Seven Stories of Christmas Love

This tape came to me as a gift. I enjoyed it the first listening several years ago. Each year before Christmas I listen to it again. I nearly know the script by heart, and it means just as much, if not more. Each year of those 10-15 years that the tape has been part of my Christmas, has brought changes in my life. However, the lessons of the seven stories of Christmas love are imprinted on me. I am grateful for the tape, and find the familiarity of the stories an anchor in a sometimes difficult and busy season.

Christmas just isn't Christmas without any Leo. In book form or his excellent video of the same name, Seven Stories of Christmas Love is Leo doing what he did best: sharing stories of holiday's past and using them to illustrate why love and memories matter throughout the year. We watch the video every Christmas and I've yet to escape dry-eyed through the section where he expresses how important it is to remember the wonder and awe of childhood because our memories and the love we give to others are all that make us immortal.If you need inspiration in an increasingly confusing world, or just want to laugh, hope and consider the true meanings of Christmas, this book (and the great video) are must-haves.

Reading from this book is one of my family's all time favorite Christmas traditions. The stories are short enough that we can read one together as a family each night before bedtime. I have loaned this book to several friends and they have all loved it. My children all know what it means if we tell them that they are going to get a peach branch in their Christmas stocking.I love the messages of these stories. They always get me in the Christmas spirit!

During the last few years our family has been grieving a tremendous loss. This year we are determined to get on with life and to make new traditions and memories. In anticipation of the up and coming holiday I pulled this title off my book shelf and reread it.It is just a wonderful book of short stories sure to inspire love, hope, family, trust and faith. Each story begins with a beautiful color drawing which has a classic charm and feel. Clearly hits a personal note for Catholics and Italians and most stories will ring a personal chord of truth and others may bring a laugh or two.As a reader it made me feel for the past and wonder about how our society continues to evolve in a cooler less personal social strata. It is hard not to think of simplier times that are grounded in basic life lessons of love and family. This is a book to read at the beginning of the holiday season and probably at intervals throughout.There is hope, love and warmth in all of the "Seven Stories of Christmas Love."

This is such a beautiful little book! The illustrations, by Tom Newsom, have a Norman Rockwell quality, and the borders around the pages match the first page illustration, which is different for each story. The stories, by Leo Buscaglia, who a lot of people know from PBS in the 80s, take Christmas out of the Norman Rockwell cliche and brings it into the world! One touching story is about the reaction people in Bali had to Mary and Joseph being turned away at the inn. Another, "Two Festivals of Light," blends the Jewish and Christian "festivals of light" through at-first distrusting neighbors. You should be happy to pull this book out of your Christmas treasure box year after year!