Holidays Around The World: Celebrate Christmas: With Carols, Presents, and Peace [Hardcover]

Deborah Heiligman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 9, 2007 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up | Series: Holidays Around the World

December 25th is a day of peace and festivity, the culmination of a season of worldwide goodwill. Carol singers give voice to the joyful spirit, trees are decorated, and gifts exchanged between families and friends. A name-check of the gift-bearers awaited by children reflects the global nature of the celebration: Pere Noel in France, Santa Claus in America, La Befana in Italy, and the Three Kings of Hispanic cultures. With first-person narrative, informative back matter, and evocative photography, Celebrate Christmas is a rich historical and cultural resource for children.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The main text is succinct and appropriate for reading aloud....Decorating the pages are numerous crisp, full-color photos depicting celebrations....An attractive, informative title that will be welcomed in any library." —Booklist (Review of Celebrate Hanukkah)

"These books are such an easy way to show your child the different cultures and celebrations around the world. Heiligman does a great job of bringing otherwise complex subjects to life for children." —Jellymom Book Reviews

About the Author

Deborah Heiligman is the award-winning author of many children’s books. Her ability to simplify complex subjects for young readers, specializing in the areas of science and social studies, has brought her wide acclaim. Her National Geographic titles include Honeybees, Babies: All You Need to Know, and High Hopes: A Photobiography of John F. Kennedy. She lives in New York City. Check out www.Deborah Heiligman.com and see what’s new to CELEBRATE....

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books (October 9, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1426301227
• ISBN-13: 978-1426301223
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 0.3 x 10.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #844,445 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Deborah Heiligman has written more than twenty books for children, most of them nonfiction, including three other biographies. She is married to Jonathan Weiner, who won a Pulitzer Prize in 1994 for The Beak of the Finch.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a beautiful book for a child to read or be read to in order to learn about this special Christian holiday!, July 13, 2009

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Holidays Around The World: Celebrate Christmas: With Carols, Presents, and Peace (Hardcover)

Toward the end of December there is a very special Christian holiday called Christmas. On December 25 the birth of "Jesus Christ, the Son of God" is celebrated. There are many different ways people celebrate. Some celebrate with gifts while others celebrate with prayers and "thoughts of peace." It is a time of to be with your family and celebrate this joyous occasion. It was uncertain as to when Jesus as actually born, but it was thought that around the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, would be a good time to celebrate and that is why December 25th was chosen.

In this book we hear the story of Mary and the angel who told her she would have a baby who "would be the Son of God." Mary and Joseph, her husband, went to Bethlehem where this child was born. His name was Jesus. When he was born "a host of angels appeared in the sky and proclaimed `Peace on Earth.'" The three wise men came bearing gifts. The only guide they had was a star in the sky.

This book tells of the many ways people celebrate Christmas around the world. Advent wreaths are made, people give food and gifts to the needy, they volunteer in food kitchens, donate toys "to children in needy families," visit the ill, make lists of presents we'd like, decorate our homes, send cards, bake cookies, set up a Christmas tree, decorate the tree with special ornaments, sing Christmas carols, go to church and enjoy a nice meal on Christmas day.

This is a beautiful book for a child to read or be read to in order to learn about this special Christian holiday. There are numerous photographs, mostly taken in the United States, of people around the world preparing or celebrating the holiday. They don't appear to be "staged" and that makes them more appealing. In the back of the book there are more facts about Christmas, directions on how to make "Memory Books," information about Three Kings Day, a recipe for Christmas Cake, a glossary, a letter from the Reverend Nathan Humphrey and additional recommended book and web site resources.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Expected More, February 17, 2010

By 

C. andries "cinderella" (Louisiana) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Holidays Around The World: Celebrate Christmas: With Carols, Presents, and Peace (Hardcover)

Although the book somewhat explains Christmas in different areas of the world-this book could have been better. Doesn't hold the attention of a child very long.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Holidays Around the World, December 9, 2011

By 

Catherine J. Duncan "Just Love It" (Oregon) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Holidays Around The World: Celebrate Christmas: With Carols, Presents, and Peace (Hardcover)

What the heck is this? I don't mind leaving reviews but I will not write a book to give it. I do have other things to do with my time, like reading the book.