Customer Reviews

Christmas Remembered

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm an adult (without children) who loves children's picture books and I have always enjoyed those of dePaola. This is supposedly, according to the jacket copy, his first book for all ages, but it isn't really. He tries to pitch it at both kids and adults, but I can't imagine many of the younger children most of his books are aimed at getting interested in these short vignettes about dePaola's most memorable Christmases. As an adult, I was interested in them, but they felt like abridged stories from Reader's Digest and I wanted to know more about the people involved, especially since most of the Christmases narrated are not rich in incident, but in character. Still, I found the simple sentence style charming, and the moods created were nicely nostalgic. The high point is when he relates his Christmas with the people who inspired the movie "Come to the Stable," a favorite holiday movie of mine. The illustrations, while quite lovely, are often frustratingly vague, especially when he has included a rudimentary description of something in his text that would seem to cry out for an illustration, and it's not there.

Over the years, Tomie DePaola has mesmerized people of all ages with his breathtaking illustrations, and engaging stories. But none of his previous work can compare to CHRISTMAS REMEMBERED. For once, DePaola fans are given the opportunity to receive a sneak peek into the world of the DePaola family. DePaola takes readers on a trip down memory lane as he recounts the Christmases he shared with his family and friends as he was growing up.

CHRISTMAS REMEMBERED is home to fifteen individual stories, in addition to a lively - yet brief - preface. Each story is short, but sweet, and can be read in one sitting. My personal favorite would have to be A CANDY CANE CHRISTMAS, as DePaola invites readers to accompany him as he recounts the year he worked at a candy store, where he made candy of all different shapes and sizes. Of course, each story is equally impressive, and harbors an illustration or two, depicting the wonderful prose.

DePaola's stories bring readers back to a simpler time when TV's were scarce, and family was everyone's number one priority. Families will love CHRISTMAS REMEMBERED, and may even find themselves reading a story a night until Christmas Day is upon us. A Christmas collection that won't soon be forgotten.

Erika Sorocco

Freelance Reviewer

Great book with lots of Christmas memories. Takes you back to your own Christmas pasts!

When the book was published I sent copies to my daughter's school in the East and never heard a word back. When she, a teacher, came to California for Christmas she announced that she had a surprise for our Christmas tree. She and another teacher spent all Christmas Eve morning making paper roses for the tree a la Tommie. It was magnificent with just white lights.

A great book from a favorite author - especially suited to reading aloud to children who enjoy Mr de Paola's

books.