By James Holland

Snow Globes have always fascinated children as well as adults. There is just something magical about holding up one of those soft-ball sized heavy glass globes and turning it upside down to watch the swirling blizzards fill the miniature world inside the globe.  For kids it’s like the magical crystal balls used by mysterious fortune tellers to see the future. And there is a little glimpse into the future provided by this colorful children’s picture book.

Since my own children are now grown adults with no grandchildren yet on the scene, this reviewer is not certain what age range this book is appropriate for. It’s recommended for 4-8 year olds. It’s only 40 pages of beautiful double-page four-color illustrations. Since there is very little text, obviously the child reader or the adult reading the book to the child is going to be carefully examining the individual illustrations and the book is laid out so that each of those color pictures are 22 X 8.5 inches. There will be plenty to discuss about what’s included in each of the paintings.

Eddie, the book’s main character happens to have a Grand Father who looks remarkably like Santa Claus. Eddie has been wishing and praying for a new red bike. As Eddie sits on the bed dressed in his pajamas staring into the drifting snowflakes inside his Snow Globe,  his grandpa comes into the room to talk. He tells Eddie that he’s checked out the whole house and that there is no sign of a bicycle among the gifts.

Disappointed, Eddie finds out from his granddad that he is getting something much better than a bike. It’s something that is handmade by his mother and since the gift is made by hand, all the maker’s love is woven into the gift. That love turns into Christmas Magic. I’ve already revealed more about the plot than I like to do in a review, but I feel certain none of the people who are to receive this volume as a gift will be reading this review.

The Christmas Sweater (Threshold Edition/ 2008) is a book beautifully illustrated by Brandon Dorman that should help teach kids one of the true meanings of Christmas. It’s a message from Glenn Beck of what is really important about Christmas. It’s a lesson about love and the magic powers that love provides.

This is a secular story however. There is no religion in it other than the presence of Saint Nicolas and the character of Grandpa represents him. Rather than reporting the traditional Christian story about the birth of baby Jesus, the lessons are about family love and what is really important about gift giving of all kinds.

Personally, children should easily absorb the positive message and the magic of this book. And anyone who seriously criticizes this book’s message is really revealing himself or herself to be a Grinch, who is definitely trying to steal Christmas. There are no politics in this children’s story. The story transcends politics.

Book Review: Arguing With Idiots By Glenn Beck

Glenn Beck: National Debt to Balloon to $806 Billion

James Holland is Author of Adventure Photographer (A Bit of Boston Books/ 2009)

Copyright © 2006-2010, Basil & Spice. All rights reserved.