Christmas Day in the Morning

I love anything thatis authored by Pearl Buck. This is a sweet story of sharing a gift that can't be bought with money - only love and kindness. I would recommend it to child or adult alike. Bonnie

I disagree that this book is not for the very young. We got this book for our daughter when she was 20 months old. (It may not work in some families, but we have found it's the topics that aren't discussed that scare children.)* It has been a favorite year after year. We love this book because it gets at the SPIRIT of Christmas. A boy truly gives of himself to ensure a happy holiday for his family, especially his father who normally doesn't get a break. This book teaches empathy by example without preaching. The illustrations are beautiful and so is the prose. We've seen a few books that try to share the same message but fail because adults in the stories TELL the children they should buy or do things for others or they employ subtle guilt (but don't kid yourself, even young children sense that). Highly reccommended for all ages. *a previous reviewer said there was a problem with the reference to the deceased father many years after this special holiday [after the boy has a family of his own]. The reader does not know how or when the father died and it is not emphasized. The adult son is only remembering his father.

I collect Christmas stories and purchase only one or two each year. My criteria are excellent storyline as well as beautiful illustrations. This book hits the mark on both counts. The storyline is both "real" and touching. It emphesizes the important things about Christmas including being together as a family and serving others. Truely, the best gifts, as this story illustrates, do not come from the store.

This book truly exemplifies the true meaning of christmas, to love one another. When Rob, the 15 year old boy of a modest farm family, overhears his parents talking, he comes to realize the love his father has for him and the love he also holds for his father. Not having the money to purchase a gift that he feels expresses this love, he chooses to surprise his father by doing the morning milking and chores before the usual 4AM. He sneaks out to the barn and his heart bursts with love as he waits for his father to discover the surprise. The illustrations are beautiful, dark and dusky like the time of day before surnrise, and the clouds in the sky take the shape of the Holy Family on the first Christmas. A valuable lesson for all. The gift of love is the most precious gift of all.