Christmas Bells

Christmas Bells
Author: Jennifer Chiaverini
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 273
Release: 2015-10-27
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0698407091

New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini celebrates Christmas, past and present, with a wondrous novel inspired by the classic poem “Christmas Bells,” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. I heard the bells on Christmas Day / Their old familiar carols play / And wild and sweet / The words repeat / Of peace on earth, good-will to men! In 1860, the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow family celebrated Christmas at Craigie House, their home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The publication of Longfellow’s classic Revolutionary War poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride,” was less than a month hence, and the country’s grave political unrest weighed heavily on his mind. Yet with his beloved wife, Fanny, and their five adored children at his side, the delights of the season prevailed. In present-day Boston, a dedicated teacher in the Watertown public school system is stunned by somber holiday tidings. Sophia’s music program has been sacrificed to budget cuts, and she worries not only about her impending unemployment but also about the consequences to her underprivileged students. At the church where she volunteers as music director, Sophia tries to forget her cares as she leads the children’s choir in rehearsal for a Christmas Eve concert. Inspired to honor a local artist, Sophia has chosen a carol set to a poem by Longfellow, moved by the glorious words he penned one Christmas Day long ago, even as he suffered great loss. Christmas Bells chronicles the events of 1863, when the peace and contentment of Longfellow’s family circle was suddenly, tragically broken, cutting even deeper than the privations of wartime. Through the pain of profound loss and hardship, Longfellow’s patriotism never failed, nor did the power of his language. “Christmas Bells,” the poem he wrote that holiday, lives on, spoken as verse and sung as a hymn. Jennifer Chiaverini’s resonant and heartfelt novel for the season reminds us why we must continue to hear glad tidings, even as we are tested by strife. Reading Christmas Bells evokes the resplendent joy of a chorus of voices raised in reverent song.

The Little Bell That Wouldn't Ring

The Little Bell That Wouldn't Ring
Author: Heike Conradi
Publisher: NorthSouth Books
Total Pages: 32
Release: 2020-10-06
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 0735843864

Christmas is coming! In a church tower, three bells practice ringing for Christmas Eve. But the newest and smallest bell in the tower is silent. What could be wrong? The dove, the wise crow, and all the other animals find good words to try to encourage the little bell to ring. But nothing works . . . until Christmas Eve when they find the words that inspire the little bell to ring out—“Peace on earth.” An inventive story about the meaning of Christmas, with ethereal illustrations by Maja Dusíková.

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat!

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat!
Author: Lucille Colandro
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Total Pages: 36
Release: 2012-09-01
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 0545507510

This spooky twist on the wildly popular "There Was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly" is perfect for fun Halloween reading!What won't this old lady swallow? This time around, a bat, an owl, a cat, a ghost, a goblin, some bones, and a wizard are all on the menu! This Halloween-themed twist on the classic "little old lady" books will delight and entertain all brave readers who dare to read it!

Jesus Calling: The Story of Christmas

Jesus Calling: The Story of Christmas
Author: Sarah Young
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Total Pages: 36
Release: 2018-10-02
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 1400210313

Jesus Calling® The Story of Christmas shares the Christmas story with your children by starting at creation and showing that Jesus has always been present and that God has always had a plan for Christmas. Each page features Bible verses and Jesus Calling devotions as it explores the true meaning of the nativity story. This faith-focused picture book is perfect for children ages 4 to 8 years old; features a beautifully embellished dust jacket with foil and glitter; makes a great Christmas, Advent, or holiday gift; is the perfect introduction to the story of Jesus for young children; and is written by New York Times bestselling author Sarah Young. From the beginning of time, God had a plan to save his children. That plan was Jesus! Curl up with your family around the Christmas tree and experience God’s great gift with Jesus Calling® The Story of Christmas.

Jacob's Bell

Jacob's Bell
Author: John Snyder
Publisher: FaithWords
Total Pages: 197
Release: 2018-10-02
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1546010416

For readers of Richard Paul Evans and Melody Carlson comes, Jacob's Bell, a heartwarming Christmas story about how an unlikely friendship between an old man and a little girl saved a family. Sometimes the road to forgiveness and restoration can be a rocky one. Set in Chicago and Baltimore in 1944 with flashbacks to the 1920s, Jacob's Bell follows Jacob MacCallum on his arduous journey to redemption. At one time, Jacob had it all: wealth, a wonderful family and a position as one of the most respected businessmen in Chicago. Then he made some bad decisions and all that changed. For the past twenty years he lived in an alcohol-induced haze, riddled with guilt for the dreadful things he had done to his family and his role in the untimely death of his wife. Estranged from his children and penniless, he was in and out of jail, on the street and jumping freight trains for transportation. Realizing he needed a drastic change, Jacob embarked on a journey to find his children, seek their forgiveness, and restore his relationship with them. Befriended by a pastor at a Salvation Army mission, he struggled to transform his life. Yet finally he overcame his demons, but not without a fair number of setbacks. Jacob became a Salvation Army Bell Ringer at Christmastime. While ringing his bell on a street corner one snowy day, he met a young girl who, through a series of strange coincidences, led him back to his children and facilitated Jacob's forgiveness just in time for Christmas. Author John Snyder pens a story of love, hardship, and reconciliation that will leave readers filled with Christmas joy.

One Wintry Night

One Wintry Night
Author: Ruth Bell Graham
Publisher: Tommy Nelson
Total Pages: 73
Release: 2012-10-08
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1400323150

A snowy night, a warm cabin, and a boy who hears the Christmas story for the first time?beginning with creation and ending with Jesus’ resurrection. Ruth Bell Graham’s timeless holiday story is a delightful read during the Advent season. In a magnificent blend of a contemporary setting with the history of God’s redeeming love, Ruth Bell Graham has created a wonderful and unique version of the Christmas story that shares the true meaning of the Christmas season. With exquisite illustrations by renowned artist Richard Jesse Watson, One Wintry Night is the perfect gift for the young and the young at heart. This classic Christmas storybook is A perfect holiday read-aloud with children ages 5 to 9; A retelling of the traditional Christmas story including biblical elements from the life of Jesus; A way to open conversation about why we needed a savior and the importance of Jesus’ birth; and A great stocking stuffer or gift for Christmas, Advent, or other holidays. Gather around your loved ones to share this timeless classic and the true Christmas story. "Ruth Bell Graham has written the perfect Christmas book . . . . With imaginative, stunning pictures, it is a book children and adults will love." ? Barbara Bush

Jingle Bells

Jingle Bells
Author: John Harris
Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2011
Genre: Carols
ISBN: 9781561455904

The unexpected story of the creation of a holiday classic - in the most unlikely of places. It is November 1857 in Savannah, Georgia, and the heat is stifling. Choir director James Lord Pierpont is busy writing a song for the children of the church to perform to usher in the holiday season. He is also worried. Many townspeople are angry because the congregation does not believe in slavery, and someone has thrown a brick through one of the church windows. As Mr. Pierpont sweeps up the glass from the broken window, he recalls his own Boston childhood, and he suddenly gets an idea. A few days later - with singing children, jingling bells, and bags of "snow" - Mr. Pierpont introduces the delighted churchgoers to the charms of a northern Christmas In this terrific match of John Harris's entertaining text and Adam Gustavson's endearing illustrations, readers learn about the unexpected origins of a Christmas classic that was written during a Savannah heat wave. Harris's story also includes many interesting connections with Savannah, Unitarians, and freed slaves all playing a role in the story behind the song.