Mim's Christmas Jam [Hardcover]

Andrea Davis Pinkney (Author), Brian Pinkney (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

The best part of Christmas is the whole family savoring Mim's belly-hum jam together. But this Christmas, Pap is far away in New York City, digging a hole for something called the subway, and his family is missing him something awful. Pap aches to be home, but the heartless foremen of his dig site have decided there will be no break, not even for Christmas. It looks like it's going to be one lonely holiday for everyone . . . until young Saraleen and Royce send their pap a gift that may just inspire a Christmas miracle.
The recipient of a Coretta Scott King Author Honor and a two-time Caldecott Honor illustrator have created a warm and magical holiday classic about the power of love, complete with the recipe for Mim's Christmas jam.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In the Pinkneys' (Duke Ellington) hands, a tasty family tradition and New York City history make a flavorsome pairing. It's 1915, and Christmas just isn't the same when Pap must be away from Mim and their children while he works to build the New York City subway system. But a jar of Mim's "belly-hum jam" unexpectedly works its own small miracles. Vibrant scratchboard compositions skillfully contrast the dank underground construction site with the warmth of home. Ages 3-7.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

reS-Gr 2-During the Christmas season of 1915, Pap can't be with his family in Pennsylvania because he's digging the new subway tunnels in New York City. To cheer him up, his children send him a jar of their mother's famous belly-hum jam, one taste of which softens the hearts of two mean foremen, who give the workers Christmas off. The scratchboard illustrations are equally effective whether depicting a snowy landscape, a homey kitchen, or the gloomy dankness of the subway tunnel (where the jar of jam glows like a ruby). A satisfying slice of life with a rich and delicious message.-E. M.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1st edition (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152019189
• ISBN-13: 978-0152019181
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,513,919 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Belly-hum of a story!, March 31, 2002

By 

Bettie Fisher (Dexter, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mim's Christmas Jam (Hardcover)

It's 1915 and Pap is working on the new subway in New York, keeping him from his family on Christmas. His wife, Mim, and children, Saraleen and Royce, miss him very much, so they make and send him some of the family's traditional holiday recipe - Belly-hum jam. This jam is so good, Pap is able to use it to sweeten the sour attitudes of the foremen, Mr. Mead and Mr. Evans, who send the men home to celebrate with their families. Luckily for us readers, the recipe follows the story.
Once again the Pinkneys have brought us a wonderful, meaningful story, this one a touching holiday tale. The scratchboard illustrations are beautiful. I always look for new books by this family of authors and illustrators to add their work to my school library's collection.