Customer Reviews

How Murray Saved Christmas

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Having 5 yr. old twins, I've read probably in excess of 600 different children's books to them over the years, including all the classics....this book is without a doubt the funniest book I have ever read to them hands down, period, end of story!....no other book comes even close!....parents will laugh out loud and never tire of reading it....the illustrations are great for the youngest of kids....and as they get older and older they'll start to understand more and more of the text/humor. It's my favorite book to read to my girls at bedtime or anytime! Get it - you definitely won't regret it!

This book is funny. And you don't have to be a kid to enjoy it. But, alas, ultimately my 5 year old daughter loves this book. So much so, as cute as it is, it's starting to get annoying "Daddy, can you read 'How Murry Saved Christmas' again?". I swear I get that like 10 times a day now. Ugh. But, if I was to read a book over and over again, it would be this one. Also, my 13 year old daughter recommends the book "The Little Guide To Happiness". She says it's the best book for teens ever. I read it and it's a sweet little book. You can't go wrong with these.

I have a large collection of xmas books and this one is probably the funniest one that I have. If you have kids they'll love this one.

"How Murray Saved Christmas" is a truly hilarious kids' book (that adults will love, too.) We actually cracked up while we were reading it to our kids! The story is really entertaining and full of great jokes! That's not surprising, since the guy who wrote it used to write for The Simpsons. But the story of Murray is also very sweet and heartwarming - it's a great modern Christmas tale. We got a copy for our kids and will probably buy a bunch more to give as gifts.

My son absolutely loves this book, and the only thing I love more than watching his face light up is the time we spend reading it together at bedtime. Every night, Christmas gets saved, my son falls asleep with a smile on his face, and our word is definitely a much better place.

Enough delightful silliness to give both kids and grownups the giggles! Many of the references - Calvin Klein, Richard Nixon, Kramden and Norton - will only make sense to the grownups. Still, the rhythm of the text, the intricate and colorful illustrations, and the comforting message of even the naughty youngsters receiving Christmas presents make this a new holiday book that kids and their parents will want to read many times.

Make way, Brothers Grimm! There's a new kid in town, and his story is as wise as it is witty, as entertaining as it is enlightening, as . . . I can't keep this up. But the book is fun, it's funny and it's worth every shekel. (And I say all this without being in any way related to its author. I swear). Great for Christmas, or any time you need a little of that Yule-tide cheer.

I cannot believe I've missed this one.

Published in 2000 by Price Stern Sloan, illustrated by award-winning editorial cartoonist David Catrow, and written by Harvard Lampoon and "The Simpson's" writer Mike Reiss, How Murray Saved Christmas is hilarious.

Written in the style of "Twas The Night Before Christmas," Murray is the proprietor of a Jewish diner. After a devilish little elf named Edison plays a practical joke that results in Jolly Ol' St. Nick getting knocked-out cold, it's up to Murray to save the holiday. Understandably, Murray is suspicious about the undertaking when Edison explains the predicament, "I can make you Whatever you wish. A nice piece of fish. Or a spinach knish."

Murray needs more convincing:

"Give me one reason to schlep through the snow,
Bringing billions of presents to kids I don't know.
Will anyone pay me? Will anyone tip?
What if I slip and fracture my hip?"

Eventually, Edison persuades Murray to stand-in for Santa Claus and Murray encounters humorously frustrating obstacles at his first few houses. Murray even has to try to assure a little boy at one of the houses that he, Murray, is in fact Santa by reciting the names of his reindeer, "There's Dumbo and Jumbo and Mason and Dixon, Cosmo and Kramer and Richard M. Nixon." The little boy remains skeptical.

Eventually, Murray gets the hang of present thing and even "...brought toys to the Naughty (a Very long list!)" When he finishes, Murray achieves a sort of cautious mutual respect with Edison Elf as the story ends with a cute, slight modification of a traditional Christmas greeting. It's a very nice ending for a book which includes an equally nice social commentary. The kiddies will enjoy Mom or Dad reading this one aloud, as long as Mom and Dad's laughing-out-loud isn't too distraction.

I bought this book for my then-boyfriend, "Murray," several years ago. He immediately went out and bought all of the copies he could find and gives them to any friend that has a kid. I have read it the past three years to my class, either 4th or 2nd grade, and it is hilarious! A very lively holiday book to make everyone around giggle!

I read this book to my students and they loved it almost as much as I did. Reading it with a Brooklyn accent really added life to the text. Not that it needed it. I teach Kindergarten through 6th grade, and each class enjoyed it for different reasons. I pictured Murray being from New York, and what a wonderful place to be during the holidays.