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The Paper Bag Christmas
by
Dr. Christopher Ringle is the last person you'd expect to find moonlighting as Santa Claus at the mall on the day after Thanksgiving. But it is there that he meets a young man named Molar Alan, who desperately needs a new perspective on the underlying value of Christmas. Dr. Ringle recruits Mo and his older brother as volunteers at a nearby children's hospital for the holi
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Hardcover, 160 pages
Published
October 29th 2008
by Center Street
(first published 2006)
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Showing 1-30
I read a few books like this as part of my Christmas traditions each year. This is a heartwarming story about two young brothers who spend the holiday season helping out in a children's hospital and learn a lot about the true spirit of Christmas. 4 stars
Sweet, heart warming read that made me all misty-eyed at the end. I would highly recommend this to fans of Donna VanLiere and Richard Paul Evans.
«Рождественский мешок» - это история девятилетнего мальчика, по имени Алана, который вместе со старшим братом Аароном и родителями, после Дня Благодарения отправляются в молл на встречу с Санта Клаусом. В свои девять лет Алан еще не растерял наивности и веры в волшебство. При встречи мальчики передают Санте листочки со списками подарков, которые они хотели бы получить, но Санта вместо игрушек предлагает мальчик что-то такое, что намного лучше игрушек... Поездка вместе Сантой (а.к.а. доктором Ран
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Nov 27, 2014
Pamela
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
middle-grades,
inspirational,
christmas,
oregon,
medical,
childrens,
contemporary,
friendship
To fully enjoy and appreciate this humorous, heartfelt, and serendipitous Christmas-themed story, one needs to let go of adult-world realism and cynicism, and read with a youthful heart and hopeful innocence. I did.... And I'm glad I did.
We must never get so old and set in our ways that we lose our childlike wonder and joy.....
"When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmastime. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs?" - Gilbert ...more
We must never get so old and set in our ways that we lose our childlike wonder and joy.....
"When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmastime. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs?" - Gilbert ...more
When Molar Alan and his older brother, Aaron, visit Santa at the mall, they get a few surprises. First of all, after waiting and waiting for Santa while filling out lengthy want lists, Santa informs them that they won't be getting anything on their lists. Rather, they will "receive everything they never wanted." Santa, also known as Dr. Chris Ringle, a pediatric oncologist, enlists the boys to help as elves in the children's ward of the hospital. Molar and Aaron had never spent time in the child
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A beautiful book to read at Christmas- heartwarming book that makes you realkize what is important
This was written by our friend Kevin Milne. This is a great story that everyone will love. I highly recommend it.
Jan 05, 2018
Dawn
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fans of Christmas stories.
Recommended to Dawn by:
My Mom.
An emotional and thought provoking story to end my season of Christmas themed books. This story really makes you think about the true meaning of Christmas and it is not all about the gifts given and received. Sometimes a gift given is not a purchased item. This story is a perfect idea for people to do with their children that may be at the point where they no longer believe in Santa or think they deserve everything they asked for. Sometimes we all need to take a step back and see what truly is i
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I loved this!!!! It was heartwarming and shares what the Christmas season is supposed to be about.
Aaron and Molar were busy eating leftover turkey sandwiches when their dad hurried them along so that they could go to the mall and see Santa. Both boys are shocked because they really didn't believe in Santa anymore, and their dad sounded excited about getting to the mall. Upon arrival the boys get in line and are given a piece of paper to write down all of the things they wanted to receive for Chr ...more
Aaron and Molar were busy eating leftover turkey sandwiches when their dad hurried them along so that they could go to the mall and see Santa. Both boys are shocked because they really didn't believe in Santa anymore, and their dad sounded excited about getting to the mall. Upon arrival the boys get in line and are given a piece of paper to write down all of the things they wanted to receive for Chr ...more
For a book that is trying to send a message about unconditional love, friendship and goodwill, the author relies heavily on stereotypes for his characters and dialog.
A wonderful read. One of the best I've read. Really shows the true meaning of Christmas. Warning: a tear jerker.
One of my students recommended this book to me. It is the perfect "feel good" holiday book. I ended up purchasing a copy as a gift for a family member. Be sure to have tissues for the ending!
I did not expect to like this book, but I read it in an evening and found it both moving, touching and inspiring. Really made me remember what the holiday season is all about.
Nov 26, 2008
Josie
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
lovers of Christmas books.
Recommended to Josie by:
librarian
This is probably the best Christmas book I have ever read! I strongly suggest you read this book! It made me cry the last couple of pages, but the rest of the book you will laugh out loud!
Beautiful story
Oh, what a beautiful story of the true meaning of Christmas! It made me chuckle and also cry tears of sadness and joy all at the same time. I know I'll be reading this over and over again every Christmas.
Sweet little story enlaced with big moral lessons for two young brothers. A better read for children I think or an adult who wants to spend a couple hours with something heart warming.
A heart stirring story about what really makes us happy and fulfilled at Christmas.
What a GREAT lil' story to hit my goal of 70 books! Such a sweet, sweet story! I got goosebumps & tears at the end!!!
This book is the essence of Christmas! It makes you laugh and cry and touches your heart! I recommend for anyone who wishes to find the spirit of Christmas!
Everyone ought to read this beautiful, poignant book at least once!
I think I found my new favorite - simple, meaningful, and very heartwarming - Christmas story
This is definitely one of the best books I have ever read! His first novel--unbelievable. It is so good. I read it quickly in one sitting, I laughed and cried and felt the true Christmas spirit in my heart. It is a great Christmas read and I highly recommend it. I wish I could give more than 5 stars.
Loved this book! Funny & cute story!
this will definitely be a new family tradition for my family. easy for the kids to follow and just so touching!
Nov 23, 2009
Elizabeth (Thoughts From an Evil Overlord)
rated it
liked it
Shelves:
contemporary-fiction
Every Christmas season there are several wonderful, inspiring novels published. I read one each year to get in the spirit, in addition to returning to old favorites. My new book this year is The Paper Bag Christmas by Kevin Alan Milne. The first thing that caught my eye after seeing it was a Christmas-themed book, was the author's last name. According to Milne's web site, his mother has done research that links them with the author of the Winnie the Pooh stories. That's a fun bit of information!
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This is one of those stories that is meant to be read while holding a steaming mug of hot chocolate and curled up on a comfortable couch in front of the fireplace.
Mo(lar) and Aaron Alan are two ordinary boys who, thanks to a little trick played by their father, which starts with them deflating the legs of an apparently legless father and ends with them volunteering in the children's ward of a hospital for the Christmas season, have the opportunity to experience their first "real" Christmas at a ...more
Mo(lar) and Aaron Alan are two ordinary boys who, thanks to a little trick played by their father, which starts with them deflating the legs of an apparently legless father and ends with them volunteering in the children's ward of a hospital for the Christmas season, have the opportunity to experience their first "real" Christmas at a ...more
This was my second reading of The Paper Bag Christmas. I first read it in December of 2008. It is a lovely story to revisit.
Two brothers make a visit to the mall Santa and are convinced to join him in helping with some children, many terminally ill, at the local hospital. One little girl, suffering with a brain tumor, always wears a paper bag over her head to cover her scars and loss of hair. Mo, the younger brother, befriends her in spite of, or maybe because of, a series of ill-chosen remarks ...more
Two brothers make a visit to the mall Santa and are convinced to join him in helping with some children, many terminally ill, at the local hospital. One little girl, suffering with a brain tumor, always wears a paper bag over her head to cover her scars and loss of hair. Mo, the younger brother, befriends her in spite of, or maybe because of, a series of ill-chosen remarks ...more
It was very therapeutic to read this beautifully-written Christmas story.
I don't even know how many tears I shed during the Christmas pageant scene - it was so beautiful and pregnant with meaning; it taught me what Christmas is about and reminded me there are things which cannot be seen yet far more important than those which can be seen and bought.
I found the plot is a bit predictable yet the prologue and the epilogue were interesting with a heart-warming twist.
However, I didn't like the very ...more
I don't even know how many tears I shed during the Christmas pageant scene - it was so beautiful and pregnant with meaning; it taught me what Christmas is about and reminded me there are things which cannot be seen yet far more important than those which can be seen and bought.
I found the plot is a bit predictable yet the prologue and the epilogue were interesting with a heart-warming twist.
However, I didn't like the very ...more
A fantastic story, not just of Christmas, but the reason we should celebrate it. Sometimes we can forget what that holiday is really all about. Giving, Loving, Caring and sharing. That's what it's supposed to be about. This book reminds you of that. The author also created a way, through story-telling, to help you better understand the true meaning of Christmas. It may be a holiday once a year, but really should be celebrated everyday, all day.
It's not a very long book, but I highly suggest you ...more
It's not a very long book, but I highly suggest you ...more
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Kevin Milne was born in 1973 and grew up in Sherwood, Oregon, a quiet country town south of Portland. He earned a diploma from Sherwood High school in 1991, in a graduating class of fewer than one hundred students.
In college, after studying such varied fields as film, journalism, communications, pre-dentistry, pre-law, and German, Milne eventually earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology ...more
In college, after studying such varied fields as film, journalism, communications, pre-dentistry, pre-law, and German, Milne eventually earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology ...more
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“Christmas magic is silent. You don't hear it---you feel it, you know it, you believe it.”
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“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. —Calvin Coolidge”
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