Cole Family Christmas tells the story of a special Christmas that happened to author Hazel Cole Kendle and her family in  the coal mining town of Benham, Kentucky.  When an unexpected snowstorm delayed Santa’s arrival, gifts were given and received that no one could have predicted. More than 80 years later, the story not only continues to bring this family together, but is now inspiring families across the nation to write down their own memories this Christmas.

Jennifer Liu Bryan, who co-authored Cole Family Christmas with her grandmother-in-law, based the book on a cherished story passed down through generations of the Cole family. Originally intended as a brief work to be distributed at the family reunion, the project evolved into a nationally praised children’s book, and involved more than 20 family members.

For more information on the book, check out the Cole Family Christmas website.

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So many wonderful new Christmas books have across my desk in the past few weeks that I want to share with you! Here are two wonderful additions to your holiday book basket.

More fun from Toot & Puddle

Toot & Puddle: I’ll Be Home for Christmas – We already have Toot & Puddle: Let It Snow and Home for Christmas is a terrific holiday companion to it. For ages four to eight, Toot promises to be home for Christmas after visiting his aunt in Scotland. But ice storms and delayed flights threaten to spoil the holiday plans, until an unexpected fellow traveler with a handy sleigh (hint, hint) saves the day.

My daughter, Lucie thought that the pigs’ names were beyond hilarious since “toot” is a popular word for flatulence among the kindergarten set. I loved the illustrations and the sweet relationship between friends.

There is also a Toot & Puddle: I’ll Be Home for Christmas DVD and a Toot & Puddle: I’ll Be Home for Christmas Gift Set featuring a 7×7 hardcover edition of the book along with two plush pigs all in a red and green gift box.

Just ask Mrs. Claus

We have a few oddball Christmas traditions in our family. We tell the kids that Nana has Santa Claus’ phone number and all teachers and parents have his email address. We also tell our kids that any man who looks like Santa (white beard) is a spy for the real Santa, including Joel our postmaster, who recently grew his mostly white and grey beard out just before Christmas. (Coincidence? I think not!)

Well, if you want to get the real scoop on Santa and what’s going on up there at the North Pole, check out Mrs. Claus Explains It All: (At Last) Answers to the Questions Real Kids Ask! by Elsbeth Claus. (Oh, you didn’t know Mrs. Claus’ first name was Elsbeth? Neither did I.)

This book is marvelous! It explains everything from what Santa likes to eat (cookies and mac-n-cheese!) to if she’s worried that Santa’s too fat. (He works out one hour a day in his state-of-the-art underground gymnasium.) Mrs. Claus also answers questions about the elves and how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night.

Mrs. Claus Explains It All: (At Last) Answers to the Questions Real Kids Ask! is a hoot and will come in handy when your little elves ask all those questions about the fat man in the red suit. For all ages, even the kids who are too old to believe in Santa.

Many parents are troubled by the commercialization and secularization of Christmas. If you are looking for books that show the “reason for the season” check out these two offerings by Zonderkidz™, a division of Zondervan, a leader in Christian children’s communications.

The Gift of the Christmas Cookie: Sharing the True Meaning of Jesus’ Birth by Daley Mackall takes kids back to the origins of another Christmas tradition – the baking of Christmas cookies to share with friends, neighbors, and the less fortunate.

The Gift of the Christmas Cookie: Sharing the True Meaning of Jesus’ Birth shows kids that Christmas is about helping others and sharing the spirit of Christmas giving. The story is about a child named Jack, follows young Jack during a Christmas season during the Great Depression. Jack’s father has hopped a freight train West, hoping to find work, and wont’ be home for Christmas.

Jack is surprised to find his mom baking cookies to give away to needy people a church. Treats are a luxury his family has done without for  long time. While he helps his mother make cookies, she tells him the story of the Christmas cookie. He learns that the real gift of the Christmas cookie isn’t just sharing with a homeless man, but sharing the love of Jesus with him as well.

I liked this simple story because it explains to children the joy in giving during Christmas and how God gave us his only Son. It also shows that Christmas isn’t all about getting presents and stuffing your face, but helping others, too.

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As I unpacked our Christmas decorations this year, I realized we’ve amassed quite an assortment of Christmas books, everything from Santa Mouse to President Jimmy Carter’s Christmas in Plains. I love holiday books and hope to share recent releases here at My Readable Feast in the days leading up to Hanukkah and Christmas.

To start off, we have a guest post from Laura Bridgwater, an award-winning journalist and radio commentator from Colorado. Hear Laura’s latest radio spot, Thanksgiving Makeover.

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After several years of renting the ratty Santa suit from our local rec center at $30 a pop, my friends are looking to buy some Santa suits of their own.

When I heard they were looking, I recommended that they buy it online from buycostumes.com. I used buycostumes.com to purchase a Harry Potter costume for an event awhile back. I was very happy with their prices, the quality of the costume, and their shipping costs.

buycostumes.com has over 30 different Santa costumes to choose from including a Sunny Claus Costume if you live in Hawaii or Florida, and an Ultra Velvet Santa Suit, which is satin-lined. They even have suits for Mrs. Claus, and accessories like wigs, Santa bellies, and glasses. buycostumes.com is a one stop shop for all your Santa needs.

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