The Christmas Blizzard

ISBN 0590458795 - Sometimes you can just tell, when you pick up a book, that it's going to be one you really like... The Christmas Blizzard is one of those books, for me. It's not thick, it's actually a pretty flimsy paperback - but it DOES look like fun, and it is! Sissy McNab tells oldtimer Maynard Jenkins that a snowstorm is on the way, prompting him to tell her the story of the blizzard of '22. That year, it was so cold that Maynard's father's sledgehammer cracked like glass! Stranger, it was tropically warm at the North Pole, so Santa re-located to the coldest place he could find - right in their town. Turned out, however, cold wasn't enough to get the elves making toys, so Maynard went to see Miz Pendersnarf, an old woman who, it was said, could cast spells. Her spell works almost too well, but Maynard helps it along and soon the town is covered in feet of snow and Christmas is saved, convincing the mayor to rename the town Blizzard... I mean, Lizzard. Illustrator James Warhola did fantastic work. The images are fun, laugh out loud funny, and full of detail; they match the story and they bring a certain character all their own. The author, Helen Ketteman, spins a convincing old mans' tall tale that kids will love. There are stories that your child will remember, and pass on, and I think this one will be one of those. - AnnaLovesBooks

The Christmas Blizzard is another great tall tale written by Helen Ketteman (former teacher who's lived thru her share of blizzards) and illustrated by James Warhola (grandson of famous artist Andy Warhol)...The tale will blow you away from the get-go, as palm trees and sunny weather at the North Pole turn the hope of Christmas topsy-turvy...See the rest of L.Pritchett's Editor's Choice Award-winning review at[...]

This is the funniest and most original Christmas book I've seen in a long time. We discovered it last December and we'll be reading it again many times this December. The boys (3 and 5) laugh so hard and so do I. This one will end up a holiday tradition.

Every winter I read this story to my little boys many, many times in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The characters are wonderful, and I particularly enjoyed giving voice to Mr. Jenkins, the storyteller. The illustrations are terrific and silly. My boys, now 10 and 11, enjoyed this story SO MUCH when they were little guys. I never thought they'd still want to hear it this Christmas! Make it a family tradition, it's great fun!!

This is one of the cuttest stories I have ever read. I used to read this book to my 3-year old class and they always wanted it read again and again. It makes you use your imagination and the illustrations are wonderfully done. Thanks for such a wonderful book.