We Believe in Christmas [Hardcover]

Karen Kingsbury (Author), Daniel J. Brown (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

'If we want the perfect star to shine upon our tree, Look and see that Brightest Star, and there will Christmas be.' On Christmas we give and get presents, we sing songs, and we decorate our homes. But what is Christmas really about? Is our happy holiday a Holy Day? Find out why we place the star on the Christmas tree. Imagine Christmas guests as travelers of long ago. And let the beautiful song 'Silent Night' fill your mind with pictures of the night Jesus was born. Because Christmas is God's gift to us---and if we look around and remember, we'll learn to see the real Christmas. This endearing story by bestselling novelist Karen Kingsbury will capture the hearts of children and parents and grandparents will appreciate the applications they can share.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2–This plodding poem never manages to convey the wondrous awe to which the author alludes. Then when we talk of wondrous awe,/no matter what we see,/let's think back in wondrous awe, and/there will Christmas be. Brown's vibrant, if somewhat static, paintings show a multiethnic group of children and adults getting costumed and ready for the traditional pageant, while the leaden couplets try to coax readers into thinking about the true meaning of the holiday. The disconnect between the words and the more engaging illustrations limit the appeal of this offering.
Anne Connor, Los Angeles Public Library

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury is America's favorite inspirational novelist, with nearly 20 million books in print. Her Life-Changing Fiction has produced multiple bestsellers, including Unlocked, Leaving, Take One, Between Sundays, Even Now, One Tuesday Morning, Beyond Tuesday Morning, and Ever After, which was named the 2007 Christian Book of the Year. An award-winning author and newly published songwriter, Karen has several movies optioned for production, and her novel Like Dandelion Dust was made into a major motion picture, now available on DVD. Karen is also a nationally known speaker with several women's groups including Women of Faith. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, Don, their daughter and five sons, three of whom are adopted from Haiti. SPANISH BIO: Karen Kingsbury es autora de mas de treinta titulos, incluyendo algunos EXITOS de venta, uno de los cuales se uso para la pelicula de la semana de CBS. Es una de las atoras favoritas de novelas inspiradoras.Se han impreso mas de dos millones de ejemplares de sus libros. Kingsbury reside en el estado de Washington con Don, su esposo, y sus seis hijos, tres de los cuales los adotatron en Haiti.

Growing up, I traced sports stars from newspapers, was fascinated by illustrations in magazines, and chose the books I read by the cover art. Thirty years later, I have painted major leaguers, seen my work in magazines, and may have influenced someone's purchase of a book with my artwork. Some people tell me I'm still just a little boy.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Zonderkidz (September 16, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310712122
• ISBN-13: 978-0310712121
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #255,428 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury is America's #1 inspirational novelist. There are nearly 20 million copies of her award-winning books in print, including several million copies sold in the past year. Karen has written more than 50 novels, ten of which have hit #1 on national lists.

Karen's newest novel, Unlocked, released Oct. 12 and has stayed in Amazon's top fifty for the past few weeks. Unlocked debuted at No. 3 on the New York Times Bestsellers list. Another recent and popular title of Karen's is Shades of Blue - the story of a 28-year-old ad executive who is six weeks away from marrying the girl he loves. But as he prepares for his wedding, something brings up his past girlfriend - a girl he dated in high school. He realizes he can't go forward and say, "I do," until he goes back to Holden Beach, finds the girl he loved back then, and tell her he's sorry.

Karen's novel Like Dandelion Dust is the subject of a major motion picture currently in theaters. Like Dandelion Dust stars Academy Award winning Mira Sorvino and Barry Pepper, along with Cole Hauser and Maxwell Perry Cotton. The film has received more than 30 awards in the Film Festival Circuit including numerous Best Picture awards. Several of Karen's books are currently under theatrical development.

Karen's most recent series - the Above the Line Series, which began with Take One, in March, 2009 and wrapped up in June, 2010 with Take Four. The series is about two producers looking to change the world with the power of film. The Above the Line series also includes Karen's popular characters from the fictitious Baxter Family. The Baxters were first introduced to readers through the five-book Redemption series, and then the five-book Firstborn series, and finally the four-book Sunrise series.

Dubbed by Time Magazine as the Queen of Christian Fiction, Karen has also been a featured guest on the Today Show, Fox News, USA Today, and numerous other television programs and magazines. Her fiction has made her one of the country's favorite storytellers. Others of her emotionally gripping titles include the 9-11 Series, Even Now, Ever After, and Between Sundays.

Karen is also a public speaker, reaching more than 100,000 women annually through various national events. Karen and her husband, Don, live in the Pacific Northwest with their six children, three of whom are adopted from Haiti.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Book Inside & Out!, September 26, 2008

By 

Shirley Priscilla Johnson "Author/Reviewer -... (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: We Believe in Christmas (Hardcover)

Each year as Christmas approaches we all get caught up in lights, presents, and cookie making, but do we really know the true meaning of this Holy day? In this tender work by author,Karen Kingsbury, we are shown the true meaning of Christmas. Speaking of the song, "Silent Night," and imaging the stillness and awe that was present at the time of the Savior's birth is shared.
The excitement of receiving that special gift is brought into perspective with reminder of the greatest gift, Jesus. The placing of the star on our trees is replaced with the awesome image of the star that shone on that special night.
This is a wonderful book that helps bring to light the true meaning of the greatest gift to mankind.
Subtle, yet dramatic, with illustrations that bring you into the season, this book is sure to enhance your families understanding of the true heart and pulse of Christmas. Very well done.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An instant family Christmas classic, December 21, 2008

By 

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

This review is from: We Believe in Christmas (Hardcover)

We Believe in Christmas by Karen Kingsbury and illustrated by Daniel Brown is the perfect book for the holidays. Here's Mia's review: I liked how much this book talked about God in Christmas. My favorite page was the cover with the little girl as Jesus' mommy. This is one of my favorite books in the whole world, because it's the Christmassiest. Now my review. I really enjoyed reading this book to Mia, partly because of the absolutely beautiful pictures on every page and also because of so many of the different traditions associated with Christmas the artist captures and are worked into the story as a way to remember the true meaning of Christmas. The book emphasizes the real meaning of Christmas without being preachy. It says that it's ok to sit on Santa's lap, say Happy Holidays, and other secular traditions, as long as we keep hold to Christ at the heart of Christmas. I think that Mia was able to grasp the message without feeling like she was being taught a lesson. The family at the center of the book is wonderfully drawn, and their faces are so full of expression. Each pagei s truly a work of art. We've read this book several times, and immediately after the first time, Mia wanted to read it again. Another reason she enjoyed it was the repetition of the concluding phrase on every page (except the last one), she loved being able finish it herself. Kingsbury has created an instant classic.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Share the true meaning of Christmas with your children this holiday season!, December 4, 2008

By 

Shaun Tabatt (Cottage Grove, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: We Believe in Christmas (Hardcover)

Thanksgiving is over and the Christmas season is finally upon us. The hustle and bustle of decorations, gift buying, and parties is enough to tire out the most ardent Christmas enthusiast. As we're in the midst of all the busyness, it is far too easy to forget why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. Is it a happy holiday or a Holy Day? That's precisely the question Karen Kingsbury sets out to answer in this book.

As you read We Believe in Christmas, you will have the opportunity to observe a family as they get ready for, drive to, and then participate in the Christmas pageant at their church. You'll get a sense of the hurriedness throughout much of the story as you look at the expressions on everyone's faces. As the scenery changes on each new page, you'll encounter many of the sights and symbols we typically associate with Christmas: Christmas trees, carolers, nativity scenes, lights, etc. In most stories the background scenery is just that, background scenery. However, in this story, it is a key part of the message. During the Christmas season, we're able to encounter Jesus Christ in the things that are all around us, the tangible things we can see and hear. As you read the story and look at the illustrations you'll have a great opportunity to share the true meaning behind the sights and symbols of the Christmas season with your children. Also, as you're out and about and you encounter the sights, symbols, and sounds of Christmas in the real world, don't let those opportunities pass you by. Slow down and take a few minutes to share the true meaning of Christmas with your children.

Adults and children alike will be captivated by Daniel Brown's wonderful illustrations. I especially liked looking at the scenery outside the windows of the minivan as the family drove to church. Karen Kingsbury's writing is a joy to read as well. The short poetic verses on each new page give a rhythm and cadence to the story that moves it along at a great pace and makes it fun to read. This is yet another fine Christmas book published by Zonderkidz this year. I'd encourage you to share this book with your children and more importantly the true meaning of Christmas behind the sights, symbols, and sounds you will encounter this Christmas season.

Karen Kingsbury has been writing since she was five years old. She is one of the best-selling inspirational authors in America with over 5 million books in print.

Daniel Brown got his start tracing sports stars from newspapers as a child. Thirty years later, he has had the opportunity to paint major leaguers and has had his work featured in many books and magazines.