Amazing Christmas Extravaganza

My son has been a David Shannon fan since he was three. Mr. Shannon does not let us down with his wonderful illustrations and well written books. The best part of this book is it doesn't have to be Christmas for you to enjoy it. The story allows children to see that it's not so much about the extravaganza but the smaller things that you should value. We thoroughly enjoyed this book.

My 2nd grade students love this book year after year. The illustrations are wonderful, and David Shannon does another spectacular storytelling job. Sparks great discussion about what is important during the holidays.

I like the book because of of the illustraitons are great. It is a awsome book! the book is about a man that wants to make his house really cool this Christmas. How ever his nieghbor thinks that he has a lack of lights. then the man makes a lot of stuff tomake his house neat. then the people break everything. if you are reading this I hope you read this book.I like the book because of of the illustraitons are great. It is a awsome book! the book is about a man that wants to make his house really cool this Christmas. How ever his nieghbor thinks that he has a lack of lights. then the man makes a lot of stuff tomake his house neat. then the people break everything. if you are reading this I hope you read this book.

My boys and I really enjoyed this book. It is a must have book for the holiday season!

Christmas lights... how they have a tendency to get out of control. And they do here, with a feverish pace which suggests a man gone mad with his vision. Sound familiar? Oh yes -- the good Dr. Frankenstein obsessed with bringing his biological project to fruition ("And they all said I was mad! Heh, heh.") Here we have the story of a father frenzied up with the idea of building a fabulous electrified Christmas display. In a truly inspired sequence, (supported by illustrations both comic and a little menacing), Shannon pays tribute to the scene in Hollywood's "Frankenstein" by depicting angry neighbors who look and act much like the riled-up townsfolk who stormed the doctor's castle. They're fit to be tied because now the display has so many damn lights, so much blaring music, etc. that brown-outs and traffic jams have resulted. Unlike the monster story, this one ends in reconciliation. But then there's the genre-inspired hint at the very end that havoc might somehow return (Easter's not too far off, you know). Great fun for kids as well as adults -- especially those who remember the old horror films.