The Gift of the Christmas Cookie: Sharing the True Meaning of Jesus' Birth (Hardcover)

by Dandi Daley Mackall (Author), Deborah Chabrian (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2–It's the Depression, and Jack's father in away from the family, in search of work. On Christmas Eve, a wonderful aroma momentarily lifts Jack's spirits until he finds out that the cookies baking in the oven are for the needy. To ease his disappointment, Jack's mother tells him about the origin of Christmas cookies. During the Middle Ages, a woodcarver and his wife made cookie molds to help them tell the story of the Nativity. Jack's mother surprises him with an angel cookie on Christmas morning and, in the spirit of the story he's been told, he gives it to a destitute stranger who comes to the door begging for food. While at times the prose is too precise in pointing out the parallels between the two eras (e.g., Jack…wondered if times in the Middle Ages had been harder than they were right now, and if boys missed their fathers like he missed his) and the appearance of the poor stranger at the door is contrived, the overall lesson of giving prevails. The atmospheric illustrations depict Jack's kitchen as spare but welcoming. The mouthwatering cookies look as if they can satisfy both physical and spiritual hunger. Refreshingly stripped of holiday commercialism, this is an appropriate title for those who wish to introduce a new perspective to the Christmas story.–Joanna K. Fabicon, Los Angeles Public Library
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Product Description
Jack helps his mother bake special Christmas cookies and learns about how people long ago used Christmas cookies to tell others the story of Jesus’ birth. This story inspires families to share this important tradition with others.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Zonderkidz (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310713285
• ISBN-13: 978-0310713289
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 9.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #584,849 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truth & Love - Great Christmas Match In One Book!, September 21, 2008

By	Shirley Priscilla Johnson "Author/Reviewer -... (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

In this wonderful book we are taken back to a simple time, a time where money was not abundant and life had more than its share of challenges. We meet Jack, whose father has had to travel away from home to find work. Unfortunately he is not able to be with his family during Christmas and this saddens Jack.
Jack's mother begins to make Christmas cookies. Jack is excited at first, but soon learns that these cookies will be given to needy. Jack does not understand for surely they were the ones who were needy. His mom shares with him the origin of cookie making and the meaning behind it. At first Jack isn't impressed, but when he helps a homeless man with the one cookie he is given his heart rejoices at sharing the true message of Christmas, Jesus.
This is a beautiful tale. Wrapping a story around the true beginning of cookie making it touches the very core of the meaning of that wonderful day. The illustrations are very realistic and definitely help to bring the story alive. Recommended.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Gift is sharing, November 25, 2008

By	DaBrowns (Connecticut Hell!) - See all my reviews

This is a wonderful book. Living in Germany, when you've had the pleasure of making friends, especially the older Deutsch, you will get a plate of cookies at Christmas! This is a great gift to give as well, by "Sharing the True Meaning of Jesus' Birth".

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome story!, November 25, 2008

By	Reader Views "www.readerviews.com" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

Reviewed by Brianne Plach (age 11) for Reader Views (11/08)

It's a tradition! Every Christmas my mother and I always make Christmas cookies. It is a tradition that I look forward to every year. Maybe it's just good quality time, creating something delicious with Mom, but is there more to it than that?

"The Gift of the Christmas Cookie" explains the history of the Christmas cookie. In the Middle Ages, one family saw poverty everywhere they looked. The father wanted to use his talents to create something out of wood for the people in poverty. The mother saw the hungry looks on their faces. Together the family creates something that will serve both needs. It's a lesson which young Jack learned.

Jack is the main character who has to deal with his own disappointment about his father not being able to be home for Christmas. He and his mother share the tradition of making Christmas cookies for the needy. While making the cookies, Jack learns the more important story of why Christmas cookies have become such a terrific tradition. Dandi Daley Mackall, author, and Deborah Chabrian, illustrator use their talents to create a wonderful book for the whole family to share. Reading "The Gift of the Christmas Cookie" together before making your Christmas cookies could become a new tradition this year!