Zonderkidz has two cute and colorful storybooks for kids available now — A Christmas Gift for Santa and A Very Fiona Christmas. While I liked both of these books, they were very secular in nature. But . . . they do offer parents an opportunity to expand the conversation about what Christmas is all about and being reminded to give to those who give us so much. Check out my impressions on each book below
A Christmas Gift for Santa
The Christmas story you haven’t read: What happens after Santa Claus delivers all the Christmas presents to boys and girls around the world?
Is there a gift waiting for Santa at the North Pole? Cuddle up with your little ones and follow the journey through Santa’s Workshop in search of Santa’s Christmas present. With bright and whimsical illustrations, this new take on the Christmas story is sure to become the newest addition to your holiday reading tradition — especially at bedtime!
Has Mrs. Claus forgotten Santa on Christmas Eve? He searches and searches their cozy North Pole home until he finds homemade gifts waiting for him next to a beautiful handwritten note. But what does it say?
My Impressions:
Santa is finally at home after his gift-giving spree across the world, but he feels a little left out when there is apparently no gift for him. This book has cute and colorful illustrations and a rhyming narrative as Santa searches for a gift. I think this book could serve as a springboard for parents to remind their kids of all those who give so much, but may not receive in return — policemen, firemen, nurses, etc. In the midst of gift-giving excitement, A Christmas Gift for Santa is a good reminder to show gratitude to those who selflessly share with others.
(Thanks to Zonderkidz for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
A Very Fiona Christmas
A follow-up to the New York Times bestselling Fiona the Hippo picture book comes A Very Fiona Christmas!
It’s Fiona the hippo’s very first Christmas, and the zoo is sparkling with holiday spirit. When the adorable little hippo asks her friends, “What’s Christmas?” they set out to show her all the wonders and excitement of the season. With each new experience Fiona lets out a snort, wiggles her ears, and asks, “Is THIS Christmas?”
Amidst the snow, twinkling lights, mistletoe, and stockings, Fiona ends up meeting a new friend at the zoo who helps her discover the true meaning of the holiday: Love. Snuggle up with your little ones and join Fiona and her adorable animal friends for a heartwarming holiday romp through the zoo.
My Impressions:
I have to say that while I loved the illustrations and the premise of this book, A Very Fiona Christmas left me wanting more. The book details Fiona’s search for what Christmas really is. She sees glittery decorations, sparkling snow, and fun gifts, but knows those aren’t really what Christmas is all about. At the end, with the help of all her zoo friends, she discovers that Christmas is Love. When I turned the final page, I thought where is the rest? While Christmas is about love, it is a very specific love — that of God for His people. Parents who choose this book for their kids can certainly expound on that concept, and I recommend that they do, to truly communicate the real meaning of Christmas.
(Thanks to Zonderkidz for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Name of book: 21 Days of Christmas: A Fiction Lover’s Devotional
Kathy is the editor/compiler of the Fiction Lover’s Devotional series (www.FictionDevo.com) and author of Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors (
When she receives the news in late 1944 that her baby’s father was shot down in the South Pacific, Amelia Richards loses hope. Jobless and broke, she has nowhere to turn for help but her infant’s paternal grandparents. The only problem is, they don’t know that she — or their grandson — exists. When Amelia discovers that the family is wealthy and influential, dare she disclose the truth of her relationship with their son? Or could the celebration of the arrival of another unexpected baby nearly two thousand years ago be the answer to her dilemma?
Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women and children. That’s a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a “storyteller”. Her novels range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors, etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She’s won a number of awards (including Romantic Time’s Career Achievement Award, the Rita and the Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog. To find out more about Melody Carlson, visit her website at 
An unexpected surprise brings the Mitchell family of Savannah a chance to experience the Christmas trip of their dreams. An unexpected disappointment threatens to turn it into the worst Christmas of their lives. John Finch and his friend Alfred live in the woods. Been doing it for decades. He likes wintering in Florida, but this year’s been particularly harsh. Between the cold, freezing rain and terrifying lightning storms, John’s starting to wonder how much more of this lifestyle he can take. A new friend enters the picture and changes everything. Kim Harper, the dog trainer introduced in Rescuing Finley, is contacted by a billionaire philanthropist seeking her help with a new dog training project that will help the homeless. Is he for real? And is her co-worker right? Does this rich, handsome man’s interest in Kim go much deeper than her dog-training skills?
Recent Comments