Customer Reviews

Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas (Dell Young Yearling)

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

 

 

L'Engle's prequel to the Austin Family series extols the virtues of patience and love as a young Vicky waits for the anvent of Christmas and a new baby. Adults and children alike will enjoy savoring the book in anticipation of the holiday. It's a great tool for slowing down the comercialized pace of the season. I'd reccomend the illustrated hardback, but I'm afraid it's out of print!

This book gives the reader a snapshot into the "lives" of the Austen family during a Christmas season. Seven year-old Vicky recounts the days leading up to Christmas Day, in brief, daily narratives. She shares the Austen family tradition of doing one Special Thing, a creative Christmas activity a day, such as making cookies, hanging wreaths, and setting up the nativity scene. Vicky also was assigned the coveted role of the golden angel in the church Christmas Pageant, arole she is determined to perform well, despite the criticism of her by the director and assistant director. The only concern Vicky has is that her mother will have the new baby before Christmas, and miss having Christmas at home with the family. Who will tuck them in and sing them Christmas Carols unil they fall asleep? To make matters worse, Daddy, the town doctor, is often gone on house calls. When snow starts to fall right before Christmas, Vicky and her older brother, John, worry that Daddy won't make it home before Christmas. And what if Mother has that baby early, without Daddy there?
This is a great part of the Austen series written by Madeleine L'Engle; not to be missed. If there's one negative comment, it's that there are not more Austen stories out there, for devoted fans.

I purchased this book for my grand daughter who is eight. I thought she might be entertained by Christmas customs that other families had in a different age.

This book is not by David Brin at all. I have no idea why it is still listed this way, since it is wholly authored by Madeleine L'Engle. The book is a little heavy-handed in extolling the Christian virtues of the protagonist. However, if you are looking for a gift for a child who anticipating the arrival of a new sibling, this would not be a bad choice.