A Houseful of Christmas

It's Christmas time. The family in the story always goes to Granny's house for Christmas. They have a great dinner, open gifts and spend time enjoying each others company. When it's time for everyone to go home they find out that they have been snowed in at Granny's the roads are unsafe to drive on. They all spend the night on the floor on pillows and blankets. The book showed a family that loved each other and have a great time together. It reminded our family of all the great Christmas memories that we have as we gather at our Granny's house This is a great bedtime story to read loud around the holidays. Family members of all ages will enjoy this short picture book.

Christmas is Granny's favorite time of year, for she spends her days cooking, wrapping, decorating, and more with her friendly pooch, Edgar, and her grouchy kitty, Cat. On Christmas morning she is treated to a delightful visit from all of her family members, including Chatty Aunt Fanny and her sister Clarisse, Uncle Bert and his fire dog, Walter, Great Aunt Ruby, Annie, Michael, Otto, Aunt Ivy, Freddie, Dennie, Kennie, and Lambert. However, this year, after all of the celebrating, Granny's visitors can't leave, for there is a terrible snowstorm. So, Granny is pleased to have the opportunity for everyone to stay at her house, leaving her with a houseful of Christmas. Barbara Joosse has done a wonderful job of creating a delightful holiday tale that captures the true essence of Christmas...family. Her simple, yet wonderful prose is easy to understand, so even young children will not be left contemplating what is going on, while the marvelous illustrations by Betsy Lewin are just perfect. If you're looking for a children's book about the true meaning of Christmas, this is it. Erika Sorocco Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

I bought this book as a way to start Christmas traditions in my home. I plan on reading it aloud every year. The story really reminds me of when I was young and everyone piled into my grandmother's house for Christmas. Plus, kids love the Shhhhhh and Whhhh noises!

......kids are sure to love it! I'm buying "A Houseful of Christmas" for my six year old nephew as a Christmas gift. He's just learning to read and I think this book will re-affirm his confidence in his new reading skills. The story itself is just darling............Granny is getting ready, with her dog Edgar and cat Fat Cat, for a Christmas dinner at her house. When her guests arrive, they greet each other and sit down to dinner together and open gifts in the warmth of Granny's home as it snows heavily outside. When it's time to leave, Granny decides to invite everyone to stay over because the weather has gotten too bad outside. It becomes a sleepover for the whole family: Granny, aunts, uncles, cousins and lots of kids! The story really shows the Christmas holiday as one of love for family, giving, and feelings and warmth and thankfulness. The illustrations are quite nice also. I recommend this story-book for children approximately ages three to seven.

"Every year the whole family came to Granny's for Christmas." It was her favorite time of year. She baked and decorated, wrapped presents, and on Christmas morning made her candied yam casserole. Soon everyone arrived, chatty Aunt Fanny, and her skinny sister, Clarisse, Uncle Bert, the fireman, with his dog, Great-aunt Ruby, who always smelled like cherry cough drops, Aunt Ivy, and her three noisy little boys, Annie, Michael and little Otto, and of course, Lambert. They ate Uncle Bert's famous smoked turkey and Granny's yams, opened their gifts, and sang carols while Granny played her accordion. But this year something special and unexpected happened, they all got snowed in, and had a big sleepover on Granny's living room floor..... Barbara Joosse has outdone herself with this joyous story of love and family, traditions, and togetherness. Her simple text pulls the reader right into the story, and lets you enjoy the holiday as one of the family, and is complemented by Betsy Lewin's colorful and expressive watercolor artwork. Together, they've authored a delightful picture book about making a lifetime of memories and remembering all the good family times. Perfect for youngsters 3-7, A Houseful Of Christmas is a lovely story your entire family can read and share together as you begin to get ready for the holiday season and make your own new memories.