Cindy Vallar's Blog - Posts Tagged "christmas"

A Pirate Christmas! by Random House

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


On Nochebuena (Christmas Eve), Santiago Montes, his sister Tina, his cousin Tómas, friend Lorelai, and Kiko (Santiago’s pet frog) have a campout to await Santa’s arrival. All should go well, but Santiago’s magic compass warns that Santa needs their help.

Enrique Réal de Palacios has had enough. He’s tired of being on Santa’s naughty list. He wants to get presents just like the other children. And this Christmas Eve, he makes that wish come true. He stops Santa’s sleigh and steals all the presents, taking them back to his ice castle.

Santiago and his friends must intervene and save Christmas. At the same time, perhaps Enrique will discover the true meaning of the holiday.

This is a sturdy board book for children, that serves either as an introduction to Nickelodeon’s Santiago of the Seas animated series or as a treasure for when fans can’t get enough. The pictures are boldly colorful and expressive. They easily encapsulate the tale even if young pirates haven’t yet mastered reading on their own. The text combines English and Spanish, as well as Hispanic culture. Unfortunately, the story is told more than shown, but for young pirates this won’t matter much. It includes many of the tropes from the show, although this time their vehicle is Santa’s magic sleigh rather than a pirate ship. A Pirate Christmas is a simple tale that teaches valuable lessons in a fun way.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates & Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/childrens1...)



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(This review originally appeared at Pirates & Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/childrens1...)

The Holiday Cottage by Sarah Morgan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Imogen loves what she does. Work is everything. No one in her office is aware that the pictures of her family are fake and so is her dog. When the dreaded bring-your-dog-to-work day arrives one December, she invents reasons as to why Midas can’t participate. Before long, the carefully built life she has invented topples and reality intrudes. Enough so that her boss forces her to take the month of December totally off. With her life in shambles, what can Imogen do?

Dorothy has no idea what she’s doing, but she succeeds at doing it. And Imogen, with her marketing ideas, has played a key role in making the winery a success. When they meet to discuss the latest event Imogen has planned, Dorothy learns about Imogen’s predicament. Heartache at past Christmases has led Dorothy to save animals. Since Imogen needs saving, Dorothy invites her to stay at Holly Cottage for the holidays because no one should ever spend the holidays alone.

Family is what matters to Sara, Dorothy’s daughter. When she learns that her mother has invited Imogen to stay for the holidays, Sara fears that her carefully constructed walls may crumble. How will she protect herself, her family, and her mother then?

This captivating tale arouses a host of emotions. You will laugh and cry. You will feel anguish and pain. You will experience hope and love. Although you may not identify with all the incidents that these three characters encounter, you will have experienced at least some of them. The Holiday Cottage is a romance, and so much more. It’s a story of facing yourself, finding balance in your life, letting go, and forgiveness.




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