Customer Reviews

Secrets of a Christmas Box

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"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.

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.

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!

Traditional holiday magic has returned in the form of "The Secrets of a Christmas Box" by Steven Hornby. This delightful holiday story takes us back to our childhood, but also gives us a twist. A much fun as it is to revisit our holiday dreams, this story takes us to another level in the world of fantasy.

Hornby's characters - the decorations on the Christmas Tree - must solve a mystery and in so doing, deal with some dark issues. Larry, the snowman ornament and the hero of the story and his girlfriend, Debbie, come to life as they jump right out at us from the tree on the very first night. With Splint and Tinsel, Larry's 'pet,' we go on a journey to search for Larry's brother, who is mysteriously missing.

Larry, Debbie, Splint, and Tinsel disobey the orders of the Tree-Elders who do not want them leaving the tree, but the need to find his brother drives Larry forward. We travel across dark rooms and cold floors, encounter evil antagonists at every turn, discover the truth about Larry's brother, and finally end up back at the tree where the final confrontation takes place, and it is up to Larry to save everyone and bring tradition back to Christmas.

The key word is tradition, and this book is destined to be on everyone's Christmas reading list for years to come. This is a story witha bittersweet ending but one not to be missed.

Christmas means a lot of things to many different people. There is an undeniable spirit in the air, the gatherings with close family and friends, and the traditions we repeat year after year. One of those traditions is the decorating of the Christmas tree. After reading this book, you will never look at decorating the Christmas tree in the same way again.

In most families each ornament has a special meaning; baby's first Christmas, the ornaments received as wedding gifts, the ornaments made by the children. In this story the Christmas tree is decorated with ornaments that all have special meanings, too. The children have their favorites and the placement of the ornaments is important. But when the family goes to bed for the night, and the Christmas lights on the tree are turned off, those ornaments come to life.

Each ornaments checks out their location on the tree, prime real-estate is at the front of the tree, not towards the back, of course. And as they awaken from a years slumber in the Christmas box, they begin looking for old family and friends. When a Snowman ornament named Larry can't find his brother, he and a few pals set out to locate the Christmas box and bring him back to the tree.

This story was completely charming and the pencil drawings that accompany the pages are fantastic; they really help to tell the tale and stir the imagination. Told in 24 chapters the author wishes the book to be read, aloud, as a family one chapter at a time starting on December 1st and ending on Christmas Eve. This is a tradition I plan on starting this year. As I finished this story this morning, I placed the book in my own Christmas box, and plan on reading Chapter 1 on December 1st. I look forward to seeing this story light up my sons face.

Secrets of a Christmas Box brings all the wonder of Christmas to life. I can't wait to decorate my tree this year, I will be more careful about the placement of the ornaments and make sure each ornament gets a little bit of attention. This is a story that is meant to be shared and enjoyed by all ages, I highly recommend it.

Cherise Everhard, August 2009

Secrets of a Christmas is a wonderful story with indearing characters and
a heart warming message.
From the first page to the exciting last it takes you on an amazing adventure.
I would highly recommend this book to all ages, I think adults and kids will love it.
Do yourself a favor and buy this book.
Micheal Kiely ( Animator ).

I started this book on December 1st and have been reading one chapter a night, intending to finish up on December 24th. I actually ended up having to finish the last two chapters on the 22nd. Holiday travel was going to interrupt my schedule.

This was a cute Christmas story. I don't think I will ever look at tree lights and ornaments the same again. I will say it had more violence in it than I was expecting and some scary moments. I would be okay with older children reading it. I'm not sure if it would be too scary for younger ones.

I really loved the character Larry. You just wanted to hug him. Debbie on the other hand was a bit annoying but I'm pretty sure that was his intent. Oh and lets not forget Tinsel. He was the cutest tinsel/dog I've ever read. Okay well the only tinsel/dog I've ever read, but he was still cute. Then there was Splint. He was a great little leader.

I loved all the illustrations in the book. They helped bring the book to life. I wish more books today did that.

At the end of the day I enjoyed this book a lot and reading it one chapter a night with your kids (older, younger, I would recommend parent skim book before deciding) would be a great way to spend the month of December. (received from publisher for review)

This book was a wonderful surprise! A very original story that had a hard time putting down. I had intended on reading a chapter a day up from Dec. 1 right up to Christmas but ended up blowing through the book in a couple of days. I'm looking forward to reading it again with my daughters and may make it a tradition. Nicely done Mr. Hornby! More please!

When I read that Steven Hornby had initially planned "Secrets of a Christmas Box" as a screenplay, it made perfect sense. It would make a wonderful seasonal film, and as it reads it can surely become a Christmas classic. There is just the right amount of make-believe and adventure with Larry, Debbie, Tinsel and Splint. Secrets of a Christmas Box is a story of love, friendship, family, loyalty and courage. It is sure to be loved by children and grown ups alike.

Publisher: Ecky Thump Books, Inc; 1st edition (September 1, 2009), 248 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.

It's Christmas Eve, and the family has pulled out the Christmas Box to decorate the tree. They string the lights and strategically place their ornaments on the branches, before celebrating the magical evening. But what happens once they turn in for the night?

As the family sleeps, awaiting Santa's arrival, the tree-dwellers come awake and have their own celebration. After a year in the Christmas Box, they're eager to enjoy each other's company and snack on pine needles. But not all tree-dwellers rejoin the tree every year, which leads Larry, Debbie, Tinsel, and newcomer, Splint, on a journey to find the Christmas Box for some answers.

Not all is well in the land of tree-dwellers, and there is malice among the revelry. Will this brave foursome find out what's going on, and will they make it back to the tree in time to join the others for the big sleep?

Secrets of a Christmas Box is a fun holiday tale, with romance, intrigue, friendship and adventure. Although there are some sad moments, all ends well as the tree-dwellers finally find safety. Reading this unique Christmas story every year may well become a new family tradition.

Reviewer: Alice Berger