A Cobtown Christmas : From the Diaries of Lucky Hart [Hardcover]

Julia Van Nutt (Author), Robert Van Nutt (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Cobtown | Publication Date: October 13, 1998

Lucky Hart loves Christmas. She loves making garlands and wreaths, baking spice cookies, and deciding on just the right presents for her family and friends. This Christmas, Lucky is also excited about singing in front of all the people of Cobtown. But the festivities take an unexpected turn. A lost blind man, lonely and far from home, arrives speaking "gibberish" no one understands...the pump organ breaks...a sick dog is found and Lucky and Oinkey the pig tend to him.

Saddened by these events, Lucky wonders what kind of holiday it will be. Little does she suspect that the town's annual Christmas Eve party will bring a bounty of surprises to fill her heart--and the hearts of everyone in Cobtown--with the joy, magic, and music of the Christmas season.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-4?This story is based on writings by the author's great-grandmother, Lucky Hart. Lucky is a spirited, happy child, and her diary entries detail the daily adventures and preparations that give readers the flavor of a 19th-century small-town Christmas. The book has an old-fashioned tone, from the Tasha Tudor-like illustrations to the "yellowed diary" look of the pages, featuring "extras" that a young girl might save, like receipts, ticket stubs, recipes, etc. Unfortunately, illustrations face pages of dense text that will limit the appeal for today's children.?LF
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 3^-4. Like entries in the tremendously popular Dear America series, this picture book for older readers, set in 1845, is written as a diary. The diarist is Lucky Hart, a resident of the picturesque village of Cobtown. The typeface resembles clear hand printing, and Lucky looks like an American Girls doll brought to life as she sits at her desk, writing with a quill pen. There is some astute marketing involved here. In fact, this is the first book in a planned series. But marketing aside, the book has a remarkable amount of charm. Lucky's voice is artless and natural, and the action flows smoothly, offering surprises and a tear-jerking happy ending as a mysterious blind man reunites with his lost dog. Great attention was paid to book design, with illustrations including full-color paintings as well as authentic-looking newspaper clippings, recipes, and other related items that Lucky has apparently glued into her diary. The final touch is a Cobtown Hymn, complete with music. With its good-hearted story and cheery folk art^-style illustrations, this stands nicely above mundane holiday outpourings. Susan Dove Lempke

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers; First Edition edition (October 13, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385325568
• ISBN-13: 978-0385325561
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,784,510 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Cobtown Christmas, December 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Cobtown Christmas : From the Diaries of Lucky Hart (Hardcover)

A great granddaughter discovers a family diary from 1845. The story of a special Christmas in Cobtown unfolds. Art is a cartoon-like character with excellent illustrations in lively colors. A great read - includes receipes for dog soup! I highly recommend this family type, holiday book for students from K through 5 grades.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An instant classic, October 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: A Cobtown Christmas : From the Diaries of Lucky Hart (Hardcover)

The Van Nutts bring us instantly back to a lost era full of magic. Somehow they have mastered the art of historical accuracy without boredom or cheesiness- something so few artists can do. The drawings have all the skill of Van Allsburg but more warmth and depth for their genuineness, while the text makes you long to search through your grandmother's closet in search of hidden treasures. It's an instant classic and a must-have for someone who takes kid's books seriously.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rare find, January 8, 2008

By 

P. Graves - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Cobtown Christmas : From the Diaries of Lucky Hart (Hardcover)

My daughter and I have read tons and tons of books. This one is going on the "great list". BTW, not many go on that list. The story is absolutley perfect for Christmastime or anytime. Written in a diary format starting Dec. 21 through Christmas Day, a young girl, in 1845, tells of her life and wonderful small community and a Christmas miracle. Absolutely wonderful character names include Fliberty Jibbert, Valentine McGinty and Aunt Heddy Peggler. If you are trying to keep plenty of innocent and great literature around for your children to read, this is one to keep around. You CAN judge a children's book by its cover.