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The Magic Christmas Ornament
Christmas Eve is a dazzling, special time... especially when your family's favorite Christmas tree ornament has magic powers! On one enchanted Christmas Eve, Victoria, Joseph, and John gather around the fireplace to hear their father's story about this favorite Christmas ornament. After their parents go to bed, the children discover the true magic of the ornament as it sweeps them from their home and directly into Santa's workshop! On this adventure, they are instantly surrounded by toys, reindeer, and even see Santa himself. Amidst the magic and wonder of this night, the children meet a very special elf named JJ who, as it turns out, is more connected to their family's history than they could ever have imagined... Co-author Jim Barbato's father, Sylvester (Ziggy) Barbato, was one of nine children from an Italian immigrant family. Ziggy often told Jim that his family was too poor to afford toys for their children, but he always vowed that his children would experience the spirit of Christmas. THE MAGIC CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT is an original story created by Jim and Victoria Barbato. Writing this story allows our family to share the magic of Christmas--and all of its excitement--with yours. It's ideal for reading aloud to children of all ages. A portion of all profits will be donated to the U.S. Marine Corps' "Toys for Tots" program. Also available as a super premium gift collection at the MagicChristmasBulb.com website. The collection includes an heirloom quality casebound hardback, an ornament just like the one in the story, and a beautiful decorative package, suitable for making the gift of Christmas a lasting memory.
34 pages, Hardcover
Published December 25, 2018
About the author
James Barbato
1 book70 followersJames (Jim) Barbato is a former college professor and business owner. He is also the son of a U.S. Air Force Master Sargent, and lived all across the United States and Canada for the first twelve years of his life. As a child, Jim developed a strong Christmas spirit, inspired by the stories his father would tell. Jim often told original stories to his own three children, including the story of “The Magic Christmas Ornament,” which they still remember and cherish as adults. Now he wants to share the story with you, hoping it will instill the Christmas spirit in your heart and create memories for years to come. Jim has been married to the love of his life, Patty, for thirty-five years. They have three wonderful adult children: Victoria, Joseph, and John.
Victoria Barbato is currently an Instructional Coach for English language instruction in the Boston area. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Education and a Master’s degree in English, and is passionate about teaching and creating equity in educational opportunities for all learners. Growing up, Victoria was greatly inspired by her grandfather’s and father’s stories because they connect to the importance of family, convey fascination with the world, and always have a message of hope. These are all values that she strives to apply to her daily life. Victoria incorporates storytelling into her teaching, a skill she treasures because she knows she inherited it from her dad. Victoria has always enjoyed writing in her spare time and was thrilled to work with her father to make this family story come to life.
About the Illustrator
Joe Huffman was born in Oregon, and grew up in California and the Pacific Northwest. He received his Associates of Arts degree from the Art Institute of Seattle and has illustrated several children’s books and adult novels.
When Joe was three years old he knew illustration was in the cards for him. He couldn’t read those cards yet, but the pictures were enough for him. His mother would often find him under stacks of books, following a story through images and feeding his overactive imagination.
About the Editor
Alli Brydon is a children’s book editor and former literary agent with nearly 15 years of experience developing, editing, and selling children’s books in the United States. She has spent her career nurturing children’s book writers and illustrators to reach their potential, which is what she loves best. Please visit her web site at allibrydon.com.
Victoria Barbato is currently an Instructional Coach for English language instruction in the Boston area. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Education and a Master’s degree in English, and is passionate about teaching and creating equity in educational opportunities for all learners. Growing up, Victoria was greatly inspired by her grandfather’s and father’s stories because they connect to the importance of family, convey fascination with the world, and always have a message of hope. These are all values that she strives to apply to her daily life. Victoria incorporates storytelling into her teaching, a skill she treasures because she knows she inherited it from her dad. Victoria has always enjoyed writing in her spare time and was thrilled to work with her father to make this family story come to life.
About the Illustrator
Joe Huffman was born in Oregon, and grew up in California and the Pacific Northwest. He received his Associates of Arts degree from the Art Institute of Seattle and has illustrated several children’s books and adult novels.
When Joe was three years old he knew illustration was in the cards for him. He couldn’t read those cards yet, but the pictures were enough for him. His mother would often find him under stacks of books, following a story through images and feeding his overactive imagination.
About the Editor
Alli Brydon is a children’s book editor and former literary agent with nearly 15 years of experience developing, editing, and selling children’s books in the United States. She has spent her career nurturing children’s book writers and illustrators to reach their potential, which is what she loves best. Please visit her web site at allibrydon.com.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 8, 2019
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I like reading children's fiction book because they usually make you feel better. And while I liked the story in this one I'm not so sure about the illustrations. They were just a bit odd. I get what the idea behind it all was but the execution could've been better. And that's why I can't rate this book with more then three stars. Illustrations in any children's book are very important to the reader and if they don't captivate you then the chances are that the rest of the story will fall flat. With better artwork I think I would've liked it more.
I like reading children's fiction book because they usually make you feel better. And while I liked the story in this one I'm not so sure about the illustrations. They were just a bit odd. I get what the idea behind it all was but the execution could've been better. And that's why I can't rate this book with more then three stars. Illustrations in any children's book are very important to the reader and if they don't captivate you then the chances are that the rest of the story will fall flat. With better artwork I think I would've liked it more.
July 4, 2019
Through the story their father had passed down to them, the kids now understood the magic of Christmas.
Well, that's good. At least somebody understands.
This book, intended to be a new Christmas classic (perhaps that's the first problem right there; if you're writing a book with the intention for it to be famous, rather than just wanting to tell a good story, the results might not be that great), is about three children who get whisked away to Santa's workshop by a magical Christmas ornament from their tree.
I don't like the illustrations (which appear to be photographic collages that were digitized to make them look painted), but even so, it irks me when the illustrator isn't given credit. His name only appears in small print on the copyright page. I don't know why this seems to be a convention in self-published picture books, but I think it's rather disrespectful. Anyway, as I said, I don't like the illustrations. They're a bit creepy. JJ is supposed to be a "young boy", but he looks about 30 in some of the illustrations. And the rigid gender stereotypes in Santa's workshop are a little off-putting; Victoria is shown playing with dolls and teddy bears, while her brothers get the cool toys like train sets and robots.
The story itself is just confusing. I'm not sure what the overall message is supposed to be. There are hints of something going on with the kids' dad, but I'm still not sure of the significance of the ornament or how it works.
The writing itself is technically strong, which is probably the best thing about this book. However, getting all the commas and verbs in the right places doesn't necessarily make for a good story.
The note at the end keeps referring to the book as a classic, but... come on. That's not up to the authors. It's up to the readers. Whether this book will become a classic or not remains to be seen... but with a price tag of $44.95, I kind of doubt it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pure Imagination Enterprises, LLC for providing a digital ARC.
Well, that's good. At least somebody understands.
This book, intended to be a new Christmas classic (perhaps that's the first problem right there; if you're writing a book with the intention for it to be famous, rather than just wanting to tell a good story, the results might not be that great), is about three children who get whisked away to Santa's workshop by a magical Christmas ornament from their tree.
I don't like the illustrations (which appear to be photographic collages that were digitized to make them look painted), but even so, it irks me when the illustrator isn't given credit. His name only appears in small print on the copyright page. I don't know why this seems to be a convention in self-published picture books, but I think it's rather disrespectful. Anyway, as I said, I don't like the illustrations. They're a bit creepy. JJ is supposed to be a "young boy", but he looks about 30 in some of the illustrations. And the rigid gender stereotypes in Santa's workshop are a little off-putting; Victoria is shown playing with dolls and teddy bears, while her brothers get the cool toys like train sets and robots.
The story itself is just confusing. I'm not sure what the overall message is supposed to be. There are hints of something going on with the kids' dad, but I'm still not sure of the significance of the ornament or how it works.
The writing itself is technically strong, which is probably the best thing about this book. However, getting all the commas and verbs in the right places doesn't necessarily make for a good story.
The note at the end keeps referring to the book as a classic, but... come on. That's not up to the authors. It's up to the readers. Whether this book will become a classic or not remains to be seen... but with a price tag of $44.95, I kind of doubt it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pure Imagination Enterprises, LLC for providing a digital ARC.
July 4, 2019
Nope! I didn't like those kind of ultra realistic illustrations and the story have been told a million time, so nothing new here. And seriously 45$ us for that!?! I try to never, or almost, talk about the price of the book, but when I saw this one... It's just ridiculous. Sorry...
August 24, 2019
This was a story that I thought my grandchildren would love but sadly, they did not. We were all a bit weirded out with the illustrations. They were photos of people superimposed on a beautifully illustrated background. I think they would have been amazing if the characters had also been part of the illustration. The story was okay, a magic ornament, kids sneaking downstairs in the middle of the night, being whisked off to Santa's workshop. Nothing outstanding, just okay. The kids liked the Santa workshop part, but didn't ask to read it again and seemed a bit distracted while I read it to them. Not one I can recommend. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
July 5, 2019
*thank you to Netgalley, Pure Imagination Enterprises, LLC and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
2 stars.
This is just ok. After reading a couple reviews after I finished reading this I could see that others agreed with my thoughts. There seemed to be something off about the illustrations. They looked like a cut and paste job. Like the illustrator wanted to do an amazing job but then ended up cutting and pasting random parts together. They just don't blend together. Plus some parts of the images look like photos and in other parts, they looked like actually artwork. I think for it to have worked the illustrator needed to pick one method and stick to it.
The story was alright. Nothing amazing but an ok Christmas read. I can't see this being memorable but I can appreciate the effort the author went to to try and make it work.
2 stars.
This is just ok. After reading a couple reviews after I finished reading this I could see that others agreed with my thoughts. There seemed to be something off about the illustrations. They looked like a cut and paste job. Like the illustrator wanted to do an amazing job but then ended up cutting and pasting random parts together. They just don't blend together. Plus some parts of the images look like photos and in other parts, they looked like actually artwork. I think for it to have worked the illustrator needed to pick one method and stick to it.
The story was alright. Nothing amazing but an ok Christmas read. I can't see this being memorable but I can appreciate the effort the author went to to try and make it work.
August 27, 2019
James and Victoria Barbato explore the magic of Christmas anew in this upcoming picture book release. The book comes in a decorative package and includes an ornament like the one in the story. A portion of all profits from this book will be given to the Marine Corps’ “Toys for Tots” program. Supporting this worthy program is perhaps reason enough to consider purchasing this pairing of items. Unfortunately, I struggled to find a singular theme. At one point the father states that "the magic of Christmas lives inside of you." And yet later when one of the children asks "How did we get here?" The answer is "through the magic ornament." And in the end we read "the ornament...continued to inspire them...for all the Christmases that followed."
I also struggled to understand the concept of "the magic of Christmas." What exactly is the magic? Is it traveling to Santa's workshop, or family, or finding an ornament in a tree, or having an elf for a father? I just don't know. These quotations are from an advanced reader copy so perhaps the final text will be somewhat altered and of course, I could simply have a blind spot in my own imagination which happens from time to time and others love something I can't follow. There is liveliness, energy, joy and humor in the artwork which helps draw interest.
#TheMagicChristmasOrnament
#NetGalley
I also struggled to understand the concept of "the magic of Christmas." What exactly is the magic? Is it traveling to Santa's workshop, or family, or finding an ornament in a tree, or having an elf for a father? I just don't know. These quotations are from an advanced reader copy so perhaps the final text will be somewhat altered and of course, I could simply have a blind spot in my own imagination which happens from time to time and others love something I can't follow. There is liveliness, energy, joy and humor in the artwork which helps draw interest.
#TheMagicChristmasOrnament
#NetGalley
October 5, 2019
Eh. Not a fan. First of all, I do not like illustrations that are so realistic, it looks like a photograph. Its creepy looking and distracts me from the story. The story was just okay. It had a nice mystery element that was magical but not interesting. Not my cup of tea.
#Netgalley
#Netgalley
July 4, 2019
I found this available to read on NetGalley and got an ebook of The Magic Christmas Ornament by James and Victoria Barbato.
The illustrations by Joe Huffman in this book are utterly breath taking and it actually feels like you are in the book with these children on their magic night.
The story follows three children on Christmas Eve after their father shares his story of one magic Christmas when he found a special ornament. The children magically go to Santa’s work shop and learn of Christmas magic.
I love anything cute and Christmassy and this certainly made you feel magical, it’s such a pure story of Christmas spirit and belief in children and how one thing can help you hold the Christmas magic in your hearts forever.
This will no doubt be a family favourite for many as it’s so beautiful and magical. (Plus when purchasing this book you are helping a great cause as some of the funds go towards the Marine Corps ‘Toys for Tots’. Which i think is such a wonderful thing to do.)
The illustrations by Joe Huffman in this book are utterly breath taking and it actually feels like you are in the book with these children on their magic night.
The story follows three children on Christmas Eve after their father shares his story of one magic Christmas when he found a special ornament. The children magically go to Santa’s work shop and learn of Christmas magic.
I love anything cute and Christmassy and this certainly made you feel magical, it’s such a pure story of Christmas spirit and belief in children and how one thing can help you hold the Christmas magic in your hearts forever.
This will no doubt be a family favourite for many as it’s so beautiful and magical. (Plus when purchasing this book you are helping a great cause as some of the funds go towards the Marine Corps ‘Toys for Tots’. Which i think is such a wonderful thing to do.)
July 15, 2019
Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a beautifully illustrated Christmas storybook about a magical Christmas ornament and a family set on a adventure. Perfect for the holidays! A definite must buy.
This was a beautifully illustrated Christmas storybook about a magical Christmas ornament and a family set on a adventure. Perfect for the holidays! A definite must buy.
September 12, 2019
I really liked the story. My only issue was with the semi-real illustrations. They seemed too photoshopped in. Like the illustrator got a bunch of images off the internet and put them together which is not what an illustrator does. Fab story but would benefit from the illustrations being tweaked.
November 6, 2019
Three siblings hear the story about how their father found a magic ornament when he was a boy. When they examine the ornament on Christmas Eve, the children are whisked away to Santa's Workshop in the North Pole, where they play with toys and meet Santa's elves. They are given an ornament off Santa's own Christmas tree, and they return home full of the joy of Christmas.
The writing is good, but has a stiff style, especially in the dialogue. It doesn't flow as well as it could, but it's not bad. The story is interesting, but rather simple. There isn't anything particularly memorable or special in the plot, but it is a sweet story.
The illustrations really bothered me. The artwork looks like some strange blend of oil painting and photo-shopped pictures of people. Sometimes the background is really blurry, while other objects in the scene are unnaturally crisp.
Characters are depicted as holding objects in their hands that look like they were drawn in a different art style from the character themselves, so it looks like someone copy and pasted the object into their hand.
Sometimes, the expressions on the characters faces are demented! They look like lunatics with wide smiles.
Sometimes their heads look too big for their bodies, and I don't even know what was wrong with the elves. They looked completely out of proportion.
I wonder if the illustrations are trying to capture the cartoon realism style from "Polar Express", but this book does not do it well.
The accompanying ornament that comes with the gift set is a plain plastic ornament, covered with silk and gold braid. Two scenes from the book are printed on each side, but the printing is so blurry that it doesn't look very good. I won't be putting it on my tree this Christmas.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
The writing is good, but has a stiff style, especially in the dialogue. It doesn't flow as well as it could, but it's not bad. The story is interesting, but rather simple. There isn't anything particularly memorable or special in the plot, but it is a sweet story.
The illustrations really bothered me. The artwork looks like some strange blend of oil painting and photo-shopped pictures of people. Sometimes the background is really blurry, while other objects in the scene are unnaturally crisp.
Characters are depicted as holding objects in their hands that look like they were drawn in a different art style from the character themselves, so it looks like someone copy and pasted the object into their hand.
Sometimes, the expressions on the characters faces are demented! They look like lunatics with wide smiles.
Sometimes their heads look too big for their bodies, and I don't even know what was wrong with the elves. They looked completely out of proportion.
I wonder if the illustrations are trying to capture the cartoon realism style from "Polar Express", but this book does not do it well.
The accompanying ornament that comes with the gift set is a plain plastic ornament, covered with silk and gold braid. Two scenes from the book are printed on each side, but the printing is so blurry that it doesn't look very good. I won't be putting it on my tree this Christmas.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
September 4, 2019
Three siblings (and their pet Westie!) are whisked away one cold December night, via magic ornament to Santa's workshop. And it's the night before Christmas, no less!...
This is a fun, quick bedtime storybook with big, colorful pictures. My favorite element is that the children's dog gets to go and do everything too! I'm left wanting more to this story though; I actually wish the adventure could have continued a little longer once they arrived at the North Pole. Still, it is a cute new book for this holiday season!
This is a fun, quick bedtime storybook with big, colorful pictures. My favorite element is that the children's dog gets to go and do everything too! I'm left wanting more to this story though; I actually wish the adventure could have continued a little longer once they arrived at the North Pole. Still, it is a cute new book for this holiday season!
July 11, 2023
"The Magic Christmas Ornament Collection" by James Barbato and Victoria Barbato is a heartwarming and enchanting book that captures the essence and joy of the holiday season. With its delightful storytelling and beautiful illustrations, it is sure to captivate both children and adults alike.
The book revolves around a magical collection of Christmas ornaments, each with its unique story and special meaning. As the characters in the story discover these ornaments, they are transported on a journey through time and experience the magic and wonder of Christmas in different eras. From Victorian times to the present day, readers are taken on a delightful adventure that celebrates the spirit of love, family, and holiday traditions.
One of the notable strengths of this book is the authors' ability to create a sense of wonder and excitement. The narrative is engaging, and the descriptions are vivid, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the magical world of the story. The illustrations by Victoria Barbato beautifully complement the text, bringing the characters and settings to life with their colorful and detailed depictions.
Moreover, the book delivers valuable messages about the importance of family, the power of tradition, and the joy of giving. Each ornament represents a different lesson or virtue, such as kindness, gratitude, or forgiveness. These themes are seamlessly woven into the narrative, providing thoughtful insights that resonate with readers of all ages.
"The Magic Christmas Ornament Collection" is an ideal read-aloud book for families during the holiday season. Its episodic structure allows for easy breaks between chapters, making it suitable for bedtime stories or classroom read-alongs. The stories are engaging and imaginative, encouraging children to use their own creativity and develop a deeper appreciation for the magic of Christmas.
However, it's worth mentioning that some readers may find the pacing of the book to be a bit slow at times. The focus on individual stories within each chapter can make the overall narrative feel a bit disjointed. Additionally, while the illustrations are visually appealing, there are instances where more diversity in the characters' representation could have been included.
In conclusion, "The Magic Christmas Ornament Collection" is a delightful book that captures the spirit of the holiday season. It combines enchanting storytelling with beautiful illustrations, creating an immersive reading experience. Despite minor pacing issues and limited character diversity, the book's themes of love, family, and tradition make it a wonderful addition to any Christmas bookshelf. It is sure to become a cherished holiday favorite for many families for years to come.
The book revolves around a magical collection of Christmas ornaments, each with its unique story and special meaning. As the characters in the story discover these ornaments, they are transported on a journey through time and experience the magic and wonder of Christmas in different eras. From Victorian times to the present day, readers are taken on a delightful adventure that celebrates the spirit of love, family, and holiday traditions.
One of the notable strengths of this book is the authors' ability to create a sense of wonder and excitement. The narrative is engaging, and the descriptions are vivid, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the magical world of the story. The illustrations by Victoria Barbato beautifully complement the text, bringing the characters and settings to life with their colorful and detailed depictions.
Moreover, the book delivers valuable messages about the importance of family, the power of tradition, and the joy of giving. Each ornament represents a different lesson or virtue, such as kindness, gratitude, or forgiveness. These themes are seamlessly woven into the narrative, providing thoughtful insights that resonate with readers of all ages.
"The Magic Christmas Ornament Collection" is an ideal read-aloud book for families during the holiday season. Its episodic structure allows for easy breaks between chapters, making it suitable for bedtime stories or classroom read-alongs. The stories are engaging and imaginative, encouraging children to use their own creativity and develop a deeper appreciation for the magic of Christmas.
However, it's worth mentioning that some readers may find the pacing of the book to be a bit slow at times. The focus on individual stories within each chapter can make the overall narrative feel a bit disjointed. Additionally, while the illustrations are visually appealing, there are instances where more diversity in the characters' representation could have been included.
In conclusion, "The Magic Christmas Ornament Collection" is a delightful book that captures the spirit of the holiday season. It combines enchanting storytelling with beautiful illustrations, creating an immersive reading experience. Despite minor pacing issues and limited character diversity, the book's themes of love, family, and tradition make it a wonderful addition to any Christmas bookshelf. It is sure to become a cherished holiday favorite for many families for years to come.
February 8, 2020
The Magic Christmas Ornament is a book that sounded lovely and great to show the true meaning of Christmas but it just ended up being disappointing. The story is about a magical ornament that the children get passed down from their father which is special and takes them on a magical adventure to Santa Claus.
The story in this book is quite long and not the most interesting writing style to read. The story didn't seem to follow any kind of storyline, it just seemed to be all over the place which lost the children's attention quite early on.
Usually if this happens with a book the illustrations will at least keep a few children engaged in the story but they are just odd and not very eye catching either. Some look like they should be photos, some are like computer drawings from photos and others are a mixture of the two that you can clearly see have been edited. Even if that wasn't distracting (that is my thoughts as it won't have crossed the children's minds!) for the children the pictures were either too busy that you could barely see what was happening or not enough which meant they got bored before I'd finished reading the writing on the page.
We never really got to know any of the characters which would probably have helped the story along. I think this is a lovely idea for a story but for the book as it is now it's not great, such a shame as I think the two children could have really loved this idea of a story!
The story in this book is quite long and not the most interesting writing style to read. The story didn't seem to follow any kind of storyline, it just seemed to be all over the place which lost the children's attention quite early on.
Usually if this happens with a book the illustrations will at least keep a few children engaged in the story but they are just odd and not very eye catching either. Some look like they should be photos, some are like computer drawings from photos and others are a mixture of the two that you can clearly see have been edited. Even if that wasn't distracting (that is my thoughts as it won't have crossed the children's minds!) for the children the pictures were either too busy that you could barely see what was happening or not enough which meant they got bored before I'd finished reading the writing on the page.
We never really got to know any of the characters which would probably have helped the story along. I think this is a lovely idea for a story but for the book as it is now it's not great, such a shame as I think the two children could have really loved this idea of a story!
June 25, 2020
The pictures look pretty but I have no idea what the story is about. I was unable to read the e-book version on the Kindle app on my phone because the font is too small and any of the usual ways of enlarging text don't seem to work.
On a bigger screen the experience might be different but I would not recommend this for a small screen.
On a bigger screen the experience might be different but I would not recommend this for a small screen.
December 19, 2020
A sweet Christmas story. I felt it wasn't as developed as it should be and fizzled out at the end. In other words, it was a little simple, but for a children's book it holds the magic that makes Christmas so special.
December 21, 2020
Just okay. The story is brief, but not much depth to it. The illustrations are really odd, a strange mix of drawings with photos of people superimposed over them. A nice idea but not a very effective execution.
October 25, 2021
I am always looking for good books that I can share with my grandchildren if they are interested in reading them on my kindle when they come visit. This book was a really good one that I will share with them. It shows the magic of Christmas.
December 3, 2020
A wonderful little Christmas read it is full of the magic of Christmas and all that we need. Read in Dec 2020 during the Corona Virus Pandemic.
December 22, 2020
Beautiful book and story!
What fun, a magic ornament, such a great story. This is a wonderful book. I loved it. A story for everyone.
What fun, a magic ornament, such a great story. This is a wonderful book. I loved it. A story for everyone.
November 19, 2019
Before I get started let's just get this out there right away; I got this book FOR MY KIDS. I got it to read to my kids in addition to other new and older Christmas stories which we are reading at bedtime as the weeks build toward Christmas. Unlike other reviewers, my review isn't based on the pessimistic eyes of an adult but rather those of a 5 1/2-year-old little boy and 1 1/2-year-old little girl who takes things far less seriously than some adults do when it comes Christmas books.
My kids loved this book! It has quickly become one of my sons' new favorite books and we have reread the Kindle version at least 8 times now. He listens intently EVERY TIME we read it (which kids with Autism are not easily prone to do). Both him and my daughter LOVE the pictures and my son constantly asks to, "look more," even after we are done reading the page that we are on so he can point out things he sees and ask questions.
Would I call this a new Christmas classic? I don't know, but my son is asking when we are going to put up our, "Magic Christmas Ornament." So, if the point of the book is too engage a child and their imagination about Christmas than I think it did its job; didn't it? Now, I am pretty sure this book is meant for kids. It would seem odd for a grown adult to pick this book up for themselves since its obviously meant for kids. So ignore the ridiculous comments from adult eyes about the pictures, story, etc.
Get the book for a kid and see what they think. Also, I didn't even bother reading the reviews on the book until we had the book for 2 weeks. Some of the other reviews sound like your typical "Goodreads" review (you know what I mean by that).
My kids loved this book! It has quickly become one of my sons' new favorite books and we have reread the Kindle version at least 8 times now. He listens intently EVERY TIME we read it (which kids with Autism are not easily prone to do). Both him and my daughter LOVE the pictures and my son constantly asks to, "look more," even after we are done reading the page that we are on so he can point out things he sees and ask questions.
Would I call this a new Christmas classic? I don't know, but my son is asking when we are going to put up our, "Magic Christmas Ornament." So, if the point of the book is too engage a child and their imagination about Christmas than I think it did its job; didn't it? Now, I am pretty sure this book is meant for kids. It would seem odd for a grown adult to pick this book up for themselves since its obviously meant for kids. So ignore the ridiculous comments from adult eyes about the pictures, story, etc.
Get the book for a kid and see what they think. Also, I didn't even bother reading the reviews on the book until we had the book for 2 weeks. Some of the other reviews sound like your typical "Goodreads" review (you know what I mean by that).
November 3, 2019
Do you have a special tradition that you share with your family during the Christmas holiday? The authors of this story had a father and grandfather who were Italian immigrants who started this story with their family. Since they were Italian immigrants, at a time when poverty was the norm, they couldn’t afford gifts but they could share the story of the magic of Christmas. Thus creating a wonderful family tradition to be carried from generation to generation.
Siblings Victoria, Joseph and John gathered around to listen ot their father tell them the story behind a very special Christmas ornament. Their father told them when he was seven he found this special ornament in a tree and he has put it on the tree every year since. That night, the children snuck downstairs to admire it and something very magical happened when a burst of cold air crashed through the window and they saw Santa sitting at the North Pole inside the ornament.
This delightful tale of family history and tradition is perfect to be shared around the holidays. Families can sit together and read this story and share in their own traditions and tales of magic and blessings they’ve received. Sharing family traditions are a wonderful way to get kids engaged and instill that Christmas is a time of family not just presents under the tree.
Siblings Victoria, Joseph and John gathered around to listen ot their father tell them the story behind a very special Christmas ornament. Their father told them when he was seven he found this special ornament in a tree and he has put it on the tree every year since. That night, the children snuck downstairs to admire it and something very magical happened when a burst of cold air crashed through the window and they saw Santa sitting at the North Pole inside the ornament.
This delightful tale of family history and tradition is perfect to be shared around the holidays. Families can sit together and read this story and share in their own traditions and tales of magic and blessings they’ve received. Sharing family traditions are a wonderful way to get kids engaged and instill that Christmas is a time of family not just presents under the tree.
November 18, 2019
Loved all the illustrations made the story really leap of the pages. If the text was only at the bottom of the page it would make it flow so much better. Nice Christmas story any age would enjoy.
August 17, 2019
This was cute. I wanted it to be more amazing, more magical, more beautiful and make me feel like I was visiting Santa's workshop myself, but overall it just felt a little rushed. I feel like the plot was quite a good idea, but the execution could have been drawn out more and looked into with more description and magic. The illustrations were lovely and had such a homey, mystical feel to it, much like I wanted the story to provide for me. So personally, for me, the illustrations caught onto the heart of the book better than the actual writing did, and saved this book. 3 stars.
This book was given to me as an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.
This book was given to me as an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.
October 1, 2019
I received this ARC from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a sweet story of a magical Christmas ornament that brings the magic of the North Pole to three young children. I will say that this seems to lend itself perfectly to a Christmas movie and ornament to sell. I liked the story but didn't find it was anything extraordinarily different from several other out there. I think kids will like it though.
This is a sweet story of a magical Christmas ornament that brings the magic of the North Pole to three young children. I will say that this seems to lend itself perfectly to a Christmas movie and ornament to sell. I liked the story but didn't find it was anything extraordinarily different from several other out there. I think kids will like it though.
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