Megan Alexander

The warmth of the holiday season shines on every page in a celebration of Christmas in a small town way.

These pages bring the ideal of small town Christmases to life through the eyes of a child. Everything from ice skating on the lake to smores to decorating the tree to building snowmen appears. There's even a toy store and brightly lit church in a beautiful snow-scape, promising to let those season tingles of anticipation and joy flow.

The illustrations are enjoyable to gaze through as they carry a gentle flair, which brings across the atmosphere in all the right ways. There are enough little things to discover to keep young readers coming back, while the general style remains simple and artistic.

The text flows well and stays to the point in a wonderful way. It gives just enough to describe each moment and scene, making it a great read-aloud for even slightly impatient listeners. It definitely paints the scene of what the a 'perfect' Christmas might be and will have young readers dreaming with their own holiday ideas and dreams. I received a complimentary copy and thoroughly enjoyed the holiday atmosphere.… (altro)

A mother's love is always there, and that message comes across in a beautiful way in these pages.

A young boy gets a hug, a kiss, or even a squeeze from his mother, but when something scary or painful comes along, sometimes one caring moment is not enough. The boy grows, but the love doesn't change. And at one point, even an extra hug for the mother can be a wonderful thing.

Hugs warm, comfort, offer love and give security, and this book lets that theme shine especially when it comes to a mother and her child. The text is simple and the scenes, especially in the beginning, are one young listeners will easily identify with. That the mother is always there, ready to offer her comfort one more time, leaves a warm, fuzzy atmosphere. As the boy grows, this love never leaves even when the boy is old enough to head out on his own. And while young listeners may or may not connect as well with this later part, they'll still feel the love and recognize the message that the feeling never changes.

The illustrations are light, sweet and allow the story and scenes to unfold where the text ends. Every moment gains familiarity and hits home as young listeners can watch what happens to the boy and how he grows. The allow the beauty of the book to blossom in so many ways.

The message is clear in these pages, but it never feels preachy. Rather, it's like a warm homecoming. I see this one being maybe even more meaningful for the mom's or caretakers that read it than the listeners, but it will ring true and encourage the young listeners too. There supposedly is the message that boys are allowed to show their feelings as they grow, but this doesn't come across clearly. Rather it molds into the message that even older 'kids' should still allow themselves to be loved and give love to their parents. And this is a great message alone.

I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed diving into the loving tale enough to want to leave my honest thoughts.… (altro)