Chapter 50 - For the Children's Hour

One of the most wonderful things for me is to share books. I love it when people share books with me and, of course, I enjoy sharing and recommending books to others. As children, my sister and I were read to, and I passed this on to my children and grandchildren. Reading aloud is still one of my favorite things to do and, unless the grandkids are in town, my husband is the recipient of my desire to share out loud.

Here then are some terrific books to share with your children or grandchildren.

Red Ranger Came Calling by Berkeley Breathed - This book, by Bloom County's cartoonist Breathed, tells about his father "Red" and his amazing childhood Christmas. A child of the 40s, Red imagines himself as the "Red Ranger from Mars" and has only one Christmas wish which is to receive a Red Ranger bike. Red then sets out to find the only man who can help him with this.

Junie B. Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake by Barbara Park - At the school Carnival Night, one of Junie B's friends has already won cupcakes so when Junie wins the cakewalk she is excited to pick the best wrapped cake in the bunch! How was she to know it was a door stop?

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - In my opinion, this is story which should be read every year. The message is important and Dickens' prose is beautiful. There are characters we love right from the start and those who start out mean but who end up wonderful. How could you not read this wonderful story each Christmas?

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson - When the dreaded Herdman siblings, or “the worst kids in the history of the world" take over the annual Christmas pageant thing end up hilarious yet heartwarming and maybe the best pageant ever!

The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog by Dave Barry - This is another Christmas pageant book loosely base on Barry's life. Delighted to be playing the part of a shepherd in the local Christmas pageant at St. John's Episcopal Church, Doug Barnes is suddenly confronted by a host of problems not to exclude the illness of the family dog and his dad's flat tire, which could keep him out of the pageant.

Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris - This is more of a young adult/adult story rather than one for small children. In this delightful tale, Sedaris tells of his adventures as Krumpet the Elf in Macy's, New York City at Christmas time. Maybe it was not the best job choice, for him!

Do you have any Christmas stories you always read? Let me know!