The Gift of the Christmas Cookie: Sharing the True Meaning of Jesus' Birth

Reviewed by Brianne Plach (age 11) for Reader Views (11/08) It's a tradition! Every Christmas my mother and I always make Christmas cookies. It is a tradition that I look forward to every year. Maybe it's just good quality time, creating something delicious with Mom, but is there more to it than that? "The Gift of the Christmas Cookie" explains the history of the Christmas cookie. In the Middle Ages, one family saw poverty everywhere they looked. The father wanted to use his talents to create something out of wood for the people in poverty. The mother saw the hungry looks on their faces. Together the family creates something that will serve both needs. It's a lesson which young Jack learned. Jack is the main character who has to deal with his own disappointment about his father not being able to be home for Christmas. He and his mother share the tradition of making Christmas cookies for the needy. While making the cookies, Jack learns the more important story of why Christmas cookies have become such a terrific tradition. Dandi Daley Mackall, author, and Deborah Chabrian, illustrator use their talents to create a wonderful book for the whole family to share. Reading "The Gift of the Christmas Cookie" together before making your Christmas cookies could become a new tradition this year!

The Gift of the Christmas Cookie by Dandi Daley Mackall & Deborah Chabrian is subtitled Sharing the True Meaning of Jesus' Birth, which is what the book is really all about. First Mia's thoughts: The book starts with Jack's mommy baking Christmas cookies for the church. My favorite part of the story was when Jack shared his cookie and the story about Jesus with the stranger. I really like cookies! Now my review: Jack and his mom have missing his father for nearly a year since he left to get work in the city. Every cent has to be saved, so when Jack smells the scent of cookies when coming home, he at first can't believe his nose. His mom bursts his hope when she explains that the cookies will be for the needy at church, but she tempers his disappointment by explaining that Christmas cookies were originally intended to share the story of the birth of Jesus with others. It's a lesson Jack takes to heart come Christmas morning. Chabrian's artwork is outstanding, soft, very nostalgic, but with great beauty. Each page is honestly a work of art. Mia was, I think, I bit young for the deeper aspects of the story, but she really loved Jack's generosity at the end, and as she ages, this is a story that will become more meaningful for her in time.

During a difficult economic time, Jack (the main character) comes home to find his mother making cookies. She hasn't made cookies since Jack's father went west to find work. Seeing Jack's confusion, she tells him the story of the first Christmas cookies. "The story goes back hundreds of years ... to the Middle Ages. In the Old Country -- where [Jack's] father's people lived -- times were hard." The villagers couldn't afford school, so most couldn't read. One family wanted to help their neighbors understand the true meaning of Christmas. The father, a woodcarver, wanted to make figures to tell the story of Christ's birth. His wife knew the people were hungry, so she wanted to bake instead. They decided to work together. The father made wooden molds of all the participants in the first Christmas. His wife filled them with sweet dough. Their children then decorated the baked cookies with berries and sugars. On Christmas Eve the family took their baked creations to the village where a crowd gathered. As the daughter held up each one, the father told the whole story of Jesus' life. "Ever since that night, generations have passed down the art of making Christmas cookies and of telling the story of the true meaning of Christmas." Jack thinks about this story throughout the Christmas Eve service. The next morning his mother gives him the biggest cookie, the angel, as a gift on Christmas morning. When they hear a knock on the door, both hope it's Jack's father. Instead it's a hungry traveller. They are disappointed, but still share their breakfast with him. Jack thinks of his father and hopes some stranger showed compassion to him, too. Jack follows the stranger out into the snow. As he gives him his angel cookie, his only Christmas gift, he explains: "There's a story that goes with it." Then Jack tells him the wonderful news. "A Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." The last page of the book offers a little more information of the origin of the Christmas cookie, as well as a simple recipe for sugar cookies. Deborah Chabrian did a fantastic job as illustrator. Her watercolor illustrations are surprising bold and filled with detail. They evoke a warm, traditional sentiment. WHAT I LIKE: My daughter loves this book. The story includes tradition, truth, service and evangelism, all in a wonderful harmony of themes. The illustrations are very nice. I love that a recipe is included! WHAT I DISLIKE: It is difficult to tell when the story takes place. I'm guessing it's during the '30s, during the Depression, but this is never really stated in the book. A clear timeframe would have been helpful. Overall Rating: Very Good. Tanya -- Christian Children's Book Review

With lyrical text and evocative imagery, this book weaves a tale that could change our Christmas traditions and give cookie baking added depth and meaning. What more can we ask? Wow!

In this wonderful book we are taken back to a simple time, a time where money was not abundant and life had more than its share of challenges. We meet Jack, whose father has had to travel away from home to find work. Unfortunately he is not able to be with his family during Christmas and this saddens Jack. Jack's mother begins to make Christmas cookies. Jack is excited at first, but soon learns that these cookies will be given to needy. Jack does not understand for surely they were the ones who were needy. His mom shares with him the origin of cookie making and the meaning behind it. At first Jack isn't impressed, but when he helps a homeless man with the one cookie he is given his heart rejoices at sharing the true message of Christmas, Jesus. This is a beautiful tale. Wrapping a story around the true beginning of cookie making it touches the very core of the meaning of that wonderful day. The illustrations are very realistic and definitely help to bring the story alive. Recommended.