incredible response 9 Fruits Alive and Jesus and the 12 Dudes Who Did received, it was clear that parents took to heart teaching their children that God Counts! My hope is that with these two latest installments and My Bible Storybook coming out in February, young ones will continue to learn even more about the wonderful God we serve.

Between the years 1843 and 1848, every Christmas (except 1847), Dickens released a “Christmas Book”.

Until the start of the 20th century, “The Cricket on the Hearth” was even more popular than “A Christmas Carol.”

In this volume:

Book One: A Christmas Carol (first published in 1843)
Book Two: The Chimes (first published in 1844)
Book Three: The Cricket on the Hearth (first published in 1845)
Book Four: The Battle of Life (first published in 1846)
Book Five: The Haunted Man (first published in 1848)

A must-read for all fans of Christmas and Dickens…

This warm presentation of the first Christmas celebrates the wonder of a baby’s birth and welcomes all into the spirit of holiday joy.

Perfect for gift-giving, this beautiful volume of holiday writings is lavishly illustrated with artwork from the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Through holiday-rich artwork-from a medieval stained-glass window, a Currier and Ives print, and Arthur Rackham illustrations, to woodcuts from the Wiener Werkstätte, Romare Bearden’s The Block, and Victorian greeting cards-every element of the Christmas season is lovingly depicted.

The accompanying text includes selections to delight every member of the family, from the youngest children, who will enjoy the traditional “I Saw Three Ships” and the beloved title poem, to parents and grandparents, who will savor selections by Joseph Brodsky and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and Other Seasonal Favorites is a treasury to share.

all are welcome

at the stable.

On Christmas Eve

all are welcome

because there’s always

room for a little one.

That cold winter’s night,

beneath the star’s light…

…a Little One came for the world.

For the seven weeks of Advent and Christmas, our collective psyches are caught between the magic of the holidays and the mystery of the Incarnation. Ministry Ideas for Celebrating Advent and Christmas with Teens, Families, and Parishes addresses that magic and mystery. It is designed to help teens, their families, and parishes acknowledge the mixed messages of the season while making it a meaningful time for remembering who we are and whose we are. Ministry Ideas for Celebrating Advent and Christmas with Teens, Families, and Parishes provides strategies and ideas for greater understanding of, participation in, and celebration of the liturgical seasons of Advent and Christmas.

Christmas is a wonderful time for kids-the anticipation of gifts under the tree, the aroma of once-a-year treats in the oven, the excitement of decorating for holiday festivities, the joy of being with family and friends, all the things that create warm memories that linger throughout our lives. Even big kids, better known as adults, eagerly await that first cup of eggnog, savor the scent of a fresh-cut pine tree, and delight in the discovery of that perfect present for a hard-to-please relative. Christmas is a time of celebrating traditions-those that have been in the family for years, as well as those just recently embraced.

Chicken Soup for the Soul Christmas Treasury for Kids will start a new holiday tradition for kids of all ages. With twenty-five true stories-one for each day in December through Christmas Day-this unique treasury will rekindle the Christmas spirit every December first and keep it burning in the hearts of readers throughout the holiday season. As kids and their loved ones read these stories together, they’ll realize that the best traditions are those the whole family can share.

Kids will read about the “angels among us” who give selflessly to those in need. They’ll learn that sometimes the best gifts aren’t bought at a store. They’ll discover that giving to others can be more joyous than getting everything on their list. And both kids and adults will find these stories wonderful reminders of the true meaning of Christmas and make this book a cherished reading tradition for generations to come.

Resuenen con alegría
los cánticos de mi tierra
que viva el Niño Jesús
que ha nacido en Nochebuena.

It’s time to sing out with joy
the songs that are sung in my land
in praise of the precious Child
born this holy Christmas evening.

Come share the joy of a Hispanic Christmas!

In this warm and vibrant collection of traditional Spanish Christmas carols, or villancicos, noted authors Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy bring to life the holiday traditions of Latin America and Spain. The creative English adaptations by Rosalma Zubizarreta both capture the spirit of the originals and add a new dimension to the songs. And Spanish illustrator Viví Escrivá’s spirited illustrations are perfect backdrops for the lyrics, adding rich holiday flavor.

Come sing along! ¡Feliz Navidad! and Merry Christmas!

Discover all the little things that make the holidays so berry special! Everyone at the Big Blue House has the holiday spirit and is having a lot of fun decorating and baking. But when Jack, a lonely stray dog, shows up, how can Bear and his friends make the holidays happy for him? Find out in this interactive book that features lots of flaps to lift!

The timeless song of the The Twelve Days of Christmas springs to life in this lavish pop-up edition by award-winning author, artist, and paper engineer Robert Sabuda. Sure to be a classic, this elegant keepsake will be treasured by all, each and every holiday season. Amazon.com Review
Robert Sabuda is to pop-up art what the International Grandmaster is to chess, and it isn’t for nothing that he’s described on the back of this book as a “paper engineer.” As the title suggests, this whimsical, old-fashioned, elegant book embodies the Traditional Song of Abundant Giving–each verse of “The 12 Days of Christmas” is illustrated with a different pop-up creation. Some are relatively simple, such as the partridge (made of just two pieces of hinged paper) that opens its wings above some pears. Still, there is something unexpectedly bold about how the bird literally flies out over the top margin of the page. Other pop-ups are more characteristically bravura creations: the “Ten pipers piping” are crafted explicitly as decorative paper cut-outs, but the scissors that cut them are part of the pop-up, too. Perhaps the most complex of the set is “Eleven Ladies Dancing.” Interpreted as an old-fashioned music box, the 11 ladies dancing are little ballerinas, and the music box is complete with drawer, back-mirror, and winding key. Sabuda’s masterful The 12 Days of Christmas is full of nostalgia for the magic of childhood celebration–kids and adults alike would be happy to receive this book as a holiday gift. (Ages 3 to 103) –Richard Farr

When Mr. Tressler puts up a Christmas tree, Eric’s eyes nearly pop out. The angel at the top comes to life! Soon, hundreds of angels are flying in the old man’s house.

Can Eric and the Cul-de-sac Kids solve the mystery? And who will be brave enough to take a Christmas gift to the weird house at the end of Blossom Hill Lane?

Beverly Lewis is the author of Mountain Bikes and Garbanzo Beans and The Six Hour Mystery, as well as the Holly’s Heart series. She has published short stories in many magazines. Beverly lives with her family Cuddles, their cock-a-too, near her favorite Colorado mountain, Pikes Peak.

Barbara Birch illustrates books from her home in Colorado Springs, where she lives with her husband and daughter.

A generation stands on the brink of a “rebelution.”
 
A growing movement of young people is rebelling against the low expectations of today’s culture by choosing to “do hard things” for the glory of God.  And Alex and Brett Harris are leading the charge.
Do Hard Things is the Harris twins’ revolutionary message in its purest and most compelling form, giving readers a tangible glimpse of what is possible for teens who actively resist cultural lies that limit their potential.
Combating the idea of adolescence as a vacation from responsibility, the authors weave together biblical insights, history, and modern examples to redefine the teen years as the launching pad of life.  Then they map out five powerful ways teens can respond for personal and social change.
Written by teens for teens, Do Hard Things is packed with humorous personal anecdotes, practical examples, and stories of real-life rebelutionaries in action. This rallying cry from the heart of an already-happening teen revolution challenges a generation to lay claim to a brighter future, starting today.