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I'll Be Home for Christmas

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Nearly half a million gift–givers have brought the light of Christmas into the heart of someone special with Thomas Kinkade’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas. This new, more compact, caseside–printed edition will appeal to the more price–conscious admirers of America’s beloved “Painter of Light ® .” More than 20 of Kinkade’s radiant Christmas paintings—favorites from the Victorian Christmas and Home for the Holidays series—are highlighted by stories, quotes, poems, and carols that evoke the spirit of the season. From elegant white sparkles woven throughout snow–covered treetops...to colorful, glittering lights decorating a Victorian gingerbread house...to a tree shimmering with candles and framed in a glowing window...this very special book will fill heart and home with Christmas dreams and memories.

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

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About the author

Thomas Kinkade

275 books181 followers
Thomas Kinkade was known as the "Painter of Light." His works, although spurned by the secular art establishment, were very popular with Christians and many others.

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5 stars
43 (48%)
4 stars
24 (27%)
3 stars
17 (19%)
2 stars
2 (2%)
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2 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for Andrea.
1,124 reviews10 followers
February 8, 2021
It wasn't a good start to the book and I regretted buying it as I read a few pages, because the poems and snippets of writing were rather stupid. I didn't see what made them special enough to be included. Someone just changed the words of the Ill Be Home For Christmas, saying "you can plan on me. Please have snow and mistletoe and presents on the tree. Christmas Eve will find me where the love light gleams." What's creative about just changing the words around?

The next person wrote about leisure time on Christmas, listening to the angel's song. Come on. It just made me roll my eyes.

When the next one said a red sunset was from angels baking, I just couldn't take it. Who are these people that wrote this nonsense and why did someone think they were important enough to be in here?

I enjoyed the Wind in the Willows poem by Kenneth Grahame. Kincaide's painting was pretty with the town all spread out below and a river to the side. I really liked the signs in the foreground. The town was named St. Nicholas Circle. One said Welcome friends old and new, linger here a day or two.

I liked the bit from the Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens. It mentioned that everyone sat down with them, even the servants, and they all until the clock strikes twelve. They tell old stories to pass the time. The house was really pretty. There were mosaic times in the windows, blue, red and green. There was a Christmas tree in front with lights on it, and a carriage coming up the street.

I liked the Christmas at Melrose poem by Leslie Pinckney Hill.

I couldn't believe there were two pages about The Child's Christmas by Evelyn Sharp. And I was flabbergasted when I read the same paragraph by Charles Dickens again. What person thought it was okay to include the same paragraph twice in the book?

I loved the inclusion of a paragraph from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Without the paintings this would have been a total loss. I enjoyed looking at all of the snowy Christmas scenes and pretty houses, but nearly all of the writing in here wasn't good enough to be in here. I could find better passages by doing a Google search on Christmas quotes, and that's pretty sad. Whoever did this compilation should have found much better writing sources. And then to use the exact same quote twice, and then to go on to take two quotes from the same novel, that was an astoundingly poor choice. I can't even fathom doing that. Most of these didn't put me in the Christmas spirit and were too short to get into. Some were just hopelessly philosophic, people waxing poetic and I don't appreciate flowery nonsense like that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Heather.
936 reviews
January 10, 2017
I love Thomas Kincaid’s work; very cozy looking and quaint. There were lots of pretty scenes in here; cottages, horse-drawn sleighs, Christmas trees. I just wish the writing had been better. Some just didn’t hit the nail on the head, and weren’t very warm &Christmas-sounding. I didn’t know why lots of the poems/snippets from stories were chosen, because I didn’t think they were good. As far as a picture book goes, this is good. But based on the writing chosen to be showcased, it wasn’t good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
96 reviews1 follower
November 27, 2019
Just needed a short read to start off my Christmas reading time. What a beautiful little read. The pictures were beautiful and the reading was inspiring. Now off to more Holiday reads
Profile Image for MrsK Books.
543 reviews11 followers
November 29, 2022
Some of us travel many miles to be home for Christmas. Some have grown, and get go home. Yet, most of us remember the glow of anxious anticipation... the closer we got to our holiday home and the lights of warmth awaiting us.

Thomas Kinkade's English cottages and Victorian homes will welcome you with his beautifully illuminated paintings. There are short passages that will create a ten-minute family moment in front of the fire. For those who are in the "grand" season of life, share your personal connections with these pages. Your insights... your memories... your story can be found within these pages. Many of us are now the guardians of today's future generations... let's gather them and share the stories of lives well lived.

Blessings,
MrsK https://mrskbookstogo.blogspot.com/
Profile Image for James Greening.
249 reviews
December 9, 2025
A beautiful Christmas book for the artist lover, as Kinkade's use of soft tones and lights are outstanding and worthwhile for study. I also loved the additional songs and poems that accompanied the paintings.
Profile Image for Amanda.
79 reviews3 followers
October 26, 2020
Hauntingly nostalgic prose on every page - snippets of Christmas memories taken straight out of my head and collected in this beautiful book. Lovely!
Profile Image for Sandy.
1,248 reviews
October 13, 2023
I just love his paintings and the short prose and poems that went with them were lovely.
278 reviews
December 9, 2010
I put this book out each and every Christmas and look forward to seeing the
pictures again and again!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews