The twenty-four days before Christmas [Hardcover]

Madeleine L'Engle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1964

Vicky Austin’s family does one special thing each day of December to prepare for Christmas. This year, they’re also preparing for the birth of a new brother or sister, due after the New Year. Vicky is worried that the baby will come early—what kind of Christmas Eve would it be without Mother to help them hang up stockings and sing everyone to sleep with carols? This classic story of an old-fashioned Christmas is accompanied by merry illustrations by Jill Weber.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Repackaged, with Weber's full-color spot illustrations to add visual interest, this should make for agreeable, alternative holiday read-aloud." —Kirkus Reviews

 

"This new edition of a story first published in 1984 includes unobtrusive spot illustrations done in an inviting folk-art style; readers will feel as though they're glimpsing the Austins' very own well-loved ornaments and other holiday memorabilia. Compact trim size further highlights the coziness of the family drama."—Horn Book Magazine

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From the Publisher

To seven-year-old Vicky Austin, the twenty-four days before Christmas are the most wonderful days of the year. She's going to be an angel in the Christmas Pageant. Best of all, Vicky and her brother John and her little sister Suzy do something special every day to celebrate: they hang twinkling lights, make cookies, and wish very hard for snow.

But what if the new baby comes during Christmas and Mother has to go to the hospital? How can they have Christmas without Mother? --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 56 pages
• Publisher: Ariel Books; 1st Ed edition (1964)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0007E2L7O
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,068,041 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Madeleine L'Engle, the popular author of many books for children and adults, has interspersed her writing and teaching career with raising three children, maintaining an apartment in New York and a farmhouse of charming confusion which is called "Crosswicks."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Advent and preparation - a great kids book for adults too, November 25, 1998

By 

Amy Girguis - See all my reviews

This review is from: Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas (Dell Young Yearling) (Paperback)

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!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Snapshot, January 1, 2011

By 

Camila Kunau - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas (Hardcover)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas, November 2, 2010

By 

Georgia M. Seume "grandma GA" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas (Hardcover)

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.