Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Joy of Christmas: 101 Holiday Tales of Inspiration, Love and Wonder

by Amy Newmark

The elves at Chicken Soup for the Soul have done it again! You’ll love these stories all about the joy, wonder, and inspiration of the holiday season.

The Joy of Christmas is a collection of 101 heartwarming and entertaining stories about how you spend your holidays—the reunions, holiday hijinks, community spirit, and your fun family and religious traditions. We laughed out loud at some stories; and others made us tear up a little. They’ll all leave you smiling and eager to share the holidays, filled with new ideas and enthusiasm for this special time of year.

And Chicken Soup for the Soul didn’t forget the rest of the season either, with stories about Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and New Year’s. There’s something for everyone in these joy-filled pages.

Genres: Christmas, Inspirational, Short Stories, Nonfiction

352 pages, Paperback

Published October 18, 2016

About the author

Amy Newmark is the bestselling author, editor-in-chief, and publisher of the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. Since 2008, she has published 191 new Chicken Soup for the Soul titles, most of them national bestsellers in the U.S. and Canada, more than doubling the number of Chicken Soup for the Soul titles in print today.

Amy is credited with revitalizing the Chicken Soup for the Soul brand, which has been a publishing industry phenomenon since the first book came out in 1993. By compiling inspirational and aspirational true stories curated from ordinary people who have had extraordinary experiences, Amy has kept the thirty-year-old Chicken Soup for the Soul brand fresh and relevant.

Follow Amy on Twitter @amynewmark. Listen to her free podcast, The Chicken Soup for the Soul Podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, the Podcasts app on iPhone, or by using your favorite podcast app on other devices.

Reviews

[Debbie W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why I chose to read this book:
1. one of my Grade 3 students gifted me this book for Christmas a few years ago; and,
2. I thought it is an appropriate read for the Christmas season of December 2023.

Praises:
1. several stories that focused on faith, hope, and charity made me smile, laugh, and even cry;
2. some favorites included: "Turnabout is Fair Play"; "Nice and Ugly"; "A Heavenly Timetable"; and, "Perfectly Presented"; and,
3. I enjoyed Mrs. Claus's tongue-in-cheek humor in the Foreword.

Niggle:
I found some of the stories to be a little cheesy. To be fair; however, other readers might be deeply moved by these same stories.

Overall Thoughts:
Have you ever noticed that some of your most cherished Christmas memories involved time spent with loved ones rather than any gifts your got? Well, most of these short, heartwarming stories attest to that.
Enjoy!

[Charissa Wilkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overview: The Christmas season is coming to a close soon. However, there is still time to enjoy a few more stories. Can these memoir shorts be as fun as some of the more fantastical offerings out there?

Dislikes: There were a couple of stories that were just not what I thought should be included. The choir mom needs to know when to quit.

Likes: The Santa Suit poem, and several of the dinner stories were great. We also got quite a few stories that showcased the very best in people.

Conclusion: This was a magical collection. The Spirit of Christmas can truly change us for the better. Enjoy the read.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these Chicken Soup for the Soul books. There are 101 stories about traditions, decorating, miracles, memories, giving and family that will make you laugh, cry, find inspiration, be grateful for what you have, and add to that cozy feeling the holiday season seems to bring with it. It's nice to read about the good things in the world - people helping people whether they're family, neighbours, strangers. My absolute favourite story was My Crazy Dad - I felt so bad for the father because his teenage daughter thought he was "losing his mind" but what he did was so cute. I also loved A Gift From the Heart, and The Mean Old Man Next Door.

Thank you to Mom for a great Christmas present!

[Stormy Stark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another delightful Chicken Soup for the Soul. Some of these stories brought tears to my eyes, others made me laugh out loud. All of them helped embody the Christmas spirit for me. Faith, friends, family, fun, and love shone through in every entry in the book. A great way to hold the spirit of Christmas and holiday joy inside ourselves throughout the year is to read one of the quick entries in this book whenever we need a little love, light, or magic in our lives.

[Margaret Fraleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always the Chicken Soup for the Soul books are wonderful. This one was no exception.

This one was 101 Holiday Tales of Inspiration, Love and Wonder.

I like that you can read the short stories within anytime you have a just a
few minutes in a busy schedule to read. They certainly uplift the reader.
Sometimes there is a chuckle or two and sometimes you need to grab
a tissue because the story tugs at the heart strings.

Recommended to all

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy stories, here they come, just in time for Christmas! There are many heart-warming stories. The one I liked the most were the ones where something extra special was given or received, like the woman who had promised her son a bike for Christmas, but she lacked the money. A stranger bought it for her. Now she is sensitive to what she can do for others, especially at Christmas.

[Marie Buccellato · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books because the individual stories are so heartwarming & make you feel so good - Even the sad ones will make you cry almost like experiencing the same things. What makes the Chicken Soup books so unique is they are about real people just like you & me

[Nazareth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book series has always held a special place in my heart. This collection is no exception! Wonderful stories of holidays past! Thanks Amy!

[David Erkale · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Chicken Soup for the Soul book is fairly decent, but when I read, I like to conjure a picture I my mind, and I felt that some stories made it harder to do that. Inspiring stories, in a way, though CSFTS isn't my cup of tea.

[Susie Konkle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't find it worth reading, but it maybe a read in December ? If interested ? I just wasn't interested

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Non-Fiction 394.26- 2016 - Trade

[Jessica Roche · Rating 2 out of 5]

Made me feel like the grinch. No wonder they went bankrupt. Too many Christians.

[Sally Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's not to like about a Chicken Soup for the Soul book? They are ALL so good. Stories are carefully selected to touch the heart. And they do!

[Emily Baragar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chicken Soup books are great to just feel warm and fuzzy and disconnect for a few minutes or a few hours, and the holiday editions are my favorite.

Disclaimer: I have a story in this book, on p.119!

Chicken Soup is a great outlet for writers to get their names in print for the first time, or if they enjoy writing short stories instead of long articles or novels. I'm very thankful for this opportunity!

[Emma Goebel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had some very great stories, stories of love, hope, and most of all Christmas spirit. Many of the stories in this book are very heart-warming and a great read for the Christmas season. However, some of the stories in the book seemed irrelevant to me and did not bring the Christmas spirit I was hoping for. This book is definitely a great Christmas read, but was a little rocky in some of the stories.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful stories to uplift your soul and remind us of what Christmas is really all about!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy the Chicken Soup for the Soul books, especially the Christmas stories.

[Valerie Robinson]

I love the Chicken Soup for the Soul books and all the inspirational stories. This one was no different in how much I loved it. Finishing it just 2 days before Christmas also helped to brighten my holidays.