Secrets of a Christmas Box [Hardcover]

Steven Hornby (Author), Judy Reveal (Editor), Golriz Fanai (Editor), Justin Gerard (Illustrator), Gabriel Hordos (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2009 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Enter the magical festive world of the Christmas 'Tree-Dwellers', as Larry, a Christmas snowman, wakes up after the long sleep in the Christmas box, to find his brother is missing.
Desperate to find him before Christmas, Larry, along with his girlfriend Debbie, a newcomer Splint, and Larry's companion Tinsel, break the laws of the 'Tree-Elders' and escape down the tree and away into the house, to look for clues.
Away from the safety of the tree and in an unfamiliar world, the Dwellers stumble upon a dark and sinister secret that threatens their entire world. Can Larry and the group make it back to the tree in time to warn the others, and finally uncover the truth behind the 'Secrets of a Christmas Box'?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5–Each Christmas season, while the Fergusons sleep, the ornaments on their tree magically come to life. When Larry the snowman discovers that his brother Terrence didn't arrive on the tree this year, he and his fellow ornaments set out to find him. However, leaving the tree is against the laws of the Elders and puts the search team in danger of facing the wrath of Tree-Lord, an immobile, pinecone-shaped light. Their journey is beset by dangers and infighting, but they persevere, eventually discovering Tree-Lord's dastardly secret and battling his squadron of Army-Lights. Illustrations enliven the characters, but the writing lacks polish. There is far too much exposition of things that readers should be able to infer from the action. Awkward and incomplete sentences, unorthodox use of language (&freaked as a verb in lieu of shouted), and poor pacing detract from what might have been a good story.–Linda Israelson, Los Angeles Public Library END

Review

A highly original and well thought out fantasy novel. The story is full of memorable and imaginative characters, adventure, and certainly a good dose of suspense. At the same time the reader will be reminded of warm memories and feelings that the Christmas season brings. A great first novel by Mr. Hornby and a fun read for young and old alike. 'Highly recommended' --Robert Davies, Entertainment Industry

Decorating the Christmas tree will never be the same! Reading this enchanting story together, creates another layer to the Christmas traditions and reinforce the importance of family. (Hint to family... Don t leave anyone in your Christmas box...)
All will be revealed in this Flippin' wonderful book. --Gayle Meador, Book Critic

Presents a delightful and detailed festive world that sweeps the reader off into a compelling story arc. Written with an approachable charm and wit, the story establishes several likable fantastical characters that should be appealing to kids and adults alike. By establishing a richly realized miniature world, the story is able to cleverly turn everyday situations and objects into an increasingly intricate set of tense predicaments for the lead characters. It then manages to drive through to a conclusion that exposes and addresses perhaps one of the most human of foibles.
An entertaining and 'highly recommended' read. --Richard Thompson, PH.D, Oxford

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 248 pages
• Publisher: Ecky Thump Books, Inc; 1st edition (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0981588301
• ISBN-13: 978-0981588308
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,154,070 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Steven Hornby is a multi award winning animator, bringing stories to life for over 15 years in visual effects and animated movies. Born in Preston, England, he attended Lancaster University for Design Communication for 3 years, which although had nothing to do with animation or telling wonderful stories, introduced him to the world of computer graphics.

In 2000, after working on a set of commercials in Europe and Australasia, and his own short film, "Zzz Night", he joined the animation crew on the Academy Award winning "The Lord of the Rings" films in New Zealand, which is where he received a VES Award for his animation on J.R.R. Tolkien's fictional character, Gollum.

Since then, he has been busy as a lead animator on "I, Robot" (2004), "King Kong" (2005), Disney's "Meet the Robinson's" (2007) and "Glago's Guest" (2008), and more recently Dreamworks's "Kung Fu Panda" (2008) and "How to Train Your Dragon" (In Theaters 2010).

This brings us nicely to the present, where after 3 years of writing, he has just completed the children's fantasy novel, "Secrets of a Christmas Box" to be released in September 2009. He initially planned the book as a screenplay, after spending several years having the story running around in his head, but instead turned it into his first children's novel.

Aside from the busy hours at Dreamworks Animation, he has already begun work on the sequel to the Christmas novel, and also a new fantasy adventure, "The Mist Catchers".

He currently lives in Burbank, California, with his wonderful family.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hubby says "It's the perfect December read.", November 7, 2009

By 

365andMe - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Secrets of a Christmas Box (Hardcover)

"Secrets of a Christmas Box," by Steven Hornby, is a charming Christmas tale of family and friendship. The Fergusons have a Christmas tradition of collecting and storing their Christmas ornaments in a big box with "Christmas Box" written on all the sides. After the tree is up, the family hangs each ornament with loving care. Sometimes the ornaments don't make it to the next year. This is the ornaments' story.

At night when everyone is asleep, the ornaments come alive, socialize, and eat pine needles. Larry, the snowman ornament, his dog, Tinsel, and his girlfriend, Debbie, a girl reindeer, are searching for Larry's brother. A new ornament, Splint, a wooden soldier, thought he might still be in the Christmas Box. Against the rules of the Tree-Lord, who says ornaments must stay on the tree, the three journeys to the garage to look for the box. This adventure is filled with mysteries and dangers.

Hornby wrote 24 chapters so you could read one per night from December 1 to Christmas Eve. This is an English family, and while the traditions are the same as American, the foods are not. With Yorkshire pudding, trifle and mulled wine, the foods are a bit different. However, crayons under the fridge seem to be a universal problem! This enjoyable and delightful Christmas book and can be easily read aloud to the little ones.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Christmas tale is perfect for families during the holidays, December 6, 2009

By 

Christina Lockstein "Christy's Book Blog" (Oconto Falls, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Secrets of a Christmas Box (Hardcover)

Secrets of a Christmas Box by Steven Hornby is a perfect read aloud story for families. The tree-dwellers wake up each year after being placed on the Christmas tree and circle the branches looking for old friends and meeting new ones. Larry the snowman and Debbie the reindeer girl are thrilled to see each other again but devastated to find that Larry's brother is missing. Along with newcomer Splint, a wooden soldier, they break the rules of the Elder and leave the tree to find their sleeping place, the Christmas Box, in hopes of discovering a clue. The story begins as a charming imaginative tale about what happens on the Christmas tree when everyone has gone to sleep, but transforms into a gripping thriller, still appropriate for children, about the meaning of friendship. There are a few slightly scary spots, making this appropriate for ages 6 and up, but the story is compelling and kids will love the idea that their tree comes to life each night.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a gem of a book, September 14, 2009

By 

Chris M. Kirshbaum - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Secrets of a Christmas Box (Hardcover)

this vastly enjoyable tale is a perfect bed-time read for the kids. following the adventures of the

characters as they went on their journey was a pleasure. the pages turned easily, and i found myself

rooting for them more and more as the plot unfolded. this book manages to combine light-hearted enjoyability with an engaging tension that kept me involved until the very end. and, it passes the ultimate litmus test: i would, and will, read it to my niece.

highly recommended!