Can't Wait Till Christmas [Hardcover]

Mike Huckabee (Author), Jed Henry (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: October 5, 2010 | Age Range: 4 - 8 years

A New York Times bestseller!

One of America's most prominent and personable politicians shares his mischievous side in a heartwarming story of a childhood Christmas.

Mike is desperate to get a football for Christmas. Then one day in the middle of December, a box that looks the exact right size appears under his family's Christmas tree. Mike just can't handle the temptation! He convinces his sister Pat that they should open their gifts and play with them THIS INSTANT. And that's what they do.

But on Christmas morning, the muddy football gives them away. After talking about the real meaning of Christmas and how some things are worth waiting for, Mike and Pat learn the benefit of patience, making the following Christmas more delightful than ever.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mike Huckabee won eight states and more than four million votes during the 2008 Republican presidential primaries. He served as the governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007 and as lieutenant governor from 1993 to 1996. Before politics, he worked in broadcasting and advertising and spent twelve years as a pastor and denominational leader. He lives with his wife, Janet, in North Little Rock, Arkansas. They have three grown children, three dogs, and at least that many friends!

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile; First Edition edition (October 5, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399255397
• ISBN-13: 978-0399255397
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 0.4 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,840 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 53 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I remember doing this... October 23, 2010

By Jason Frost TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

This is story about two children who do not have the patience to wait until Christmas to open their gifts. Right there you start smiling because this is something to which we all can relate. Most adults (including yours truly) cannot wait to flop down our hard-earned money when a new toy/gadgets debuts. Seen the lines for the newest iPhone, iPad, or XBOX 360? Yeah, so how we expect our children to sit like good little people of society when we ask them what they want, buy them what they want, and then tease them by wrapping it and putting it under a pretty tree with FLASHING lights, and then telling them "hands off". Oh, the horror! I know, I know, I know but you know what I mean.

One of the things that made me smile with this book was seeing just how far Mike and Pat, the children, would go. It seems that a story that illustrates a part of our childhood and maybe what we are going through with our own kids is the best kind of story.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The kiddos at Christmas.... December 21, 2010

By David Snethen

Format:Hardcover

This book is amazing!! It's a great lesson for my children, not just for Christmas time, but for learning that it's important to wait for things and to be patient. There are many places in my children's lives where I can apply the lessons they learn in this book. Additionally, the pictures are very nice. I definitely recommend this book for anyone with kids this Christmas or any time of the year.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "Can't Wait Till christmas" December 14, 2010

By Janice

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a really fun book to read. The drawings are so great & wonderful to look at. I highly recommend this book for a really enjoyable time with your kids and/or grandkids. I like it a lot!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Christmas Character January 13, 2011

By E. Amerio

Format:Hardcover

First of all, let me say that I really love the cute illustrations of the book.
Then, I would like to add, besides celebrating how rewarding the virtue of patience can be, this short Christmas story stresses the importance of Character. In his book "Do the Right Thing" at page 30 Mike Huckabee says "Character has been defined as "what we are when no one but God is watching." Character is believing that even if I don't "get caught", the rightness or wrongness of an action is more about the action itself and not just the discovery of it by others." So, the kids Mike and Pat learn what Character is about, when they understand their sort of cheating was wrong, not because they were discovered by their parents, but because they slowly perceive that what they did makes them feel bad. In fact, when you cheat, whatever the cheating is about, the first person you damage is yourself, and those who refrain from cheating are the ones who have better lives thanks to their Character. I believe this is the main lesson we can take from this short tale, which can be an important reminder that behaving according to acceptable moral codes, based on the respect of others, starting from our childhood, is essential in order to have a society founded on reciprocal trust, where it is possible for us to build a solid future.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Christmas book for kids January 5, 2011

By Berta M

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Great book! Written in a fun style, with great illustrations. Mike Huckabee is fun to read, with great values presented in a captivating way. This children's book has just the right amount of pages to get the point across and still keep the child's interest right up to the punchline. A great addition to your Christmas collection.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A fun Christmas book July 8, 2011

By J.G. Blaine

Format:Hardcover

The book has a good premise and basically a good story. A good lesson on patience. The writing could have been tightened a bit. The wording of some of the sentences seemed a bit above the intended audience of young children.

I also liked Jed Henry's illustrations. He has a unique style for drawing characters. What really impressed me though was the detail of the house. Little details in the illustrations were reminiscent of a late 1950s home (when the story would take place if it is an actual biography of Mr. Huckabee). I'm interested to see where Mr. Henry's illustration career goes.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I "Can't Wait Till Christmas!" either. December 22, 2010

By Laura

Format:Hardcover

Merriam-Websters Definition of TILL
1chiefly Scottish : to
2or 'til also til : until
See till defined for English-language learners »
Examples of TILL
We won't finish till next week.
The event doesn't start till tomorrow.
Origin of TILL
Middle English, from Old English til; akin to Old Norse til to, till, Old English til good
First Known Use: before 12th century

This book is bound to be a classic. I bought four, for my kids and grandkids, and they loved it! I loved it too; it brought back similar, wonderful childhood memories. Merry Christmas!

3.0 out of 5 stars Not for families who still believe in Santa Claus June 8, 2013

By Donna McNary

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Not for families who still believe in Santa Claus. Good thoughts about waiting for things, but not good to read to kids who "still believe".